Enid Blyton Books
This recipe for cheesy chicken buns emerged one day when I was reminiscing about books from childhood days. I have very fond memories of the Enid Blyton books which were one of the first English books that I have read. To name a few, the Enchanted Forest series with its Magic Faraway Tree, the Wishing Chair series, the Mr. Pink-Whistle series, St.Claires, Malory Towers, The Famous Five, Secret Seven, Naughtiest Girl, the Five find-outers are a few of the books which introduced me to the magic in life. These books opened up a whole new world for me and taught me to how to imagine and dream.
The Magic Faraway Tree
The Enchanted Wood*
Among these, the Enchanted Wood series had a special magical Faraway Tree in which lived Silky, Moonface and other magical beings. Jo, Bess and Fanny became fast friends with the folks of the Magic Faraway tree. In one of their escapades on the magic tree Moonface offered them a very different type of bun, a google bun!
Book Excerpt
“Come on,” said Moon-Face. “Come and eat a Google Bun and see what you think of it.”Soon they were all sitting on the broad branches outside Moon-Face’s house, eating Pop Biscuits and Google Buns. The buns were most peculiar. They each had a very large currant in the middle, and this was filled with sherbet. So when you got to the currant and bit it the sherbet frothed out and filled your mouth with fine bubbles that tasted delicious. The children got a real surprise when they bit their currants, and Moon-Face almost fell off the branch with laughing
……………………………….. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton.
Now ever since I have read this bit, google buns and buns in general have occupied a special little corner of my curious mind. Since I’m taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa Challenge and have embarked on my bread baking series, I thought of exploring the world of buns. I started by making a 1:1 wholewheat: APF bun which turned out to be perfect but unfortunately I did not note down the exact quantities and recipe.
Next were stuffed cheesy chicken buns which too turned out to be very yummy and luckily,this time I did write down the deets! These cheesy chicken buns were made for a special occasion; this year’s Eid celebration and were a instant hit. Here’s a sneak peak at the scrumptious and homemade spread.
We celebrate all festival with equal gusto in our home. I have a deep love for making special foods for special occasions. So all the festivals give me a very specific purpose for a few days and help to keep away the existential crisis. This gives us even more reasons to bring cheer and happiness in an otherwise mundane life filled with the usual drudgeries of adulting. So all in all everybody is happy!
Next I hope I will be able to make Moonface’s Google Buns and be rewarded with the look of surprise on dear hubby’s face! Sometimes I wish that Ms. Blyton was still writing now and then I would request for a book filled with magic for adults. What I would give to be transported to a new land at the top of a tree every week that too with a select few friends for company!
Ingredients for cheesy chicken buns:
- All purpose Flour/Maida 2 cups (200gm)
- Whole wheat flour 1 cup (100 gm)
- Milk Powder 1 cup (100gm)
- Instant Yeast/Active Dry Yeast 1½ tbsp
- Salt 2 tsp
- Sugar 3 tsp
- Milk 100 ml +20 ml
- Water 50 ml
- Melted Butter 50+ 25 ml
- Honey 1tsp
- Sesame Seeds
For the stuffing
- Shredded boiled chicken 100 gm
- White Sauce (Flour, butter,milk)
- Cheese 2 cube cut into small pieces
- Butter 1 tbsp
- Garlic 6 to 8cloves crushed
- Salt (as per taste)
- Black Pepper powder 1 ½ tsp
Method:
The dough
- Start by mixing the yeast, sugar and 50 ml warm water and keep for a few minutes for proofing.
- In a big bowl, mix together the flours, milk powder, salt and sugar.
- Warm the milk and keep ready.
- Next, add in the proofed yeast mix into the flour and start to knead with clean hands. Slowly add in the warm milk a little at a time to make a dough.
- At one point, the dough will become sticky when the gluten starts to be activated. So to make things easier, add in 50 ml of the melted butter slowly and continue kneading.
- You have to knead for 15 to 20 minutes to get a smooth dough.
- When you reach the desired consistensy of the dough, shape it into a ball, cover the dough bowl with a cling film and keep for rising for 1 to 1.5 hrs in a warm place in the kitchen.
The stuffing
- In the meanwhile you have to make the stuffing which is a relatively straight forward process.Start by boiling and shredding the chicken.
- Next, prepare the white sauce by slowly roasting 1tbsp flour with 1 tbsp butter to get a smooth paste without any raw flour-y smell. Make sure the mix does not turn brown. Slowly add in 1 cup(100ml) of hot milk and stir continuously so you don’t get any lumps. This is a very important step when the sauce can very easily get out of hand. Keep mixing, add more milk if required for a saucy texture, add in salt and black pepper as per taste and remove from heat.
