Tag Team

This month was a bit of a tag team month for Luke's trip to the kitchen.

I don't mean that I helped Luke out in some way by chopping or cleaning. What I mean is that Luke loved a recipe I had found for some delicious Sesame Seed and Herb Buns, so he made the recipe his own.

He not only made the recipe easier and more "Luke friendly", but his take on it was yummy and something I would make again.

Let's start with mine. And I use the word mine very loosely because this recipe was from the July 2011 Bon Appetit magazine. (That's my favourite subscription, incase you haven't already guessed!)

Sesame Seed and Herb Buns

I changed the name from Cilantro-Scallion Buns since I used less scallions and more fresh herbs. Do you think this makes the recipe mine? :)

2 teaspoons yeast
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
2 large eggs, divided
3/4 cup chopped scallions
3/4 cup fresh basil
3/4 cup fresh cilantro
1/2 cup sesame seeds (black or white)
3 tablespoons olive oil

1. Combine yeast and 1 teaspoon each of salt and brown sugar in 1/2 cup warm water and let it stand for about 10 minutes so that the mixture begins to bloom.

2. Combine flour, butter, and remaining salt and sugar in a large bowl. Mix by hand or with a stand mixer using a dough hook. Beat in 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, and stir in yeast mixture.

3. Knead for about 5 minutes and let the dough rest for an hour so that it can double in size.

4. Pulse scallions and herbs in a food processor until fine. Pour into a small bowl and stir in oil and sesame seeds.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and roll dough into a large rectangle. Smooth herb mixture on top of dough and spread so it covers all areas.

6. Next, working from the short end, the dough into a tube and cut into 3/4 inch swirls.

7. Transfer dough swirls to a baking sheet and brush with remaining egg white or a touch of additional oil.

8. Bake for about 30 minutes or until buns turn a golden brown.

And now for a quick close up! Yum!

Now here's Luke's version. It may be easy, but it sure it yummy! I don't even know who's is better!

Pizza Buns --- And yes Luke is entering the Real Women of Philadelphia contest, laugh all you want until he wins. He's not the only man in it. 

• 1 ball of packaged pizza dough
• 1/2 cup(s) of tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup(s) of mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup(s) of Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 and roll out dough to the size of a cookie sheet.
2. Spread tomato sauce on dough evenly.
3. Grate mozzarella and cut cream cheese into small chunks. Toss cheese on tomato sauce covered dough.
4. Starting with short side of dough, roll up the dough like a jelly roll so that you have a 2-3 inch roll that's as long as your cookie sheet.
5. Put roll on a cutting board and slice twelve 3/4 inch thick slices.
6. Grease cookie sheet and put all twelve rolls on the sheet.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes so the buns start to brown.