This is the second year that I spent Chinese New Year in China. I think, in fact, this to be the best time to enjoy the city, as Shanghai gets completely empty, quite and clean.

Like last year, my friends and I celebrated the new year’s eve at my friend Morgan’s. She lives on the 19th floor and from her balcony we can enjoy a perfect view of the crazy midnight fireworks show. Something I’ve never seen anywhere else in the world.

Morgan asked me to help her preparing some snacks for the party, as she does not particularly enjoy cooking, so I did, and among other things I made this rolls with speck and mozzarella. For the dough I’ve used my light brioche recipe.

Give this a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients (serves 6):

for the sponge

• 50 g flour
• 60 ml milk
• 2 tbsp instant dry yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar

for the dough

• 200 g all purpose flour
• 40 ml milk
• 1 + 1 eggs
• 45 g unsalted butter
• 45 g sugar

for the filling

• 80 g speck
• 200 g mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp olive oil

Start off by dissolving yeast and sugar into 50 ml of lukewarm milk, let it stand on the counter for about 10 min until it gets all bubbling

then add the flour give it a stir

and let it rest covered by plastic wrap for about 30 min

Next up, move on preparing the dough. In a big bowl combine 200 g of flour, 45 of sugar, the sponge, 1 egg

melt the butter and pour it into the bowl

Next up, roll out the dough into a rectangular shape

take some speck

and lay it onto the dough

then slice up the mozzarella

and lay it on the speck

Now roll up the dough into a long snake shape

pinching the edges well so they wont open while cooking

then slice it up into about 1.5 cm slices.

Grease a pan with the olive oil and place the slices face up

Cover with a towel and let it rest for about 1h. Than bake beat up the second egg lightly brush the rolls

then bake them for about 30 min at 180 C (375F).

Remove from the oven, let the rolls cool down and serve

Love

– LittleDani