Bread rolls with seeded toppings, freshly baked and still joined together

Impress the best with easy homemade bread

I had great plans for today’s post! Why? What’s special about today? Today is a day of remembrance. It was this day last year when I received a phone call that changed my life forever. It was on a Friday evening exactly one year ago, that my estranged sister (the eldest one), phoned and literally stated “Dad died”.

My Dad was everything to me. ✨We had spent so much time together over the years. ✨I had worked with him, kept secrets for him, sorted his paperwork for him and frequently did gift and card shopping for him.✨ I learnt so many many things about DIY and building that if my chronic illnesses allowed, I would set up my own home-decorating and repairs company!

My plan today was to make a healthier version of a Wellington. ‘Beef wellington’ was something I remember Dad eating and really enjoying and I thought that would be perfect for today (a veganised version of course)! My recipe needs some work though! I am attempting to make a vegan beef substitute, surrounded by a lovely mushroom and chestnut stuffing, then wrapped in homemade puff pastry. I need to work on that beef!

So, unfortunately today, there is no wellington – but I will share the recipe as soon as it is perfected! What to post then!? I still wanted something in memory of Dad, something which he would have liked, then I thought… bread! Dad loved bread! Fresh crusty french stick, a hunk off a granary loaf, a white slice to soak up his tomatoes, a white crust folded around a ryvita, so many memories of Dad munching on bread!

A delicious sharing bread – who wants the recipe?!

We make all of our own bread now – loaves, rolls, wraps, pizza bases, baguettes and croissants. ? ? ?For the loaves, we usually make sourdough, inspired by Elaine and Sophie. We have a rye starter, and an oat starter which we use every week, but if we need a bread quickly such as rolls for dinner, then we quickly whip up a recipe using instant dried yeast. Dad had these rolls many a time, as they are something which I have always made, so this recipe is perfect for today! 🙂

Delicious soft fluffy rolls… for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner…

If you’ve never made bread, it can seem a bit intimidating and time consuming at first, but there’s really not too much involvement once you’ve made the dough – it’s just a waiting game for it to prove! Oh and the gorgeous aroma that will fill your kitchen as your bread bakes, and the soft fluffy texture as you tear into it are sure to convert you to homemade bread! Double bonus… no more un-recyclable plastic bread bags! 😀

Bread Rolls

Soft, fluffy bread rolls made with plant based milk and butter.

Created by:: Laurena @LifeDietHealth
Gather
  • 2 teaspoons dried yeast (approximately 7- 8g)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 200 ml milk (we used unsweetened carton coconut)
  • 100 ml boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted (we used vitalite)
  • 500 g plain flour (bread / extra strong or GF if required)
  • 10 g salt
  • *optional seeds for topping (sesame, nigella, poppy)
Prepare
  1. Put the yeast in a large bowl with the sugar, add the milk, then the water (always add the hot after so as not to kill the yeast). Stir and leave for a few minutes to start activation. It should start to froth (depending on if you have dried active yeast or instant yeast). 

  2. Add the butter, then the flour and salt. Mix together with a wooden spoon until it starts to come together as a dough.

  3. Take the dough out and put onto the worktop, you shouldn’t need any extra flour. Now knead the dough – pulling, stretching, folding and turning. The longer you can manage to do this (up to ten minutes), the softer and fluffier your rolls will be. Once you are happy with the dough being smooth and elastic, place it back into your bowl and cover with a tea-towel.

  4. Leave the dough in a warm place for at least an hour. The warmer the room, the quicker your dough will rise. It should have grown to double its original size. 

  5. Take the dough out of the bowl and gently press all of the air out of it by knocking it back a few times! Cut the dough into pieces – this should make about 16 medium sized rolls. Shape the rolls and ensure the tops are smooth – tuck the edges underneath. If you are adding toppings, press the top of the roll into a bowl of seeds so they indent slightly and stick. Place 2-3cm apart on a prepared tray. If you want the rolls to join together, leave less space – if you want individual rolls, leave enough space for them to grow! Dust the tops lightly with flour then cover with a tea-towel and leave for a further hour in a warm place.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 6 (400f / 200c) for 12-15 minutes (depending on the size of the rolls). They should be golden in colour and the bottoms should sound hollow when tapped. Remove to a cooling rack.

  7. Enjoy!

Tips & Storage
  • You can use this recipe to make rolls, or a loaf (bake a loaf for 20-40 minutes depending on size).
  • Rolls can be frozen once cooled.
  • Best eaten fresh, but will store for 2-3 days.
  • You can add any type of seeds as a topping, or add into the dough just before its first proving. 
  • You can dust the tops with flour, add seeds, or brush with a milk or butter glaze.
  • Swap 200g of the flour for a granary or wholemeal flour. 

 

 

I’m sharing this recipe over at Fiesta Friday this week! If you haven’t yet made it over there, what are you waiting for! Every Friday and all weekend through to Tuesday this is the place to be! 😀 Come over and have a look, find new recipes, get some great tips, make new friends and join the wonderful Fiesta Friday community! There’s no co-host this week, instead it’s an open vote for features (voting starts Tuesday)! 😀 

If you’re new to cooking, or plant based cooking and need some kitchen inspiration or you’re after some ingredients, have a look here!

.
If you purchase from Amazon.co.uk by clicking one of these links, we will receive a small commission (at no cost to you), which goes towards the running of the site! Thank you for your support!

.

Oh, and of course, if you make these rolls (or any of our other recipes), please post your photos using #LifeDietHealth or @LifeDietHealth so we can see your creations or tag us in your pictures! ? We love to see your interpretations of our recipes! If you haven’t already, make sure you’re following us everywhere so you never miss a thing! ? You can subscribe here (see link to right)! to receive our recipes each week, follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram, (you can chat with us here too)! and see what we’re liking on Pinterest! Thankyou! ?

