Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Roll Making and Reading


 I'm currently testing out dinner roll recipes.
This came as a result of the heavy rocks I tried to pass off as whole wheat cloverleaf rolls at Christmas dinner.
It was a new recipe I tried.  I was a bit concerned when they hadn't risen much at all after the required rising time.  I went ahead and baked them anyway.  Big mistake!  What emerged from the oven were small, heavy sad looking cloverleafs.  With no back-up plan in place I put them in the bread basket and hoped for the best.
It came as no real surprise when partial rolls were left on plates.

I have made homemade rolls in the past with good success.
For whatever reason this batch was a major dud.
The ingredients were all fresh, so I think it had to do with the rising not happening properly.  To be truthful that is always the thing that scares me away from bread making.  It often doesn't seem to rise like it should for me.
Yesterday, I found this recipe on one of my favorite cooking blogs and thought it would become my first test subject.
As you can see in the first photo the dough looked very nice coming out of the bread machine.
I shaped them, covered them with a tea towel and set them in the oven to rise.  The oven was off, but I put a small pan of hot water on the bottom shelf.
Once the rising time was up they were looking good.  Doubled in size and nicely shaped.
I didn't use this method for the Christmas rolls.  They just sat on the counter.  Maybe this had something to do with the major flop??


 After baking, they looked that nice golden brown color I was hoping for.


The true test, of course, took place at the dinner table.
They were a nice soft texture with a slightly sweet taste.
Best of all, they were light as a feather.  So unlike those Christmas rocks.
They made a batch of 15.  We kept six out and put the rest in the freezer.    I'm hoping to find a few foolproof and delicious recipes before Easter rolls around.   That way there will be no surprises at the dinner table.
This recipe is a definite keeper in the soft, slightly sweet category.
Next up I'd like to try some crusty types and then maybe some with herbs.  I used to have a good recipe for one with potatoes and rosemary.  Can't seem to find that recipe, however.
If you have any good candidates, feel free to let me know about them.  I'll keep you posted if I come across any more good ones.
Also, if you have good tips for getting bread dough to rise properly, I'm curious to know your secrets. 



In other exciting news, I've decided to start keeping track of how many books I read this year.  I know, riveting isn't it?  
 Without trying to meet any goals or challenges, I'm just curious to know how many books I read in a year and figured this might be the best place to keep track of it all.
The first one for this year is Duskin by Grace Livingston Hill.  I had never heard of this author until I began blogging and now find it fun to find her books at the thrift shops.  This was an enjoyable read, although I wouldn't say it was one of my favorites.

 
The White Gate by Mary Ellen Chase was another thrift shop find.
Written in 1954 it was this description that caught my interest:

"The white gate around which she centers its chapters is the symbol to a child of all which life holds of excitement and wonder.  Within the gate are its certainties:  an old house in Maine, a country family, a great warm kitchen with red geraniums in its windows; books; a flock of pigeons in the barn loft."

Sounded like the perfect cozy wintertime read to me and it was.
I read this in a few short sittings and am now onto book 3.  This one is also from the thrift shop, but an entirely different type of book than these first two.

Looks like we're in for some wintery weather in the next few days.
Should be nice for more reading time.  Are you reading anything good right now?

 

16 comments:

  1. Hi Kim! Yes, the dough option on the bread maker worked for me at Thanksgiving. I put a mug of water in the microwave for one minute and then added the rolls to rise. They were yummy! (I think I used the sweet roll recipe which was a tad sweet, so next time I'll just use the regular recipe in the bread machine recipe book). Yours look good! Can I have one?

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  2. Good rolls are a must at Easter. I usually just make Parker House Rolls by hand. I do NOT trust my bread maker. I have the book Dustin; won't be reading it. Glad that the second was better. I haven't done too much reading...just the paragraph or two at bedtime before I fall asleep.

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  3. I like your "rolling" pun! I read Grace Livingstone Hill books by the dozens years ago - now I find them a bit saccharine. I'm reading a couple of things - a history/current events book, a book about a man walking through Wales, and Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English. The last one I haven't begun yet, but I hope to this evening.
    The rolls look delicious!

