Ingredients for 24 buns

• 1 package dried yeast or 1 cake fresh yeast
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 4 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 + 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons sesame seed oil
  

1. Dissolve and mix thoroughly.
   1 package dried yeast(2 1/2 tsp.) or 1 cake fresh yeast
   1 cup lukewarm water
   1 cup flour
   
   Cover with cloth and leave in a warm oven (100F or 40 C) for 20 minutes until bubbles appear.
   
2. Dissolve:
   1/4 cup sugar
   2 tablespoons vegetable oil
   1/2 cup warm water
   Stir well.
   
3. Pour (2) and (1) into a bread machine . Add and mix well:
   3 1/2 cups flour
   Set the machine for "Dough".
   
4. If you are not using a bread machine, knead dough on lightly floured board until smooth. Put into extra large, greased bowl in a warm place. Cover with damp cloth and let it rise in a warm oven until double in bulk, about 45 minutes.
   
   
5. Divide into 2 portions. Roll each into roll 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Cut into 12 pieces (24 total).
   
6. Flatten each piece with palm of hand. Roll with rolling pin into 3 inch circles.
   
7. Brush with sesame seed oil. Indent middle of circle with chopstick.
   
8. You can put your favorite filling at this time. ( sweet bean paste or meat filling)
   
   
9. Place each roll on separate square piece of foil on steamer tray. Cover tray with towel. Let buns rise to double in bulk, about 30 minutes. Remove towel.
   
10. Steam, tightly covered, over briskly boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with Peking Duck, Crispy Duck. They freeze well.
    

Chicken and chives filling

1. Marinate:
   1/4 lb. chicken, ground or finely chopped
   1 tbsp. cornstarch
   1 tbsp. white wine or sherry
   1 clove garlic, finely chopped
   dash of salt
   
    
2. Marinate:
   8 shripms, finely chopped
   1 tsp. cornstarch
   1 tbsp. white wine or sherry
   1 clove garlic, finely chopped
   dash of salt
   
    
3. Saute shrimp and set it aside.
   
    
4. Saute chicken and set it aside.
   
    
5. Saute finely chopped 1/4 lb. chives with:
   1 clove garlic, finely chopped
   1 tbsp. Hoisin Sauce
   1 tsp. blackbean and garlic sauce
   
     
6. Put them all together.