Right, back to munching! Did you try these wonderful shortbread cookies? We made another batch with blackcurrant jam and used Judi’s idea of sandwiching a small heart on top of a larger heart with jam in-between! Yummy! 

Shortbread Valentines

Leave a comment below… I love to hear from you and I always reply personally! 😀 

Speak soon, Have a great weekend! ?

Laurena x

 

17 Comments

  • Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook 15th February 2019 at 13:22

    I am so sorry about your Dad, Laurena. Sending hugs to you!
    On another note, the bread is an amazing way to remember your Dad. The bread rolls look so yummy! I mean – who doesn’t love freshly baked bread? Happy Fiesta Friday!

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 15th February 2019 at 13:28

      Thanks Jhuls. I can’t believe a year has already passed! So many memories and so many things which remind me of him! He did love his bread though!, so yes, a perfect way to remember all the joy he brought to our lives. Happy Fiesta to you too! x

      Reply
  • Eva Gallon 15th February 2019 at 14:15

    I bet your Dad was so proud of you, Laurena, and rightly so. Thinking of you on this remembrance day. It’s nice you still have the hearts on the screen, it’s like he’s here on your blog☺ Enjoy the Wellington in his honour Xx

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 15th February 2019 at 15:30

      Thank you Eva? Yes, I left the hearts deliberately! 🙂 Are you bread making? or not bread making? ? I hope you enjoy your meal out this evening!

      Reply
  • Eva Gallon 15th February 2019 at 16:21

    I Thanks Laurena☺ Regarding the breadmaking, I always seem to get myself in a pickle when attempting to do it! The Vegan Corner no-knead foccacia seems to work ok for me, though (auto-corrected just now to Coca Cola lol). The sourdough is so good here and readily available (no need to go to a fancy hipster artisan bakery?). I’m sure your recipe is good too, of course. Have a nice evening and weekend full of happy memories xx

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 15th February 2019 at 17:34

      Oh no… it’s so easy when you know how! 😛 You should try this recipe – just to see how you get on! Lovely that you can get fresh sourdough easily there though (it’s so good homemade)! Thanks Eva x

      Reply
  • Impress the best with easy homemade bread — Life Diet Health | My Meals are on Wheels 15th February 2019 at 18:15

    […] via Impress the best with easy homemade bread — Life Diet Health […]

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 15th February 2019 at 18:30

      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  • Judith Graber 15th February 2019 at 20:10

    Thanks for the mention Laurena! the link to the cookies is https://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2012/02/12/raspberry-shortbread-hearts/ Even though I am no longer participating in FF (I still post a new recipe every week or so) I like to check in on my blogger friends. I will be making some sourdough dinner rolls soon and your recipe caught my eye. For our anniversary every year I would make Gene Beef Wellington – your Dad had great taste and it’s a wonderful, delicious dish to serve.

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 15th February 2019 at 22:52

      Thanks Judi. Your cookies look really lovely and I love the addtion of ground almonds in baked goods. Sourdough dinner rolls sound perfect- will you top them with seeds, leave them plain, or both? That’s amazing that you made Beef Wellington every year, I should start some traditions like that, we don’t have any at all… always something different! I know you said no more co-hosting, but I’m sure everyone would like to see you back once in a while! ? Have a fantastic weekend.

      Reply
      • Judith Graber 16th February 2019 at 16:27

        Thanks Laurena – I looked at my recipe and it definitely is not low fat!!! I’m not sure about the seeds for the rolls. The recipe from King Arthur Flour shows them without so we shall see… Enjoy your weekend as well. If you’re interested search Beef Wellington and you will find the recipe I made for years.

        Reply
        • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 16th February 2019 at 16:35

          ooo, I will definitely check out the wellington recipe thank you! We made more rolls today for brunch (half with sesame seeds, half plain)! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

          Reply
  • anna lancetta 16th February 2019 at 21:02

    Dear Laurena, your father must have been a very special person because he had a very special daughter and sure he was proud of you.
    I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact for a while, but I’m afraid I’ve taken up too many commitments and feel often overwhelmed with “have tos”. I keep reading your posts and saving your recipes though I have very little time to spend in the kitchen. Your wonderful slimming soup, one of the few I managed to try, has been a super favourite in the cold winter evenings.
    Hope you had a good day full of happy memories.

    Reply
    • Laurena@LifeDietHealth 19th February 2019 at 22:51

      Thank you Anna. My Dad was indeed very special and he is thought about every day! Remember to take time for yourself and learn to say no! Glad the soup has been keeping you warm! Take care xxx

      Reply
  • Make this mushroom dish your favourite for spreads, dips, or stuffing ⭐ Life Diet Health 19th May 2022 at 16:18

    […] can serve this pate with some tasty homemade bread, or use it to dip crudites in. Spread it on some puff pastry and roll it up, or use it as a pizza […]

    Reply
  • The Soup for a tasty, quick & easy energy boost! ⋆ Life Diet Health 13th October 2022 at 15:59

    […] have been having this for lunch with fresh crusty bread or for dinner with a side salad and some tofu! The great thing about this soup is that you can eat […]

    Reply
  • Magic yourself more time with this delicious 2 ingredient soup! ⋆ Life Diet Health 8th December 2022 at 12:07

    […] as it is in a bowl or even a mug. Have it plain or add your favourite soup toppings. You could make some tasty bread to go with it […]

    Reply

We love to hear your views and ideas! We reply to all comments personally! :)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Verified by MonsterInsights