Monday, November 23, 2009

A Little Pink Fairytale Cottage...and Mom's Amazing Dinner Rolls!

Good evening, all! Wondered if I'd ever get here tonight! It's been a crazy day, and we're not done yet! I think we're all in that mode this week--those of us in the States, anyway! Thanksgiving's not such a big deal elsewhere, is it?!

I don't have too much to show you tonight, but I love what I've got for you!

I have a favorite Mother/Daughter blog--they both write and share their crafting ideas, love vintage, and are so sweet and kind--they've become dear blogging friends of mine...Twyla and Lindsey are the keepers of Two Crazy Crafters, and their blog is just a delight to visit!

When you go and see them, take a peek at their beautiful header--it really jumped out at me the first time I visited, and the little pink cottage on the right just melted my heart! That's where I want to live when I grow up!

I finally got bold and asked if they would mind sharing the image with me so I could do something with it, and they every so graciously said yes! Don't you just love the generosity of creative women in this beautiful blog world???!!! So, here's what I did this morning:


I had so much fun with this! I printed out a few copies, because this little cottage WANTED to be dimensional--nothing I could do about it! The sweet, old image is so unique due to all the pink highlighting, on the clouds, the house, the grass, etc., and I just wanted to keep the feeling the same...it's just so charming! So, I used pink German glass glitter just about everywhere the image had the pink, and I really like the way it turned out! A little silver shavings glitter around the edge of the image, some lace, ribbons and buttons, and that's it!

Here's a bit closer up to see the dimension...

Isn't this the sweetest little cottage?! Thank-you, Twyla and Lindsey! You're the best!

Now, something good for the belly! My Mom is famous for her dinner rolls--and especially her cinnamon rolls! This recipe was given to her at the time of her marriage by a family friend, Ida Steele. Mom's used it for just about every occasion since then, and can even tell you the recipe by heart! It's requested for church socials, Christmas morning breakfast, weddings, just about anything!

Mom has changed it up just a bit over the years to make it easier to make, but just as delicious as the original! I'm grateful for that, as bread making is not my real strength in the kitchen!

I made a quadruple batch today...needed some rolls for dinner tonight, and the dough will stay just fine in the fridge for a few days, so I'll use the rest Thanksgiving morning for some beautiful crescent rolls!

Tonight, however, being in a bit of a hurry, I nipped off a bunch of dough and made some very quick cloverleaf rolls--not quite as elegant as crescents, but every bit as delicious!

Yum! Hot and flaky straight from the oven...!

Here's the recipe: This is the quadrupled recipe--it will make a lot, but since you can keep the dough for days, just think of all the great things you can do with it!

Mom's Dinner Rolls

In good-sized bowl, put 1/2 cup very hot tap water--add 4 Tbsp. yeast--mix gently to make sure all yeast is wet.

In large microwave-safe bowl, heat 4 cups milk for 9 minutes.

While milk is warming, in another bowl, put:

3 sticks butter, sliced
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. salt

Pour hot milk over these ingredients and stir until butter is completely melted. Let cool slightly...meanwhile, in a small bowl:

4 eggs, lightly beaten with fork--add to milk mixture when it's cooled down a bit--don't want to cook the eggs!

Finally, add 14--yep! 14 heaping cups of flour--2 at a time, and mix well--my mixer isn't big enough for all this, so I just do it the old-fashioned way--with my hands!

Keep mixing until dough is well-combined. It should be slightly sticky, but still easy to handle. Refrigerate at this point, or if you're going to use some right away, take some out to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes, then form in the desired way, and let rise 1 hour. Then bake in a 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden on top. Give the rolls a nice brush with some melted butter, and enjoy!

I also made a big pot of thick and delicious split pea soup for dinner--oh, so good! I won't post the recipe here, because I just used the recipe on the bag of peas--easy peasy--literally! The only thing I changed, was instead of adding ham, I cooked up 1 1/2 pounds of bacon and broke it up, then added it to the soup--delicious! So just grab your favorite bag of dry peas, and cook some up!

Just a good old home-cookin' meal!

Hope you enjoy the rolls--try them as cinnamon rolls, too--a great day after Thanksgiving breakfast! Have a wonderful night...sweet dreams!


