Making Puertorrican Bread

Well hello again folks!

Tonight i'm going to bring the "how to" on making bread, but first let me tell you this wasn't an easy task i been trying to make this kind of bread for over a year without a luck mostly because i don't have the industrial machines of a bakery nor i don't have a proofing box and this makes it more difficult to make as a "self taught" chef/baker i been searching for that recipe to make at home this was a real task of trial and error. I had to adjust quantities and ingredients a lot!!! also i couldn't go to a local bakery to ask the how to because every one have his own secret method that won't share but hey i finally did it today!!! I feel like a accomplished a milestone! so i cannot wait to share with you guys!!! ENJOY

Caution follow this exactly as i tell you!!!

Ingredients

1. 6 a 8 Cup of bread flour ( you won't use all of it i use probably like 5 cups)
2. 2 Packets of instant yeast
3. 1/2 Cup of warm luke water 90 a 100ºF
4. 2 Cup of hot water
5. 3 Tbsp of sugar
6. 4 Tbsp of shortening
7. 2 Tsp of salt

Instructions 

1. Mix the yeast with  the warm water 90 a 100ºF and add one Tbsp of sugar. (let it sit & rise for 10-15mins)
2. Mix the hot water with the shortening,salt and the rest of the sugar. (mix until the shortening is liquid too *its faster to boil everything* 
3. Let the hot water cool down until its warm. *luke warm* 90 a 100ºF
4. Mix the two liquids on your kitchenaid or stand up mixer and start adding cup by cup of the flour. *use your dough hook*
5. Mix until the dough won't stick on the sides. * Tip mix for 2 mins then let it rest for 7 then mix for another 3 mins*
6. On a floured surface put the dough and work it until you form a shiny soft ball.
7. Spray a bowl and put the dough in cover with a plastic wrap.
8. Put it in a dark less than warm place.
9. Let it rest for 2-3 hours. *until it doubles or triple it size*
10. Punch it a bit. *not so much this a classic mistake if you punch it too much all the gas that you work for so much will escape*
11. On a floured surfaced cut the dough into 2 portions *actually the size of the bread that you want, in my case i cut it into 4 portions*
12. Place wax paper on a baking sheet and spray with pam then mold your bread carefully and let it rest for another 30 mins until it poof back or double it size again. *and it will*
13. In a preheated oven at 400ºF place your baking sheet i prefer a pizza stone and bake 1 or 2 loaf at the time.
14. Bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is golden *take it out and tap if it sounds hollow it is ready*
15. Let it cool down for 15 minutes *important you will burn yourself* * I did i just couldn't wait the smell of bread in my house drove me crazy and i pay for it*

And there it is!!! it should look something like this...

Tip you can brush it with a half beaten egg before baking or brush it with melted butter before and after i did it with butter and tasted even better!!! Also at first is going to be kinda hard but as it cools down it will become soft as pan sobao.

Well there you have it!!! See you next time and may the dorkyness be with you!

Optimus Dork