Homemade Pandesal

Step-by-step Procedure in Making Pandesal

    As I have promised on my very first blog, I would share with you the recipes of what I have baked already so you could try it in your kitchen too.  You need not be a professional baker to do this.  As long as you have the gastronomical urge and palatable desire to knead passionately, the result would be worth the sweat and stretch.  (You'll see what I mean...)

     One at a time though.  Today will be PANDESAL, tomorrow will be something else.  Just make sure you have the necessary baking equipments such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, weighing scale (max 1 kg would be fine), mixing bowls, spatula, baking pans, rolling pin and most of all, a gas range with oven.  

     Another thing to ponder is cleanliness.  Make it a habit that everything you use is free from dirt and crawling insects. Then, line up your ingredients for easy access and  think as if you are Nigella or Jamie Oliver perhaps so you will be all set to start.  Ready?

    In a large mixing bowl:

    Mix 3 1/2 cups bread flour
              1/2 cup  granulated white sugar
              1/2 tsp   iodized salt
           2 1/2 tsps intant yeast.

    Slowly pour, 1 1/2 cups water.
  

    Once the water is fully absorbed by the mixture, stir in 1/4 cup     plus 1 Tbsp vegetable lard. Continue at maximum speed for 10 minutes if you are using an electric mixer. (If you are baking the traditional way--meaning using your two precious hands as I have been doing--knead much longer until you feel the elasticity of the dough.) Round dough and cover with plastic or cloth.  Set for 20       minutes. Divide dough into small portions weighing approximately 30 grams each. Round again each dough and roll on bread crumbs.

Place 1" apart on slightly greased baking sheets/pans. Allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on the weather condition. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown at 350 degrees F preheated oven.

    

   Yield: 30 pieces.

     So there you are!  You are one step ahead from others who wouldn't dare try.  You really will sweat a lot while kneading manually and rounding dough specially on a warm  weather condition.

    

Refresh and Restart

 

The first cupcakes I baked using turbo.

 Still in 2008.  Several months after my humble beginning came to an end, I composed myself.  I gathered my recipes and finalized which products need improvement before launching to the "big market".  I need to REFRESH my memory what motivated me to take the leap--from a full time employee to a budding entrepreneur.

    

Hmmm...smells yummy.  Of course, the cake of my dreams! The sweet aroma of vanilla bouncing  on your kitchen walls before finding its way out in the atmosphere? The compliments you hear from the neighbors once they smell the scent of the  goodies as it becomes half done in the oven?  Yes, it's about time I try whipping up something new instead of kneading dough until my muscles ache.  It's true. Just by using hands in kneading builds up your arm muscles. Doing this everyday is similar to going to the gym for toning...

So to RESTART,  I tried baking cupcakes.  (Am still worried in trying layered cakes). The first recipe I used was gathered from the internet.  Still, I have no electric mixer. I just used a manual beater, counting the strokes for better results. I still have to bake the cupcakes in the turbo which produces air so the top formed peaks making it look like muffins instead. But the taste is so good; my kids loved it

I presented the cupcakes to the marketing manager of a supermarket nearby and he was delighted to see such "simple yet awesome products" as he described.  He told me their requirements including the terms of payment which made me reluctant to go on with the deal.  After 30 days of inventory, a post-dated-check for 30 days will be issued. A total of 60 days. Too long  a period. For a starter like me, no deal at all.

Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes

But I have to sell my products.  I looked for another outlet and I found one, on a consignment basis which lasted only for two months.

And the best part is yet to come.