Dill Bread using Tong Zhong 香草麵包

The recipe for this bread originates from a small Jewish community near Tunisia. I figured instead of making egg-related foods for Easter, I would make this bread. The aroma of onion and fresh dill is irresistible!

Seeded Whole Wheat Bread 全麥種子麵包

Since I started making my own bread a few years ago, I have almost exclusively been using the Tong Zhong method. It gives me consistently soft and fluffy bread that lasts up to four or five days at room temperature. However, I learned this is not the only method for soft, long-lasting bread.

I have been exploring new ways to make bread with a higher percentage of whole wheat. Most breads that are labelled as whole wheat in the market are made with only 30% whole wheat flour while the majority is white bread flour. I think the main reason is not so much the cost but the nature of wheat flour.

Herb, Garlic and Cheese Pull-Apart Bread using Tong Zhong 香草蒜味湯種麵包

Just by looking at the name of this bread, you can imagine how fragrant your kitchen will be while it is in the oven. This savory version of monkey bread is great to accompany a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner!

光是看到這麵包的名字你便可以想像到它所散發出的香味是多麼的吸引，這款咸味麵包肯定在聖誕大餐桌上大受歡迎 !

Wheel-Shaped Bread 車輪包

A recent trip to Hong Kong has brought back many memories....the place where I was born and raised has changed tremendously since my last visit there many many years ago.  The most noted change is the overwhelming dominance of jewelry, drug and cosmetic stores on major roads throughout the tiny city. It is reported that there are more than 37 jewelry stores in one segment on Nathan Road. It certainly reflects what drives the economy of Hong Kong.

Amid all these changes, I managed to find some familiar places in the neighborhood where I grew up--the old apartment and the kindergarten where I spent my childhood.

Whole Wheat Bread with Chia Seeds 奇異籽全麥麵包

You should be familiar with chia seed if you are health-conscious or you follow health-related news. According to the newly published book called The Chia Seed Cookbook by Emily Morris, these tiny seeds can help you lose weight, balance blood sugar and prevent constipation. Adding them to your diet boosts healthy omega-3 oil and anti-oxidants in your body as well, and these are just a few of the health benefits they offer.

How can you incorporate chia seed to your day-to-day diet? Besides adding it to your bread, they can be incorporated into salads, soups and beverages as well (for details check out the cookbook mentioned above).

Super Soft and Silky Pai Bao 超軟排包

For some reasons, a lot of Asians prefer softer, silkier bread than the hearty and chewy European style. Just check out some of the bakeries in heavily Asian populated areas in Southern California and you will concur. It is a phenomenon for people to line up and wait patiently to get some freshly baked bread.  (I bet Atkin's low carb diet followers won't be there lining up ^_^) And many of them come out easily with a receipt of more than $20.

Whole Wheat Bread with Goji Berries 全麥湯種杞子包

Goji berries, or wolfberries, have been around for centuries; even longer in China. It is prized as the anti-aging food. It has properties to improve vision, boost the immunity system and even to help fight cancer. Goji berries' health benefits are endless.

There are many culinary uses. They can either be used in savory or sweet dishes. I usually use goji berries in Chinese soup. It is also good for making jello-like desserts or pudding. Now instead of using raisins in bread, why not make it even more nutritious and healthy by using goji berries?

Cocktail Bao 雞尾包

I remember the name of this bao scared my kids when they were young. "Mom, how can you eat a bun that has cocktail in it?" Many adults may be misled by its name as well. But I think if you are from Hong Kong, you know exactly what it is. Just like bo law bao/pineapple bun which has no pineapple, cocktail bao has no cock's tail in it.

Chocolate Bo Lo Bao 朱古力菠蘿包

There is a saying that do not judge a book by its cover, but let me rephrase it: "Do not judge bread by its crust." Although this chocolate bo lo bao has a darker crust than regular bo lo bao , the crust is still as crunchy and tasty as the regular one. The difference is the addition of cocoa powder. It adds a taste of chocolate flavor to an otherwise just plainly sweet crust. It passed the taste test of my chocoholics at home!

