Rosemary, Basil, Thyme and Oregano are the flavour filled additions to these buns and according to Shannon Loeber and Mary Edwards, the kitchen witches of Wisewoman’s Cookery, each herb was added for a specific reason beyond how tastily they combine together.
You will need:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. each of Basil, Thyme, Oregano & Rosemary
1/2 cup cold butter
3/4 cup buttermilk ( or half & half with 2 tsp. white vinegar )
Usually when I post a recipe, the focus is on cooking for friends and family. Buns of Desire have a different intention, so when bringing your focus into the kitchen, hold the images of your evening near. Make it your intention to create a magical time together with a lover, a person you are trusting enough to explore with, be vulnerable with, be intimate with. Ask that you are supported in this desire for the entire evening. Breath in…hold…and release.
Combine all the dry ingredients ( I combined whole wheat and all purpose flour and therefore upped the liquids from the original recipe ). Measure, chop or crumble the herbs. I used fresh Basil and Rosemary and dried Thyme & Oregano from a friends garden. (Dried herbs have a stronger flavour so I added more of the fresh herbs to balance the flavours).
The red you can see in the picture is salt.
Use your fingers to mix everything together and coat the herbs. In this style of quick bread, letting the dry ingredients run through your fingers is a great way to add air to the mixture and your sensual energy to the finished product.
Rosemary is known as an herb of purification and Thyme stimulates. Basil is slightly sedative and opens the Heart Chakra while Oregano is connected to happiness and vitality.
Cut the butter into smaller pieces and add to the dry ingredients. Coat each piece with a few dredges through the flour.
Getting flaky buns ( biscuits ) is the same technique as getting flaky pastry. The trick now is to create many smaller pieces of flour coated butter. While the buns bake, the butter melts and leaves light pockets of air in the biscuit.
You can accomplish this with a pastry knife or with your hands, squeezing and rubbing the butter. Work the mixture into a course crumble like the picture to the left.
The next step is to add the liquid and here again, work the dough as little as possible. Only enough to get the mixture to bind together.
Turn the dough out onto a flour surface and DO NOT KNEAD. Pat into shape, just over an inch thick and cut into shape. A glass top will make circles if no cookie cutter of the right size is available. Cutting into squares or triangles is also an option. The fewer number of times the dough needs to be reworked the better.
If you choose to, you can brush an egg wash on top and this will brown the tops of the biscuits a little bit more as they bake and make them shiny. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on the size.
These buns are full of flavour. Shannon and Mary would say they make an arousing addition to any meal. Don’t make them too large. Your body will be using energy to digest food that you have other plans for.
This recipe will make enough for dinner, late night nibbles and breakfast. Warm them just enough that spreading butter will melt, add some local artisan honey and make time for an extended morning….in bed.
Shannon and Mary’s Buns of Desire from My Kitchen Wand
