I cook many things very well, and everyone loves my food, but my breads are what everyone thinks is "to die for" and what freinds and family look forward to me making the most. I am always the person everyone signs me up on every potluck to bring - the rolls or the bread items.
Various homemade breads is also what my 16 year old niece asked for me to give her for her Christmas gift this year, she prefers that over money or anything else. So on that note, my dinner rolls recipe :
1 t. Granulated Sugar
2-1/4 t. Active Dry Yeast
1/4 c. warm water (105 - 110 degrees F.)
1 c. Warm Milk (depending on what kind of milk, you may need to scald it and let it cool) (105 - 110 degrees F )
1/4 c. Melted Butter (real butter.. if using unsalted then add a touch more salt to the recipe)
1 t. Salt
1/2 T. White Vinegar
4 c. All purpose flour
1 beaten egg brought to room temperature
Instructions are important :
Mix water, yeast, and 1 t. Sugar then allow yeast to proof 5 minutes or so.
Mix 1 c warm milk, melted butter, 1/4 c. Sugar and egg together - add to proofed yeast mixture and mix
Mix in, using paddle attachment of stand mixer 1-1/2 c. Flour and your salt and vinegar... let rest a couple minutes then add remaining flour and knead (using dough hook) til dough is right - soft and elastic, smooth. Around 5-8 minutes.
Grease a pan for rising, (i use olive oil) add dough and turn to grease all sides of dough. .. cover and let rise til double.
Punch down, do a quick knead to redistribute, then shape rolls. I divide dough into 3 ounce portions and shape into a ball, then place into a 9x13 cake pan.
Let rise til double again.
Bake at 350 F. for 20 minutes. Brush tops with melted butter - cool 10 minutes then remove from pan to cool on racks. Serve hot or package once fully cooled.
This makes approximately 15 large rolls.
I add the salt and the vinegar with the flour so it doesn't interact too negatively with the yeast.