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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Russian Chocolate Braid


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Russian Chocolate Braid....absolutely outrageous! A little bit of work...yes. But so worth it, I've never had the pleasure of tasting anything like it.  To Read More, Click On The Recipe Title.
 And isn't that why we do what we do, to taste the sinfully delicious. I found this recipe on Fine Cooking. The minute I saw it , I knew it had to be mine. George you tempted me with your Bread pudding, it's my turn to get you back. You need this buddy, you need this! The dough recipe is made in the food processor and really only takes minutes to put together. Now don't think for one minute I wasn't intimidated because I was, but I wanted it and that over rode any fear I had. The dough has sour cream,butter and a small mashed up potato in it. Warning , the dough is sticky, so sticky in fact that I really didn't
get to knead it the way the recipe called for. But it was all good!! After the dough is made, you let it rise, then roll it out with a little flour to a rectangle. Ok, now you put the pastry cream you've made on it, yeah pastry cream. Spread a layer all over it, I used all the pastry cream I made. Then you sprinkle mini chocolate chips on it, I didn't have mini , so I used regular. Roll the rectangle up from the wide side jelly roll style. Cut it down the center then make a 2 strand braid, I have to seriously work on my braiding! Let it rise again, then brushed with an egg wash and baked till golden delicious! Seriously just make this once, you have to taste the moist, rich sweet bread with those chocolate chips in it. Unbelievable! I don't know whose sweet little Russian Grandma made this first but I could hug her for it!!

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Russian Chocolate Braid
Fine Cooking

Sour Cream and Potato Sweet Dough
Fine Cooking

For the dough:

8 oz. (1-1/2 cups) plus 3 Tbs. unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp. instant yeast (Red Star QuickRise, Saf’s Perfect Rise, Fleischmann’s RapidRise, or bread machine yeast)
3 Tbs. water
1 very small potato, peeled, boiled, and sieved (to yield 1/4 cup)
2 large egg yolks
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
3 Tbs. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. table salt
1-1/2 oz. (3 Tbs.) cold unsalted butter
In a large bowl, mix the 3 Tbs. flour with the yeast and then whisk in the water. Let the mixture sit covered until it has begun to puff, 10 to 15 minutes.
Fit a large-capacity food processor with the metal blade. Put the remaining flour in the workbowl and then add the yeast mixture, potato, egg yolks, vanilla, and sour cream. Process the dough for about 1 min. Remove it from the machine and knead it by hand on an unfloured countertop for 1 minute to redistribute the heat. The dough will be very stiff at this point. Continue this alternating kneading: process for 30 seconds and then knead on the counter for about 30 seconds, until the dough is very smooth (this should take 2 to 3 processing rounds).
Put the dough back in the food processor and add the sugar and salt, kneading again in the processor and then on the counter until the sugar has dissolved (the dough will soften considerably and become very sticky; this is fine).
Finally, return the dough to the processor, add the butter, and do another alternating kneading round until the butter is well incorporated and the dough is very soft and smooth, about 1 minute. The dough won’t clean the bowl at this point. It’s all right if it feels quite soft and warm after processing: kneading the dough on the counter will help it cool down and firm up.
Transfer the dough to a container at least four times its volume (no need to grease the container); seal well. (At this point, the dough can instead be rolled in flour and then sealed in a plastic bag and refrigerated for up to 4 days. If you do mix ahead and chill the dough, pull it out of the fridge 3 to 4 hours before baking.) Let the dough ferment at room temperature for about 3 hours or until it’s expanded to 3 times its volume and an indent remains when you press it with a floured finger.
Pastry Cream
Fine Cooking

1 cup milk
2-inch piece vanilla bean, slashed lengthwise, seeds scraped out, or 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. table salt
2 large egg yolks


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33 comments:

rachel said...

A delightful virtual meal!

Lyndas recipe box said...

That chicken looks seriously good...and the bread to die for!

BumbleVee said...

that George!! he did me in with his stuffed squash...had to make one...now...I must try this and some bread pudding ...acckkk! I'm getting behind.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It all looks so amazing ladies...save a glass of Cosmo for me:D

~~louise~~ said...

I'll be right over!!! Each and every dish looks fabulous!!!

