Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1/3 cup butter

2 teaspoons kosher salt (I used sea salt)

2 packages active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp)

2/3 cup warm (105-115º)

8-9 cups all purpose flour

3 eggs, beaten

Directions

Combine milk, 1/2 cup sugar, butter and salt in a medium saucepan.  Heat over medium heat until butter melts.  Remove from heat.  Allow to cool to lukewarm. (Try soaking the bottom of the pan in ice water to speed up the cool down.)

While the mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in warm water.  Let stand about 10 minutes.  If it doesn't bubble, you'll need to repeat this step.  It is important that the yeast bubbles. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly.  Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes. 

Add beaten eggs.  

Stir in the remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough.  The dough should be very soft.  It will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will stick to your finger when you touch it. If you add too much flour, the rolls will be dense and heavy. 

Place the bowl in a warm place covered with a towel.  Rise for 1 hour. 

Punch down dough.  Lightly flour your work surface and place dough onto the surface.  Divide in half. 

Spray2  9x13 glass pans with cooking spray.  Roll first half of dough into a rectangle and cut into 12 equal sized pieces.  The dough should be similar to play dough. Share each piece into a ball and place in pan.  Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Cover with a cloth and rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.  When dough has about 15 minutes left to rise, preheat oven to 375º

Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. 

Remove from oven and brush with melted butter. 

Source: Our Best Bites

Bread Sticks

I usually try to keep a box of frozen garlic bread in my freezer for the occasional spaghetti dinner that needs a little something extra.  But recently, for a family dinner, I decided to try my hand at homemade garlic bread sticks.  

I love the recipe because it was so easy and quick!

No more frozen garlic bread for this family!

Bread Sticks

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 tablespoon instant yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

 3 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients (except the melted butter) in the bowl of your stand mixer.  Knead for three minutes.  Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. 

Heat oven to 375º.

Spread the melted butter onto an 11x17 baking sheet.  

Roll out the dough about 1/4 to 1/2 inch think and cut into strips.  Be careful not to make them too long.  Twist slightly and place about 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet. 

Sprinkle with garlic salt and some other herbs of your choice (basil or thyme...or something finely crushed) and some grated Parmesan cheese. 

Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise for about 30 minutes. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. 

Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

The Best Dinner Rolls

Baking anything that is bready is a little intimidating.  Everyone loves a warm, soft, buttery roll so if you get it wrong, it's a big waste of time.    Plus, baking bread takes a really long time.  And I really hate wasting time!  

So I haven't really ventured too far into breadland.  But, I was drawn into these rolls because they seemed so simple. 

I couldn't believe how easy they actually were!  I've made them a few times, and each time they have turned out to be a perfect dinner roll to our dinner entree

The Best Dinner Rolls

 

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 cup warm milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

2 eggs

3-4 cups flour

butter, melted

Directions

In a small bowl (cereal size) mix yeast with 1/4 cup warm water and 1/2 teaspoon sugar.  Let stand until bubbly.  (about 10 minutes)

In a medium bowl or the bowl to your stand mixer, mix 1 cup warm milk, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt with a wooden spoon. 

Add 1 cup of flour to mixture and mix well.  Add eggs and beat until smooth.  Add the yeast mixture and mix on high until smooth.  (with the whisk attachment on your stand mixer)

Switch to the kneading hook on your stand mixer and add 3-4 cups of flour to the mixture.  Dough should be very sticky.  Pour the dough into a large bowl.  Cover with a towel and let rise for a few hours or until it has doubled in size.

Punch it down and divide it in half. 

Roll the dough onto a floured surface making a circle about 12 inches in diameter.  Dough should be about 3/8" thick. 

Brush dough with melted butter.  Cut circle with a pizza cutter into 12 pieces (like a pizza). 

Roll each triangle from the rounded edge to the point to make a crescent roll.  Place into a greased pan.  

Cover with a towel and let rise for a few hours until they double in size. 

Bake at 375º until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.  

**If you touch the rolls, they should bounce back when they are done.  If they don't, they need to bake longer. 

Brush with melted butter while still warm. 

Try not to eat every. single.one!

Enjoy!

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Source: Lil Luna