English Muffins for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day y'all!  My hubby surprised me with flowers from him and Rosie:-) and in return, I made him English Muffins and poached eggs...his favorite breakfast.

English Muffins are yeasted bread that was cooked on a griddle that dates back to the 19th century.  The old English rhyme, "The Muffin Man" describes a door-to-door purveyor of muffins~

Do [or "Oh, do"] you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?

Yes [or "Oh, yes"], I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Yes, I know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

 

 ~and Jane Austin also mentions them in Persuasion (one of my favorite novels by her).  My family loves them, but it wasn't something my mother ever made, although she did something similar when she would "fry" yeast dough for a quick roll. 

English Muffins
6 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar (remove 1 tsp. to add to the yeast)
1 3/4 cup buttermilk, heated for 1 minute in the microwave

2 T (or packages) of active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (about 105F-degrees)
1 tsp. sugar
Heat the buttermilk in the microwave and mix the yeast, water and sugar together to proof the yeast for 5 to 7 minutes. 

In a stand mixer, using the dough attachment, mix the dry ingredients together.  Add the warmed buttermilk while the mixer is running on low, then, add the proofed yeast.  Mix on Speed #2, adding additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to form dough--it should pull away from the sides.  This can can 5 to 7 minutes.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured board.

Knead until the dough is as smooth as a baby's behind!

Place in a large bowl that has been sprayed with a non-stick baking spray, or a plastic tub (as I do).

Let rise until doubled.  Turn out onto a lightly floured board and pat dough out to about 1-inch thickness.

Prepare a large baking sheet with a dusting of Semolina flour or cream of wheat.

Use a 4-inch ring to cut the dough and place on the "dusted" baking sheet.

Cover with a towel and allow to rest about 15 minutes.  Heat a griddle pan on med/low and brush with butter.  Allowing room in between, cook muffins over low heat  (about 7 minutes each side).

I found the best Muffin Splitter that separates the  muffin and allows for those famous "nooks and crannies" at King Arthur catalogue.

While hubby was enjoying his breakfast, I was enjoying mine with a beautiful chocolate-covered strawberry sent to me from a dear friend; she knows my weaknesses:-D

I hope the weather is being kind to you, but if you're stuck indoors, make muffins--I think they're one of my top comfort foods. Enjoy!