Daring Baker's Challenge: May - PÃO DE QUEIJO

So I said I was going to do it and I did it! I'm officially a "daring" baker! I didn't join until now, though, because of my foreign travel plans. I figured I needed to wait until I had time to commit. And so May is the first official month as part of the challenge, for me!

This month was "PÃO DE QUEIJO" and, honestly, it was a complete failure for me. Okay, maybe not a COMPLETE failure. It sounded delicious! I love bread. I love cheese! What else could a girl want? The pictures showed delightfully fluffy scone-like breads. Looked amazing.

So I ordered me some Tapioca flour online and, once it arrived, I followed the provided recipe and baked! It was an interesting experience, I'll admit. It seemed to progress according to the instructions. But my little scone-thingies didn't puff up in the oven AT ALL. They remained hard little golf balls. So maybe I did something wrong--maybe?

Don't get me wrong. They tasted fine. Not great, but not bad. They were edible. They were okay. But they weren't anything I was going to keep around after they cooled, and most made their way into the trash. It was disappointing... they are highly popular and I imagine quite yummy when made right!

Regardless, here is the recipe I was provided. Maybe you'll have better luck (but if I were you, I'd find some at a store and eat them there!):

Recipe:

PÃO DE QUEIJO

Ingredients:
4 cups Tapioca Starch
1 cup Whole Milk
2 3/4 Tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. Salt
3 cups Monterey Jack Cheese
1-3 Large Eggs

Directions:
1. Heat milk, butter, and salt in small sauce pan until it boils. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Pour hot milk mixture over sifted tapioca starch and blend with a fork (it will form a lumpy mixture). Break down lumps and continue to stir until just warm.
3. Preheat oven to 400. Add the grated cheese and mix in with your hands.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing with your hands, until dough comes together in a soft but pliable dough. It can be slightly sticky.
5. Form balls with dough and placed on lined baking sheets. Bake for 25 minutes or until just brown on the bottom. Do not over bake.