Melon Bread & Imo Kenpi

More snacks we love... here is melon bread (meron pan to hear someone say it).

"Melon pan... is a sweet bread from Japan. It is a soft, round bread covered in a crisp, cookie-like coating. Its appearance is supposed to resemble a melon, such as a rock melon. Typically, they are not melon flavoured (although melon essence is sometimes used in order to enhance the aroma)... The word has an interesting etymology, since Melon is a loan word from English, while Pan is Portuguese for bread." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melon_bread

A recipe for melonpan, which I will try out when we get home. Got the recipe from here.

JAPANESE MELON PAN 1. Pan 2. Topping - 1 packet dry yeast - 1/4 c. water - 1/4 tsp. sugar *** - 1 + 3/4 c. flour - 1/2 Tbs. salt - 1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. sugar ^^ - 3 Tbs. butter - 7/8 c. water - 1 + 1/4 c. flour - 1 pinch baking powder - 2/3 c. butter - 10 Tbs. sugar - 1 egg - 1/2 a lemon peel - a little bit of melon essence* * use pineapple extract if you can't find it

Part I: 1. Heat water to 100-110 F and add yeast and sugar. Let stand for around ten minutes. 2. Combine remaining bread ingredients in a bowl and add yeast. You'll probably have to add some more flour. 3. After you've added enough flour so that it isn't terribly sticky kneed it for 10-20 min. on a floured surface. Add more flour as needed. 4. Lightly grease the bowl and place the dough back in it, turning it over once to moisten the top. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 2 hours. Dough should at least double in bulk. 5. Punch dough and kneed lightly for 10 min. Pinch off walnut sized pieces and shape them into balls. Place on a cookie sheet and let rise in a warm place for 15 min. Part II: 6. Mix all the ingredients for the cookie topping together. Sometimes it helps later on if you melt the butter. 7. Coat the bread rolls (which should be puffy now) with the cookie topping. If you've melted the butter it'll be a little easier...I usually just wash my hands really well and use them. 8. If you wish, sprinkle the top with sugar. 9. Bake at 350-375 F for 12-15 min., or until edges are slightly brown. 10. If you want them to have that mushy, just bought in Japan taste cover them individually with plastic wrap right after you take them out of the oven.

And then there is imo kenpi, one of my favorite snacks. We occasionally get these at the Asian food markets in Atlanta, as well. They are a sweet potato sticks which I think are fried. They are quite yummy, and very addictive! So, imo means potato and I can't find what the meaning to kenpi might be, so we'll just call them sticks for now. *smile*