Over at Julie's: Fabulous Burger Buns ~ New and Improved Ingredients ~ for the bread machine

I'm always looking for ways to improve the taste and health benefits of the foods I make . . . This is especially true of the foods I make often . . . Like my 'go to' Fabulous Burger Buns . . . With new and improved flavor and ingredients . . . Is that possible? A resounding . . . YES!!!

My KoMo FidiFloc Grain Mill.

I bought the best grain mill on the market, but then didn't really know how to use fresh ground whole wheat in my everyday bread and roll recipes. With a bit of experimentation I have traded out some of the unbleached flour, all the butter and sugar for . . . Stone ground hard white wheat, organic, extra virgin coconut oil, and honey adding wonderful depths of flavor, fiber, incredible health benefits, and these buns are light and still fabulous!

A word about bread machines:
I use my bread machine to mix and first rise all my breads and rolls except when I make "5 minute artisan bread", I'll share more about that another time. Using a bread machine cuts down on messy bowls, kneading time, (more mess), and keeps your dough the perfect temperature for the first rise. If you can find a cheap one at a yard sale or thrift store, and it works, pick it up or purchase a refurbished one on amazon.com. (Like I did!)

Yes, you can make burger buns that will put those expensive bakery buns to shame!

FABULOUS BURGER BUNS ~ New and Improved Ingredients ~ for the Bread Machine

To your bread machine pan, add ingredients in this order:

1 cup warm water, 3/4 cup warm, whole milk or buttermilk

Note: Warm is 110 to 115F, the temperature of a warm baby bottle. It should feel warm on the inside of your wrist, not hot.

1/4 cup melted organic extra virgin coconut oil (Costco sells a 78 oz./2.3 ltr. jar for around $23.)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt (place salt and honey in opposite corners)

3 tablespoons raw honey

1 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour, or unbleached flour

2 cups stone ground, hard white wheat, or 2 more cups of unbleached bread flour (I measure out 2/3 cup of hard white wheat kernels for every cup of ground hard white wheat I need.)

Note: Make a shallow well, in the flour and add your gluten and dry yeast.

1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten (can be bought at most grocery stores in the flour section)

1 tablespoon dry yeast (I use SAF because you don't need to proof it)

Set bread machine to dough cycle and push start. Dough cycle is 1:30 min.
Punch down dough. Dough will be sticky, so as you pull dough from your bread machine, sprinkle a little flour along the sides to keep it from sticking.

On a floured board or countertop, with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough to 3/8-inch.
Cut out buns and place on large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Cover buns with a light tea towel and put in a warm place for 30-40 minutes to rise.
Preheat oven to 375F. 170C.
In a small bowl whisk egg white and 1 teaspoon water, mix well.
Sprinkle with poppy, sesame, flaxseeds or a combo.
Bake at 375F. for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown.
Place on wire cooling rack.
Split buns, spread with butter and toast in broiler, keep a watchful eye, so they don't burn.

I brushed this batch with a whole egg wash before adding seeds.

I whip up a batch of homemade hamburg and hot dog buns once a week. They keep really well in the freezer and make such a huge difference in flavor, presentation and, of course, healthy ingredients! In our house, if I don't make the buns, we choose not to eat them.

All the buns on your grocery store shelves contain high fructose corn syrup, and soybean oil. Both bad and both genetically modified . . . GMO is known to cause infertility in lab mice and rats . . . We've got to protect our children and grandchildren!