Home » Thanksgiving Magazine

Fresh Baked Memories

jgelien by jgelien
Last updated: 12/21/2011

Mom's Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls

At Mom's Thanksgiving dinner, turkey was only a side dish. Her dinner rolls took center stage. The timing of their appearance was impeccable. She would pop them in the oven and call the family to dinner. We were washed up, seated and Dad in the middle of the blessing, when the heavenly aroma of freshly baked bread became almost unbearable. The second Dad finished, the timer would sound. Mom would jump up, race to the kitchen, and reappear with a big smile and a basket of hot rolls.Year after year. Perfect timing, perfect rolls. Perfect Thanksgiving.                                                                                                                                    

            

Childhood Thanksgivings

For Which I am Truly Thankful

Mom loved big family holiday dinners. She collected antiques of all kinds, so we always sat on mismatched antique wooden chairs around a huge old clawfoot table, set with collectible china and glassware. In the center would be a cornucopia filled with whatever struck her fancy that year.

There was always a little something missed or forgotten. One year mom forgot to buy napkins. No problem. She ran to her room and came back with a huge length of fabric which she proceeded to wind loosely, all the way around the table, across each person's lap so that everyone had a section available. "Community napkin," she happily declared.

Our large table only fit in the family room where the television was. Mom did not allow TV on while we ate, that was family time. One Thanksgiving, however, my brothers were in the middle of watching a show when it was time to eat. Over Mom's objections, they turned it down, but left it on. We bowed our heads to say grace and the TV suddenly went silent, the screen went black, and an announcer said in a deep voice... "One moment, please." We were all startled but Mom looked smug. I guess we knew what her prayer had been.

Thanksgiving Day always ended with games, laughter and lots of music. Everyone either played an instrument (or faked it pretty well) or sang. We had so much fun and the memories still make me smile.
            

Now for That Recipe

Thanksgiving Dinner Rolls

Mom and Dad passed away in 1999. My sister-in-law, Bonnie, was a huge fan of Mom's rolls and at one point she sadly commented that now she would never get to taste them again because Mom had never given her the secret recipe.
I told her I could give her the recipe. It was in Mom's Betty Crocker cookbook.
Bonnie looked at me, stunned. "It can't be!" she said. "They were better than any other rolls I've ever eaten. She had to have put a secret ingredient in them."
Actually, Bonnie was right. There was another ingredient. Mom always added love.

Betty Crocker Traditional Roll Dough


  • 1 package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 c warm water (105 to 115
  • 3/4 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled) I don't scald it and it works fine
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup shortening, butter or margarine, softened ( I use butter)
  • 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups flour


Step One- Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, salt, egg, shortening and
2 cups of flour to make dough easy to handle.

Step Two- Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up.
Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. ( Dough is ready if you stick two fingertips 1/2 inch into dough and the impressions remain when you remove them)

Step Three- Punch down dough ( Plunge fist into center of dough). Form into desired shapes.
For plain round rolls ( pictured above) shape into 1-inch balls. Place in lightly greased 9-inch
cake pan. Brush with butter.
For clover-leafs (pictured at top of lens) shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place 3 balls in each greased cup of a muffin tin. Brush with butter.

Step Four- Let rise 20 minutes before baking. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake rolls 15-20 minutes.

Note- I personally make my dough in my bread machine. This not only saves time
but the machine kneaded rolls turn out extra light and fluffy.

Directions- Into the bread machine pan, add the liquids, then the dry ingredients, ending with the yeast.
Set the machine on dough setting. When the dough is finished with the first rising, the machine will beep.
Remove dough, shape as desired; place in greased pans. Let rise 20 minutes and bake at 400 degrees, 15-20 minutes.

A Great Measuring Tip

You Knead To Watch

How to Measure Flour 1
by kneadtobeloaved | video info

2 ratings | 2,177 views
curated content from YouTube

Step-By-Step to Perfect Rolls

Loading
            

My Favorite Appliance

You Won't Knead Anything Else

Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker

Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker

Amazon Price: $174.00 (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now

Product Description
Amazon.com Review
Providing myriad options, this automatic bread maker embodies the marvels of 21st century electronic convenience and choice. Yes, it mixes, kneads, rises, and bakes bread in three loaf sizes up to 2-1/2 pounds. But its digital controls go much further, offering settings for white, whole wheat, multigrain, and French (crisp crust, open texture) breads, each made according to what's best for that particular style. Other settings permit rapid baking and baking sandwich bread with a soft crust. For raisin (or other dried-fruit) bread, a beeper signals when to add the fruit so it's not crushed during kneading. Crust color--dark or light--can be selected as well.
The machine automatically adds yeast at the proper time from a dispenser on the unit's lid. It also bakes non-yeast, quick breads-- like banana and gingerbread--and sweet cakes. And it mixes, kneads, and rises doughs for pizza, focaccia, croissants, and other pastries without baking them. A timer permits the machine to be programmed up to 13 hours in advance so fresh bread or cake is available for breakfast or dinner. For cleanup convenience, the baking pan is nonstick. Clad in metal and packing 550 watts of power, the machine measures 14 inches wide, 13.5 inches high, and 9 inches deep. Its instruction booklet is exceptionally easy to understand and includes recipes for 40 breads and doughs along with an insightful guide to baking basics and illustrated tips for making pastries. --Fred Brack

Betty Crocker Then... and Now

Loading

Like A Little Turkey With Your Rolls?

Loading
Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by
            

Countdown to Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day: November 24, 2011

Please Support March of Dimes

As a mother of twins who were born two months prematurely, I have a special place in my heart for this amazing organization.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

I'm Thankful You Dropped By

Please Share This Lens. It's For Charity


Not what we say about our blessings, but
how we use them, is the true measure of
our thanksgiving. --WT Purkiser

submit
Show All
            


Explore your inner Squid. Join our amazing Squidoo community.
It's free, it's fun and it's informative. Join Today

I also hang out at my blog- as I was saying...
Loading

This Thanksgiving Magazine page written by

jgelien

Welcome to my March of Dimes charity lens, an organization close to my heart.

A Cornucopia of Seasonal Delights

Connect with Thanksgiving Magazine

This author recommends...

More Memories 

Loading