Recipe#2430

Title: Anise

From: dawna@portal.ca (Spooky) 
 Newsgroups: rec.food.baking 
 Subject: Re: Anise-flavored Bread ??? 
 Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 19:49:08 GMT 
 Message-ID: <36075aac.1442496@news.portal.ca> 

2 teaspoons dry yeast
 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
 about 3/4 cup warm water (or more)
 3 1/3 cups flour
 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
 1 egg
 2 tablespoons peanut or sunflower oil, plus more to grease the dough
 2 tablespoons anise seed
 1 egg yolk to glaze bread
 Dissolve the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar inn 1/2 cup of
 warm water.  Add about a cup of the flour and stir vigorously til
 smooth.  Leave this sponge-batter for 30 minutes until doubled in
 bulk.
 Put the remaining flour in a large bowl, add the rest of the
 ingredients except the one egg yolk, and mix will.  Add the risen
 sponge.  Work it with your hands and add enough warm water to make
 a soft dough that holds together as a ball.  Knead for 10 minutes
 until very soft and elastic.  Pour 1/2 tablespoon of oil in the
 bowl and roll the dough around to grease it all over.  Cover the
 bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours
 or until doubled in bulk.
 Punch down the dough, divide into 6 balls, and place at a distance
 form each other on a baking sheet, on parchment paper.  Leave
 covered with a cloth for 30 minutes to allow the dough to rise
 again.  Brush the tops with egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon of water
 and bake in a preheated 400 F oven for 30 - 40 minutes until browned
 on top.  Tap the bottom of a roll.  If it sounds hollow, it's done.
 Cool on rack.