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  4. Your rolls are beautiful, Kim! I smiled as I read how you did the rise with this batch...in the cold oven with a pan of warm water under it. There was an older shut-in lady that I used to visit many years ago when our children were young and she taught me that same method. :) I am making note of the Mary Ellen Chase book so I can look for it. Our son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters live in Maine and the description you shared reminded me so much of Maine. It is a beautiful state.

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  5. Your rolls are beautiful, Kim! I smiled as I read how you did the rise with this batch...in the cold oven with a pan of warm water under it. There was an older shut-in lady that I used to visit many years ago when our children were young and she taught me that same method. :) I am making note of the Mary Ellen Chase book so I can look for it. Our son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters live in Maine and the description you shared reminded me so much of Maine. It is a beautiful state.

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  6. You were so smart to get your rolls to rise that way! It's so hard to get them to rise in the winter when it's so cool.

    I've always wished that I had been keeping a reading list over the years. Just imagine how many it would be over time. :)

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  7. I basically use my one bread machine dough recipe and then make various 'forms' with it ( see today's blog entry). Today I did substitute half a cup of oat bran for equal amount of flour just to make them a bit healthier.
    Last year I did what you are planning for this year, that is, I kept track of the books I read. By some fluke I read exactly 52, one for every week of the year!!

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  8. I usually don't make rolls/bread because of that very thing. The rising part. But I do have one recipe that I go to when I want to make a simple bread -- it's from the China Study Cookbook and is very quick and easy. I was going to keep up with all the projects I've crocheted this year but have already lost count. Still have a book started in November that I need to finish up and then I can move on to another one. Looks like you found some lovely old books at the thrift store. Have a good day!

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  9. I've not made my own bread rolls - your latest ones look delicious Kim.
    Great idea to keep a book list - I mean to this each year but forget. . . . . then forget again when trying to recall just what the heck I did read!

    Stay warm - could be a bad night and then tomorrow a real icy day if the storm hits!
    Hugs - Mary

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  10. Glad your second batch of biscuits came out perfectly, Kim. Yes, it's true that a good rising must have warmth. My mother and grandmother would put the bowl of covered dough on or near the radiator in the winter time.

    Enjoy your cozy reading time. It's very windy here near Houston, Texas, with lots of storm clouds surrounding and a 'big' cold front moving coming in...which means it will be in the 30s to 50s for a couple of days...otherwise it's been like late spring almost all winter :( I like the spring, but just not in the winter. We need a break from the heat in these parts.

    Hugs,
    Marianne xo

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  11. For many years I've listed the books I've read. Some years have more than others but overall I manage at least one book a week. It's always interesting to look back and remember this or that particular book that I might have enjoyed more than others. Love the older books you have especially the one with the dust jacket. Those are getting harder and harder to find.

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  12. Okay, I feel like such a failure because I have never been a good bread maker...not biscuits, not rolls, not any kind. Those you have made look beautiful, and delicious. The recipe sounds fairly simple. I think I will try it. My husband would faint! He loves yeast rolls.

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  13. Okay, I feel like such a failure because I have never been a good bread maker...not biscuits, not rolls, not any kind. Those you have made look beautiful, and delicious. The recipe sounds fairly simple. I think I will try it. My husband would faint! He loves yeast rolls.

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  14. Haven't tried dinner rolls, I just buy them but think I'll try making some.
    I turn the oven on warm for a few minutes, then turn it off and put my dough to rise in then. Works good for me.
    Right now I'm reading Innocence by Dean Koontz. It's number 2 for me. I've given myself a goal to read 50 books this year.

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  15. I havent made real homemade bread or dinner rolls in years. maybe youve inspired me! I like sweet breads. no.. never mind the bread.. I just like cakes! lol!! just kidding. your rolls look scrumptious!
    have a great weekend!!
    xoxo
    vivian

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  16. Kim - Your rolls look and sound delicious! I've heard of putting the dough in the oven with a pan of water. Looks like it worked real well.

    Judy

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