Hmmm...A Cherry Cosmopolitan sounds like the perfect way to celebrate National Cherry Month (February)

Thanks again Bunny. The Taste of Home board sounds like fun too!!!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

In an ideal world I could live close to all three of you guys and just hop from house to house eating, drinking, and being merry!
~ingrid

oneordinaryday said...

Now that's a great meal!

George Gaston said...

Bunny... I try to do my best to tempt all my readers. And your "payback" is beyond tempting, it is downright heavenly. Each of these items I would love to sit down and have a double serving.

When is Steve Jobs going to come out with the "FoodPod" just upload a finished dish and zap it off to your friends. Now that would be a great gadget!

Many thanks for the smiles and recipes to try....

Cristine said...

As usual, a perfect meal. YUM!

Karen said...

You girls are killin' me! The chicken looks so good... I'm going to look for the can of onion soup, which I don't think I've ever seen.. then will make this. That chocolate braid (with pastry cream???!!!) looks like heaven. I could have chicken, bread and follow up with a Cosmo! Delicious food!

Gloria Baker said...

Bunny!!! I love all, all is beauty and delicious but Im in love of Russian chocolate Braid, I want make soon!! is very nice. send you huggs!! gloria

misss_e said...

That chicken looks FAB!

grace said...

what an excellent chicken recipe! i get so tired of the same ol' thing, and this one has many new features for me to test out!! and that braid--it's beautiful and chock-full of chocolate, so you know i'm a fan. :)

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

That bread -homina homina homina. I'm rendered speechless by how good it looks.

The chicken is fascinating. Swiss, tomatoes and onion soup is definitely a new flavor combination.

Katrina said...

Please pass a big hunk of the chocolate braid bread please!

Debbie said...

The chicken looks so delicious and I would love to try it!

koryshar said...

Bunny! Goodness girl, you've outdone yourself. The chicken and chocolate braid look amazing. I can't wait to make them. I had a question about the braid. You listed the pastry cream ingredients and to allow the dough to rise, but nothing after that. It is 5 AM here, so maybe I just read wrong with my morning eyes. Is there more to the directions, please help.

Bunny said...

Good morning Shar! Yeah I'm up at 5 too!! You see where it says Russian Chocolate Braid and then Fine Cooking underneath it, click on Fine Cooking, the recipe instructions are there to explain how to put it all together.

Katy ~ said...

I am practically pouring myself into my computer screen trying to get so closer to these fabulous mouthwatering and tempting recipes. Oh my gosh, my sweet friends, each one of these is a keeper. Definitely going to do that chicken (I have the soup on my pantry shelf even now!) and that bread....will have to swap out the choc chips for butterscotch..how good would that be! and Friday nights with a Cosmopolitan...what a way to celebrate the beginning of a weekend. Perfect for Valentine's day. YAY!!! Just gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!

Ivy said...

Everything again is delicious and so beautifully presented.

pigpigscorner said...

wow what a feast! Love everything!

Leslie said...

Is it your purpose to make up drool? Or to make us jealous that we were not invited to your delicious dinner? YUM

Daily Freebies said...

Looks amazing!!

koryshar said...

Thanks Bunny!

Kerstin said...

I love the chicken - we always have shallots around too and I'm always looking for new ways to serve chicken! I wish I had one of your cosmos right now too :)

Deana Sidney said...

That cosmopolitan is beautiful... really great photo and a great idea!

White Toast with Butter said...

Thank God! For what seemed like months - I kept coming to your page and it would lock up - and I'd see just the opening picture and be so frustrated (wanting the recipe! or to read more) - today finally!! I got to catch up - lots of recipes to add to my list to make!

misss_e said...

Bunny I made your banana cream cheese bread. FABULOUS!

Kathleen said...

What a fabulous menu! You guys rock!!

Monica H said...

sour cream potato dough with pastry cream and chocolate chips?! shut the heck up! I think I just gained 10 pounds but it was so worth it. Will you come live with me?

I want that chicken too!

Eliana said...

The chocolate running through your bread looks incredible. It's making my mouth water as I type.

Anonymous said...

Hello,nice post thanks for sharing?. I just joined and I am going to catch up by reading for a while. I hope I can join in soon.

Anonymous said...

whats up everyone


Just saying hello while I read through the posts


hopefully this is just what im looking for looks like i have a lot to read.