Two Baking Successes!!

I did it! I successfully made rolls and bread that rose the way they were meant to. Nothing makes your day go right like seeing dough double in size. Seriously it just warms your heart. Okay not really but it is quite a good feeling to see your dough rise and then have the rolls rise too. Two different recipes did this for me today. That is almost unheard of in my house. Go me! Again, my rolls are nothing much to look at but hey, the bread looked fabulous. (How can bread look bad? Wait. I am sure I will one day see.)

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Brown & Serve Rolls
from Coleen's Recipe
Print Recipe

4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon dry active yeast
1 cup milk
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (room temperature)

In a stand mixer, stir together 2 cups flour and the yeast. In a saucepan heat milk, sugar, butter and salt until it is warm and butter is almost melted (120 degrees). Add the milk mixture and eggs to the flour mixture and beat on low speed (with paddle attachment) for about 30 seconds. Scrape down the interior of the mixing bowl and then beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Mix in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and switch to your stand mixer's dough hook. Knead on low for 5 minutes. Place dough in greased or cooking sprayed bowl and cover with plastic wrap (spray the plastic wrap with cooking spray so it won't stick to the dough. Let rise in warm place until it doubles which will take about an hour. Punch dough down and let rest for 15 minutes. Divide dough in half and work with one half at a time. Roll half of the recipe into a 12" circle and brush with melted butter. Cut dough into 12 wedges. Starting at the wide end, roll towards point. Place point side down on lightly greased baking sheet (2 to 3 inches apart). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until double (30 to 45 minutes). If you are going to completely bake them immediately, bake them in a preheated 375 oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. If you are going to do the "brown & serve" method, bake them in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove and cool on wire rack. To retain their shape, freeze them on a flat surface or cookie sheet. When they are frozen, you can put them all in a freezer bag.

This recipe will make two dozen rolls, depending on how large you make your rolls. Defrost them for 15 minutes, pop them into a 375 oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Two other roll shape options are the "knot" and the "cloverleaf". To get the "knot, roll out 12" ropes and tie a simple knot in the center. To complete the "knot", tuck one loose end under the roll and bring the other loose end over the top and tuck it inside the original knot. To get the "cloverleaf" shape, simply roll four small balls of dough and place them in a single cupcake pan (4 balls make one bread roll).

++I doubled the recipe and made 12 cloverleaf rolls, 12 knot rolls, and 12 crescent rolls to freeze. I also made 12 crescent rolls to serve with dinner tonight.
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English Muffin Bread
from Cooking During Stolen Moments
Print Recipe

3 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast (or 1 packet)
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
corn meal, for dusting the pan

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, sugar, salt and baking powder. Mix for 1 minute. While flour is mixing, pour milk and water into a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Pour into mixing bowl and beat for 2 minutes. Add remaining cup of flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix for 3-5 minutes (or knead by hand for 5-7 minutes). Dough will be somewhat sticky. Grease a loaf pan and sprinkle with cornmeal. Spread dough into pan, cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

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The bread is delicious. I can't wait until tomorrow for breakfast. I think it will be great toasted and served with over easy eggs or just toasted and served with jelly.

The Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake was delicious too.

Now I want to make something for dessert. Maybe Pumpkin Sheet Cake or Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Studded Oatmeal or Blonde Brookies (is it a brownie or a cookie?) or Blueberry Boy Bait. They all sound delicious. We will see how motivated I am in a bit.