Stop and Smell the Roses?

A reminder to stop and smell the roses? You don't see a rose? I hope not, I hope the bun in the picture can passed off looking like a rose.  One with big fat yummy petals :))  They are sweet smelling though  :)

Trips back from hometowns have always been bountiful, made these from some kampung grown bananas that Pa bought when he took little one for a ride on his old, trusty Hondacup. 

Decided on steamed banana buns or known as mantaus in Chinese found on Wendy's blog to use up some leftover bananas after eating them on its own and making a chiffon cake.  You will find some uniquely shaped mantaus over there, a very pretty pink rose mantau and croissant shaped ones among them.   But I didn't follow her method to make these roses, hers are far prettier which  means a lot more effort required.  I gave it a pass and used a simpler method.

I filled these buns with some peanut butter.  Had some fun shaping them.  Split between roses and the simpler proofing of round ones in tart pans.

Verdict? The banana taste was quite mild.  Buns were soft and light.

Note : Steps below are adaptions that i made to use my breadmaker for the kneading and it is also half the original recipe.

Recipe
Source : Table for 2 or more

Ingredients

• 150g bananas
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 250g all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tbsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 35ml warm milk
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 25g soften butter

Steps

1. Mash banana with fork and mix with baking soda.  Let it rest for at least 1 hour (Reason: To reduce acidity).
2. Mix and dissolve yeast in warm milk. Set aside for 5 minutes then mix with bananas.
3. Put all ingredients into breadmaker pan starting with liquid followed by sugar, butter, flour and yeast.
4. Set to bread dough cycle.
5. Let dough rise until doubled.
6. Punch down and knead dough for awhile.
7. Separate dough into 10 pieces of around 50g each.
8. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.
9. Shape dough as preferred. 
10. For rose like shape, after flattening dough into round shape, cut dough to make quarters but do not cut until the intersections.  Put in a small blob of peanut butter in the centre then wrapped with opposite sides of dough to create layers. 
11. Let dough rise until doubled again before steaming on high heat for 12 minutes.