21 comments:

  1. That looks mighty tasty Julie! Great looking roll recipe! I'll have to give it a try when I have more room in my freezer to hold all the baked rolls. With just two of us they don't get eaten up fast enough! I just love your pink cottage card! How very beautiful. You're just such a talented lady!!! I look forward to seeing what you will create for us next! Can't wait!

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  2. I love the softness of your pink cottage card! You added just the right amount of glitter! Just beautiful :) TFS

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  3. How fun to have a feast for the eyes and a potential feast for the tummy all in one post!

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  4. darling card and I am ready to eat. Hugs

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  5. Your cottage card is adorable Julia and I am going over to the blog you mention right ow.

    All the cooking looks yummy as usual, can smell those freah baked rolls, nothing quite like their smell.

    b x

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  6. Yum! I'm on my way over for dinner! lol...the pea soup and dinner rolls look de-lish!

    I love your layered cottage. It's just beautiful and I can see why you want to live there!

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  7. You won't believe this but I am sitting here at work eating lunch...split pea soup from the crockpot and cloverleaf rolls made from dough from the bread machine. I laughed when I read your post. Love the cottage cards....so glad you photographed it close so that we could see all the spectacular details. I can see what you mean about it demanding to be dimensional.

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  8. Julie--I love your pink cottage card--it looks so inviting. I too have used Ida Steele's roll recipe forever. It is wonderful. She was my seminary teacher for all four years and each time we had finals to get ready for she would bring a big batch of cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate to us (at 6:30a.m.--our starting time)--to help all of us study. They were hot out of the oven, so you knew she had gotton up so early to bake them and they were delicious. Making them brings back such wonderful memories. My copy of the recipe is tatterd and so I am going to copy your mom's down and replace my old one--besides I don't have the quad amounts written down and each time I have to stop and figured it out, so this of your moms is a big help. When you get your pink cottage, I will bring you a warm batch of rolls for a housewarming gift. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. auntie D....

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  9. Thanks to you and I am happy to know you. Beautiful creation and it feels like home...
    Blessings.

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  10. Oh my goodness, girl...you sure know how to make me hungry! I was thinking of you as I perused a variety of recipe magazines at Barnes & Noble yesterday!

    HEY! Congratulations on 100 followers! We need to have a party!

    The card is adorable and I DO love the header for their blog...just sweet as can be!

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  11. Love the pink fairytale cottage! So SWEET!!! And, oh my, your rolls looks so inviting and delicious! Thank you for sharing!!! Coralie

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  12. That pink cottage is about as yummy looking as those rolls! My thighs are growing just looking at them!!! Yum!! I am going to have to try this recipe for sure! MAKING ME HUNGRY!!!! HAVE A SUPER DUPER DAY!
    Mama Holil

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  13. Fantastic pink cottage card, Julie! The dimension just puts it way over the top! Oh, the rolls! I think they would be fantastic to make and share with the neighbors over the weekend. Thank you, again, for the inspiration!

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  14. I am so glad that you are joining the party. I have added you to the Vintage Christmas Monday link list. I see that you have many lovely things to share.

    And thanks for becoming my newest follower. I really appreciate that!

    See you next Monday. I hope you enjoy your visits around the participants. I think everyone did a great job with their post. xo Joan

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  15. Oh Julie, You worked magic with that cottage! I hardly recognised it! It was a pleasure to share with a sweet one such as yourself. Now, all you have to do is send over a batch of those rolls and we'll be even:) I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Twyla

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  16. hi julie,

    now this is a cozy dinner! yum!

    wishing you and your family a happy, healthy & yummy thanksgiving!

    xo
    elyse

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  17. I fell in love with your cottage. I want one to live in, with glitter. A girl can never have to much glitter.
    Your Mother's rolls look divine. I am making these tomorrow. I have a pot of vegetable soup that would be lovely with them. Thank you.

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  18. What a pretty cottage, it should be framed! And the recipes look yummy, have a great day tomorrow!

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  19. mmmmmm! i cant wait to try your moms special recipe. the clover rolls are adorable :) have a wonderful thanksgiving.
    blessings,
    aimee

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  20. Beautiful card with the pink cottage. And those rolls look sooooooooooooo yummy! I love it that you share recipes and cards on your blog :)

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  21. I just adore that delightfully pretty cottage card. It makes me think of the sort of place a fairy of friendly (sparkle loving) fairies or other wee beings might live amongst the trees in an enchanted forest.


    Oodles of hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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