- Now in a separate pan add 1tbsp of butter and 6 to 8 cloves of crushed garlic. Fry till brown. Add the shredded chicken, white sauce, salt and pepper and mix. Your stuffing is ready when the chicken mix reaches a stuffable consistency.
Shaping the Chicken buns
- In this time the bread dough will rise to double itself. Slowly punch out the air and roll the dough into a log. With a blunt spatula or a dough cutter, make equal divisions for shaping the buns.
- Stuff each dough roll with the chicken mix and shredded cheese and make as bun shape by tucking and sealing in the edges at the bottom. Place the prepared buns into a pre-greased round baking tray, brush with butter and sprinkle sesame seed on top.
- Cover and keep for the second rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180 degree Celsius. Brush the buns with a milk, butter and honey mixture and bake. After 15 minutes, repeat the milk mixture brushing and bake for 15 minutes. The buns will need a total of 30 to 35 minutes to be ready.
- Serve the cheesy chicken buns hot from the oven.
*Image Source:https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/
These Cheesy chicken buns look delicious.Will try making these at home
Nice recipe. Can think that how delicious these buns must be 🙂
Almost missed the pinterest button there since I wasn’t expecting it to be black… I definitely want to try this. It’s a combo I never really considered.
The buns definitely looks yummy and tempting mine always turns lumpy and non spongy.. now I’ll try out your recipe.
Oh, this mouthwatering dish and the nostalgic Enid Blyton books. Those books were the first ones that brought out the voracious reader in me.
Thankyou for reviving those memories through your reminiscences!
Baking this delicious bun is on my to-do-list now 😊
This is such easy recipe. I m surely gonna give it a try.. love the way you weaved the post.
Yum! It has come so nice. Now am hungry hehe. Will try to make this buns.
I think being a food blogger is the most amount of work for a blogger and you are doing a good job at it.
Interesting post! Loved the way you connected books and baking.
My son has just started to read Enid Blyton and the other day he asked me for google buns…I was like that is fiction but now seriously, I should try my hands at making chicken buns for him. So big thank you for this post!!
I am drooling over those chicken buns, and thanks for sharing the recipe.
Wow.That recipe is next on my list of items that I try out for my kids.Thanks Ginia.
Wow. This is truly awesome..cooking being inspired by a book…bakibg bun is not easy but after getting a recipe from your post, I would like to give it a try.
Toffee Shock used to be my fav!!!!
Now that’s such a nice recipe, so detailed and with steps. Will definitely be trying this soon at home
Amazing delicious buns Ginia….I wish i could bake like you.I have tried and failed but maybe I will try your recipe and see. which yeast do you use?? Mine never froths, i dunno why.
Enid blyton brings back memories to me. Absolutely lipsmacking recipe. #tmmreads
Your cheesy chicken buns and the Eid spread look simply delicious! Awaiting your Google Buns!
There is nothing like the aroma of freshly baked bread. Have been reading all about your baking on Amrita’s Instagram posts. I am definitely going to try out your recipe.
You made this look so effortless! Trying next for sure
Gosh, I suck at baking! 😛
Your post actually makes me want to bake some chicken buns right away ‘cos it is that tempting!
Cheezy Chicken bun what a tasty recipe. I felt like a burger recipe.
Absolutely loved how you derived at the recipe. The enchanted wood was one of my favourites! Theirs was a dream team. I’ll definitely try this recipe out as I’ve recently been into baking.
Nice detailed recipe. During the lockdown I too tried my hands at making a lot of buns. They look pretty good. Keep the awesome work going.
#MyFriendAlexa #ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
This was one of my funnest bakes ever!
The buns look so good. I will be surely trying them soon.
I really loved the easy recipe and this theme will surely keep me glued on your site!!
Blyton and the buns, both are my favourites. I quite liked your recipe here, I am tempted to give it a try tomorrow.
These buns looks absolutely tempting, I would give anything to tuck into them right now.
Thank you
That looks so yummy.
Amazing combo there… yummy food a d Enid Blytom books. At 36, I still love reading them occasionally.
I guess you can never grow out of Enid Blyton
The buns looks so delicious, i normally bake plain buns to go with patties or vadas, will try vegetarian versions of these buns soon
Yes..and tell me how they turn out.
This is too good. Sounds so interesting. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I need to try it out
Thank you
I am just loving your idea of combining books and recipe together!!! keep it up
Thank you
This sounds like a delicious recipe! If only I could bake breads… *sigh*
Thats a lovely post. I am a huge enid Blyton fan and this post took me back down the memory lane. Loved the recepie of the buns.
These looks so so so good, Ginia! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Marking this so I can try it soon. #MyFriendAlexa #TinaReads