"LA MERENDA "

In Italy around 4pm we give children a "merenda" (snack) to keep them
energetic till dinner time, that is usually around 8pm.
For snack, we prepare nice sandwiches filled with prosciutto or cheese,
brioches spread with jam or Nutella or bread slices topped with tomatoes
and olive oil.
I have blended the Italian snack time with the English tea time and I have
created my treat time in company of a cup of green tea and something nice
to eat.
Today is a rainy day and it's the perfect time to stay home
and prepare something nice for my "merenda":

panini al latte (small, soft breads).

Ingredients:
500 g flour
1 tsp dry yeast
20 cl milk
10 cl water
40 g confectioners sugar
1 tsp salt
80 g melted butter
1 egg yolk

Let yeast melt in lukewarm milk.
In a bowl mix flour with salt, sugar, water and milk with yeast.
Form a dough then add melted butter and mix it well in the dough.
Form a ball, cover with a cloth and let it raise for 1 hour.
Transfer dough on a wooden board and knead it.
Cut it in 16 pieces, knead each one and give them a cilindric form.
With a brush wash egg yolk on top of each panini.

Let them rest for another hour, then bake at 425 F (250 C) for 20 minutes,
till golden.
Let them cool down.
Slice them in half and fill them with ham or cheese....

.....or spread them with Nutella !