Summer time is fast approaching and with that comes the Barbecue season, the perfect time to grill up burgers. I love grilling and I love burgers. I have found that the best burgers are the ones served with fresh buns. I cannot even buy hamburger buns in the store anymore. For a couple of reasons. 

Number one is the fact that they never go bad. Think of all the chemicals that must be in a burger bun for them to last for months in your pantry. They never go bad or mold. Scary to say the least. So much of the foods we eat are packed with chemicals to give them a longer shelve life. Is it any wonder why we have so many health issues today? Look at the foods we consume.  
Number two is the fact that there really is no flavor in the buns. Tasteless chemical blobs of air and garbage. Oh they put some sesame seeds on top, but really when was the last time you ate a burger and thought how wonderful the bun was?  
Okay, so now you know how I feel about hamburger buns, that also includes hot dog buns. I really do hate them. Over the past years when I discover a really good hamburger, it usually has something to do with the bun it is on. Freshly made signature buns always get my vote of approval.   
I have spoiled my family in that now I make my own buns. It is quit simple and takes hardly any time or effort. But the end result is an amazing burger experience. If we are going to go to the effort of grilling our burgers, why not go the extra step and make our own buns? The end result is everyone claiming it is the best burger ever! And isn’t that why we do what we do? To please those we love?  
So throw away those nasty store bought buns and make your own. One more thought,  fresh baked buns at home freeze really well, so you can make them up ahead of time and be ready for you next outdoor grilling event.  
Ingredients:
2 cups Warm Milk
1/4 cup Oil or Butter
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Salt
3 cups Honeyville Whole Wheat Flour, ground
1/4 cup Teff or fresh ground Popcorn
2 Tbsp SAF Yeast
6-8 cups Honeyville Alta Artisan Bread Flour
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Add ingredients in the order listed above to your BOSCH Universal Mixer. 
Turn on mixer and add Alta Artisan flour 1 cup at a time until dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Mix for 6 minutes.
Remove and divide into 12 pieces. Roll into balls using your cupped hand. Flatten into burger-size circles, place on parchment paper, 6 to a pan, leaving plenty of room for them to grow.
Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let rise to double and then bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes, then drop temperature to 325 degrees and bake for another 6-10 minutes.
Sometimes I use all Honeyville Alta Artisan Bread Flour and no wheat flour and just add the Teff. It depends on the mood I am in. Bread does not always have to be healthy as long as we are using chemical free quality products like Honeyville carries.
Greatest success to you in your cooking adventures.  Chef Brad ~ America’s Grain Guy