Mini Easter Bunny bread with chocolate surprise

Fun for the whole family....
MINI Easter Bunny Bread

Ingredients:
2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
1 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
5-1/2 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
16 small milk chocolate eggs
ICING:
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon water
1 drop red food coloring

Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, oil, egg, salt and 4 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. For each bunny, shape a 3-in. ball for the body; press a chocolate egg into each ball. Shape dough around egg so it is completely covered. For each head, shape a 2-in. ball; press a chocolate egg into each. Shape dough around egg so it is completely covered. Add a 1-in. ball for the tail and two 2-in. x 3/4-in. pieces for the ears.
Place bunnies 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
 
For icing, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and water; tint pink with red food coloring. With a small new paintbrush, paint a nose and whiskers on each bunny. 

Yield: 8 servings.

Mesquite - Desert Bread

Is it cheating to use a breadmaker???

It is impressive to think how native peoples existed in the desert for centuries. Using what plants they had, this nutritious bread can be made in your home. But we like to use modern conveniences.



The mesquite tree grows in the desert regions throughout the world, areas not suitable for most agriculture. Mesquite forms fruit of bean-like pods in the fall that have long been a nutritious food source to humans, wildlife and livestock. Mesquite meal, made by grinding the ripened pods into a high protein flour, can be used as either a flour or a spice. Mesquite meal is 100% natural, low in carbohydrates and fat, high in dietary fiber, and naturally sweet.

Desert Mesquite Bread

Put into automatic bread maker according to manufacturer’s directions
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 package yeast
1/3 cup combined honey and Sorghum
1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup quick oatmeal
1/2 cup mesquite flour
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/4 + 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Mix and bake according to manufacturer’s directions. The honey/sorghum could be replaced with mesquite molasses.

from Plants of the Sonoran Desert and Their Many Uses by Don Wells and Jean Groen.