Today I made dinner rolls using a recipe passed down through generations and the act made me remember.
Growing up I clearly remember eating deliciously tasty, buttery dinner rolls at special family gatherings like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and when I was lucky, Sunday dinner.
As a young child, I remember helping my mom stir the dough in what I now think of as a large particularly odd bowl. It was tall with straight sides, a flat bottom and had a lid as large as a pizza that could snap on top. It might have been a Tupperware bowl. I don’t know.
She would ask me, “Garon, come help me stir the dough,” and would hand me one of her many wooden spoons. Like many young boys, I was eager to please and more eager to prove how strong I was and would tirelessly stir not admitting even to myself how much my little arms burned.
So, today as I made dinner rolls for my own family gathering I was taken back to a different time and a different place. Back to a kitchen with my mom helping her stir dough. Watching her expertly roll it flat and cut it into circles with a glass.
During dinner, I remember passing the bread basket around the table and I remember how happy everyone was taking and eating a roll.
They were great with jam, or butter, and amazing just plain. They were fantastic during Thanksgiving cut in half with Turkey and stuffing, and cranberry in between.
The recipe I used today came from my mother’s mother’s mother. According to my sister, our great grandmother was famous for her dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls. The start to the dough is the same.
But I digress, the point of my post today is that I remembered. Memories that I thought I had lost from years ago came rushing back simply because I made bread.
These were all good memories and I’m basking in their warmth. I hope the feeling doesn’t wear off too soon lest I have to make rolls again. Next time I’ll make cinnamon rolls, I think? 😉
If you’d like to try a simple family recipe from simple folk, I’ve included it below.
Thanks for reading!
Author’s Comment: I would never suggest or imply that I am a good cook nor do I typically post recipes online. What follows is what I got from my mom and sister with a bit of me filling in the gaps.
Parkin Family Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP Yeast
- ¼ Cup Warm Water
- 1 Cup Warm Milk
- ¼ Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Butter-divided (1 stick)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3-½ Cups Flour
- 1 Egg
- Metal or Glass Cake Pan
Roll Instructions
- Combine Yeast & Warm Water and let sit
- Mix warm milk, sugar, ¼ Cup butter, & salt together well
- Add 1-½ Cup of Flour and beat
- Add yeast mixture & egg and mix well
- Add the remaining (2 Cups) of Flour
- Let Rise – Cover and allow the dough to rise for 1-½ to 2 hours, or until doubled in size
- Roll out dough until it is about ¼ of an inch thick
- Use a circular glass or cup to cut the dough
- Melt ¼ Cup Butter in a cake pan
- Drag rolls individually through butter, then fold and press down (Parker House Style)
- Cover & let rise 30-40 minutes
- Bake at 400 degrees ºF for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown
Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP Yeast
- ¼ Cup Warm Water
- 1 Cup Warm Milk
- ¼ Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Butter-divided (1 stick)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3-½ Cups Flour
- 1 Egg
- Metal or Glass Cake Pan
Instructions
- Combine Yeast & Warm Water and let sit
- Mix warm milk, sugar, ¼ Cup butter, & salt together well
- Add 1-½ Cup of Flour and beat
- Add yeast mixture & egg and mix well
- Add the remaining (2 Cups) of Flour and mix
- Let Rise – Cover and allow the dough to rise for 1-½ to 2 hours, or until doubled in size
- Roll out dough until it is about ¼ of an inch thick
- Spread ¼ Cup of melted butter on top
- Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins, & nuts
- Roll int a log & cut into ½ inch discs
- Place in a greased cake pan, cover & let rise for 30-40 minutes
- Bake at 375 degrees ºF for 18 – 25 minutes
Frosting
- Combine 2 – 3 Cups of powdered sugar, ¼ Cup melted butter, & vanilla extract
- Add milk and continue to mix until the right consistency
- Frost rolls after they have cooled (about 10-20 minutes)
