Great-Grandma's Rolls

 Ever since I can remember, these have been at our family dinners.  My grandpa spends hours making them for us because he knows how much we love them.  They are fluffy, the perfect amount of golden, and get devoured.

A few years ago I decided to ask him for his secret recipe and see if he would let me make them with him, so I could find out all his little tricks to making the perfect dinner roll.  He was happy to help and he told me the first secret about the recipe.

For as long as I can remember we've called these "Grandpa's Rolls" because he always made them.  I just figured it was his recipe, or handed down from his family.  But it actually came from my grandma's family.  Her mother was the one that would make them.  I saw the original recipe, all marked up with my great-grandma's writing, smudges here and there, a few butter stains and bits of flour caked on.  It was magical. We started making the rolls.  It was such a special day for me.

As you know, rolls take awhile to make.  It's not a quick throw ingredients together and toss them in the oven.  They take time, they take patience, they take care.  It was so fun spending the entire day with my grandpa, talking with him about memories from when he was a kid, seeing him work with his hands, taking such care to knead the bread.  I'm so grateful I got to share this day with him, to learn from him, to learn about him.

Okay, let's get to the recipe shall we?

Here's what you'll need:
.3 eggs
.1/2 c. warm water
.2 Tbs. yeast
.2 Tbs. sugar
.3/4 c. sugar
.2 c. milk
.1/2 c. butter flavored shortening
.7-7 1/2 c. flour
.2 tsp. salt

The easiest thing I've found is to use my three Pyrex liquid measuring cups and my Bosch.

1. In a 1 c. measuring cup whisk eggs until frothy
2. In a 2 c. measuring cup combine water, yeast and 2 Tbs. sugar, let sit until foamy
3. In a 4 c. measuring cup combine remaining sugar, shortening & milk.  Microwave 3-4 minutes until shortening is mostly melted.

4. Put 4 c. flour into your mixer.

5. Add your eggs, milk & yeast and knead for 1-2 minutes.

6. Cover & let sit until dough reaches 1" from the top of your bowl

7.  Add salt 3-3/12 c. more flour and knead 3-5 more minutes.  Then remove beaters and smooth dough around bowl.

8.  Cover and let rise to the top of the bowl again

9.  Pour all the dough onto a greased countertop.  I love working with this dough.  It is not sticky, but so pliable.

10. Roll dough so it's about 1/2" thick.

11.  Cut 3-3 1/2" circles out.  Fold in half and pinch edges together.  Place on greased baking sheets (about 12-15 per sheet depending on size)

12. Cover & let rise one more time about 30-45 minutes

13.  Remove towel, bake in oven at 350 for 14 minutes, turning at 7 minutes

You're done!  Pull them out and let them cool, or be like me and start eating right away!

Seriously, these rolls are divine! I prepped ahead for Thanksgiving, and now three out of my four bags are in the freezer so I don't scarf them all before the big feast!

I hope you love these rolls as much as I do, and find joy in making them, just as I do.  Make them with your family, make them with your friends.  Make time to make memories as you do so.  It's so worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Great-Grandma's Dinner Rolls:
.3 eggs
.1/2 c. warm water
.2 Tbs. yeast
.2 Tbs. sugar
.3/4 c. sugar
.2 c. milk
.1/2 c. butter flavored shortening
.7-7 1/2 c. flour
.2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. In a small (1 c.) bowl/glass combine eggs & whisk until frothy, set aside.
2. In another small (2 c.) bowl/glass combine water, yeast & 2 Tbs. sugar, mix & let sit until foamy
3. In a medium (4 c.) bowl/glass combine 3/4 c. sugar, milk & shortening.  Microwave 3-4 minutes or until shortening is mostly melted.
4. In a mixer pour 4 c. flour.  Add eggs, yeast & milk.  Knead 1-2 minutes.
5. Cover & let rise until dough reaches 1" from the top.
6. Add salt & 3-3 1/2 c. more flour. Knead 3-5 minutes.  Cover & let rise again to top
7. Place dough on greased counter and roll to 1/2" thick
8. Cut 3-3 1/2" circles, fold in half, pinch edges and place on greased baking sheets (12-15 per sheet)
9. Cover & let rise one more time (preheat oven to 350)
10. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes.  Rotated and bake another 7 minutes.