Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Recipe Tutorial

When I posted recently about DC's 65th surprise birthday party, I told how I "got rid of him" so I could set up the party by asking him to go home and bake the rolls I had put out to rise during church. Somebody asked me for the recipe to these delicious, light-as-a-feather crescent rolls. I am going to do a step-by-step tutorial, because they can be sort of tricky.

EDIT: Lest you think I am better than I am, I must admit that I only make these for special occasions. It's usually the Pillsbury Doughboy and me, as Diane commented below! I happened to have two special occasions in the last two weeks, so did them twice. One was particularly calculated to get DC home and away from the church so I could set up for above-mentioned surprise pot luck birthday party! ;-)


This recipe came from a great recipe book called Sunday Dinner Cookbook. The rolls are designed to be mixed late on Sunday evening, to sit on the cupboard all night, to be rolled out in the morning, to rise for 6 hours (less if you use Rapid Rise Yeast), and baked when you get home from church. Remember this was written in the "olden days" when Sunday School was at 9:45, church at 10:45 or 11:00, to get home a little after noon. They never foresaw all the different scenarios for church that were coming! Anyway, here goes:



Hot Rolls
1 pkg. yeast, dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour



Mix dissolved yeast, sugar, eggs, warm water. Add oil, salt, and flour.
Let stand, covered, 8 hours or overnight.
Roll lightly, divide into 2 parts; roll out as if you were making pie crust.
Cut into 8-12 sections the shape of pieces of pie.
Roll wide edge into the point, like crescent rolls.
Place on greased cookie sheet, let rise 6 hours.
Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees, until golden brown.



Keep in mind that I am not a Better Homes and Gardens or Good Housekeeping kind of cook or baker. I'm pretty plain. I did bring out my beautiful hand-painted wooden spoon given to me by a missionary from Italy, so it could show off a bit!

This is what the dough should look like when everything's mixed.


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Tuck it in for the night with a nice blanket - mine is an old-fashioned one embroidered by my sweet mother-in-law - oops, it says Tuesday, not Saturday!


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The next morning, it's nice and puffy in the bowl,


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I use a very old, wearing out Tupperware mat to very lightly and gently form it into an elongated ball - dust the mat with a bit of flour, and use a little more as your roll it out. I use a wooden spoon to release it from the sides of the bowl - and I dip the wooden spoon in flour as well. Be very gentle as you knead.


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Divide into 3 even portions. Put two of them aside, on a little flour.

Roll each ball into a circle. Cut into 8 or 12 triangles, depending upon whether you want petite crescent rolls, or if you want them to be more substantial.


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I'm only showing you my two decent cookie sheets - the other one looks like I've had it since my bridal shower 35 years ago - it could be that I have!


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Cover again with light cloths and let rise for 4-6 hours. If you use the Rapid Rise yeast, it will be 4.


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Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

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Let me know if you try them. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. I seem to bring them to most family celebrations on both sides of the family. I think Kristen can eat about 10 at a sitting - but then they are really small when I make them. They are so light and fluffy and delicious.

20 comments:

Chrissie said...

Thank you so much, Dawn! It's sweet of you to write me. I have tried to make crescent rolls before, and have been looking for a proven recipe - This is great! I keep fiddling with that quilt, and I've almost figured it out - so I'll soon show what I've decided to do. God bless, dear friend!
Chrissie

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

They look delicious!

Diane@Diane's Place said...

They do look delicious, Dawn. I love crescent rolls and have made them many times but it's been a long time. I usually just make regular yeast rolls.

Hope all is well with you and yours, my friend. I've been really busy, celebrating my birthday and tomorrow, my anniversary. I hope to post Thursday evening.

Love and hugs,

Diane

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Dawn,

I am here by way of Diane from Diane's Place. I have been reading your blog for a while but have never posted. I am new to the blogworld. I started blogging last month. I have my own site called Karen's Korner. I hope you will stop by sometime. I am not computer literate, so it's going to take me a while to learn how to add things to my site and all. Those crecent rolls look so good. I love to cook and I watch Food Network all the time. I don't know if I could wait that long for them to get done tho, but I may have to give them a try sometime. I am glad that you and Barb got to meet each other. I don't live too far from Diane, and I'm hoping that we can meet sometime. Well, just thought I would stop by and let you know about me. Take care and have a great day.

Karen H.

Diane Viere said...

Dawn,

You put me to shame! The Pillsbury Dough Boy and I make crescents ocassionally--our recipe is a little less demanding! Open package, roll dough into crescent shapes, put in oven, take out of oven!!!!!

These look fabulous...and I loved seeing the older Tupperware! They just don't make those great colors anymore, do they!

Diane

Unknown said...

Dawn, I have a "very old, wearing-out Tupperware mat EXACTLY like that. I use it all the time for my baking and I need another. It is cracked and stiff and I love it because it is from my mom.

Barb said...

Wow, Dawn. What a great tutorial. I can't wait to try these. Honestly, you make it look easy. And I love that hand painted wooden spoon. AND the blanket over your dough.

You should do this more often - this is seriously great!

Nadine said...

I've never tried these homemade, but my family does love them. Thanks for the recipe.

Carole Burant said...

I love crescent rolls and although I've often made my own bread, I've never tried making these...I've copied the recipe and will give it a try next week! I need to buy flour on my next shopping trip as well as yeast...will post about it when I make them:-) xox

Susie said...

I've never made crescent rolls either, but you make it sound quite uncomplicated.
I have lots of that vintage baking stuff too and I would never part with it.
Great tutorial!!
xo

Kristen said...

They are the absolute best, most fabulous rolls in the world. I could eat them every day! But tutorial or not, I would never make them as good as yours. Maybe I might have to try someday though.

Linda said...

Yummy Dawn! I now have a craving for hot rolls and butter! I'm not one of those cooks either, but a long time ago (after reading the Little House Books) I began baking my own bread. It really was delicious. I haven't done it in years. I know exactly who would eat the bulk of it!
Thanks for your sweet comment. I plan to always keep in touch.
Oh - sorry about the Rockies. Maybe they got it out of their systems and will tear it up tonight. We're rootin' for em.

Anonymous said...

I'll vouch for those rolls too...I remember them from Thanksgiving and Christmas meals..So good.

Midlife Mom said...

Oh my, slurp, slurp do those ever look good! I WILL be making them when I get home from vacation!!!!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!!!!! xoxox,

Mary said...

Mmm! Those rolls look delicious. Today the weather man said we may have a white Halloween. Those hot rolls would sure hit the spot if that is the case. Thanks, Dawn, for sharing the recipe.

Unknown said...

They look perfect and delicious!

nancygrayce said...

Those look wonderful, but I'm afraid I went through my bread of any kind baking stage in my 20's ....But yours look like melt in the mouth good!

Rachel said...

oooh, i was going to ask you as well!! they look gooooood :)

Looney Mom™ said...

I'm so TOTALLY going to try these. They look delicious. Thanks for sharing. I'm addicted to carbs!

Musings of a Housewife said...

Oh my gosh, YUM. I so want to try these! (Here from Midlife Mom.)