Whole Wheat Tong Zhong Bread with Pumpkin 南瓜全麥湯種麵包

This is a super nutritious daily bread. It is good for breakfast by slightly toasting it and spreading on either butter, almond butter or jam, or making it a sandwich for lunch. For the pumpkin, you can either use fresh, or canned for convenience. If you prefer to completely make it from scratch, just steam and smash with a fork. With canned pumpkin, look for one that has no added sugar.

Hot Dog Bun with Tong Zhong 腸仔包

According to a statistic, Los Angeles is the top hot dog comsuming city in America. During the peak season (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) a total of 7 billion hot dogs are consumed. The number is amazing. My household obviously is way under average in terms of hot dog consumption. We try to avoid processed food as a whole. But nowadays there are beef franks that are made without nitrates or nitrites (Oscar Mayer). Sounds good, right?

Chocolate Cinnamon Twist Whole Wheat Bread 朱古力肉桂全麥麵包

I make bread at least once every week. Bread for breakfast, sandwich for school lunch and sometimes for dinner. I try to find different flavors and shaping methods to make it more fun to make, delicious and nutritious to eat. This chocolate cinnamon twist is a variation of cinnamon rolls. I modified it from the original recipe and made it my own by using whole wheat and tong zhong method.

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Buns using Tong Zhong

Cinnamon buns are another favorite enriched bread for my family. I used whole wheat to make the bread more nutritious. Once again, this is the advantage of DIY.

Ever attracted by the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon buns or pretzels at the shopping mall? It is hard to resist, right? I think those stores are strategically placed, not in the food court, but all throughout the mall so that the aroma can easily reach the shoppers.

Red Bean Bao 紅豆包

When I go to chinese bakery, there are three types of bread that I always get: bo law bao, red bean bao and coconut bao. But I have not been to one for quite a while....

I always wonder how the bakery chef shapes the red bean and coconut baos. Then I came across a chinese cook book that has pictures to show the technique.

Baked Char Siu Bao 焗叉燒包

Baked Char Siu Bao

Every time I make char siu, usually I make more so that there will be leftover for char siu bao. My hubby likes savory bao more than sweet bun. It is very good to have it for breakfast or afternoon snack. I made whole wheat tang zhong with flax seed as the dough to add more nutritional values.

Hokkaido Milk Toast 北海道牛奶吐司

I have never been to Japan, but I know that the dairy from Hokkaido is very famous. They have a special kind of beef which can fetch more than $20/pound. Although I don't have the privilege to try the beef, I still can make the bread recipe that derived from Hokkaido ! You can, too !

Bo Lo Bao (Pineapple Bun) 菠蘿包

Photo courtesy of Francis Ko and Eric Tsoi

Bo Lo Bao (Pineapple Bun)

It is an invention by Hong Kong bakers and very popular in this ex-English colony. The bun is soft and topped by a crunchy crust. It is often enjoy for breakfast and afternoon tea time. Do not be misled by the name. It does not have any pineapple in the ingredients. It gets the name because it looks like the outer skin of a pineapple.

There are many recipes around but they fail to make the crust crunchy. The traditional crust or top of Bo Lo Bao is made of sugar, eggs, ammonia bicarbonate, flour and lard. But the following recipe substitutes lard with butter for a slightly healthier version. Ammonia bicarbonate is not a common item on most grocery shelves so it is replaced by baking soda and baking powder as well. They produce the same delicious and crunchy texture.

Whole Wheat Tong Zhong Bread 全麥湯種麵包

Tong Zhong Bread 全麥湯種麵包



What is Tong Zhong ? There are many ways to make bread: straight dough method, sponge method, pate ferment, biga, poolish, etc., but Tong Zhong is almost never heard of in the world of bread making (especially artisan bread making). This type of bread making originates from Japan. It means a warm or dilute batter. This soft texture suits Asians' palette. Besides its soft pillowy texture, it has a very long shelf life as well. Yvonne Chan wrote a book called "65⁰C Tong Zhong Bread" (in Chinese only).