This week my sister-in-law told me that she would love to be like June Cleaver and wear heels and bake all day. I told her that I feel like I cook all day, but I sure don't look like June. It simply isn't practical for me to wear heels at 6'1". :-)
Well, later that night she posted on Facebook that she made candy. I teased her about her heels and may have called her June. Sorry, Emily, love you! She said she didn't wear them, so I reminded her to wear her pearls and a dress next time as well.
She then mentioned that the candy didn't turn out as she had hoped. A friend and I then started sharing about some of the "learning" experiences we have had over the years. I felt like I had teased my new SIL too much about the whole June Cleaver thing, so I recalled the story of a failed recipe on her Facebook page where she has a million friends. Well, maybe not a million, but a lot.
I told her that when my husband and I hadn't been married much more than a year I found a recipe for tater tot casserole. Well, after eating it my husband proceeded to get sick. Needless to say, I was in no hurry to make that recipe again. I still say it must have been a coincidence because I didn't get sick.
Now, I am telling you all of this because I think that homemaking is definitely a learning experience. I also think that we wives and mothers need to encourage each other instead of competing. So, to ensure that my sister-in-law doesn't feel like I was picking on her earlier this week I am going to share about a yeast roll fiasco I had a few years ago and then I promise to post the recipe.
On the night before Thanksgiving in 2001 I was trying to make a double batch of yeast rolls to take to my in-laws the next day. I was using my mom's recipe.
Side note: I have super woman for a mother. She can do anything (but that is a different post) and her yeast rolls look like they jumped right off the pages of a cooking magazine or cookbook.Anyway, I was still teaching and Julia was our only child. I was so tired by the time I put the rolls in the oven that I didn't hear my timer go off. 3 hours later I woke up in a panic. My rolls were still in the oven baking.
I cried. My husband did his best to reassure me that I would have time to make more the next morning and that I needed to go back to sleep.
So, I went back to sleep, and started the whole roll making process the next morning. I tried to be thankful that I didn't burn down the house and that I did have time to make more.
Meanwhile, my husband took the bricks, I mean rolls outside. Now, he could have just thrown them out and left it at that, but not my husband. He drove the truck over them and they barely came apart. Then the dog took one and buried it in the garden. Talk about adding insult to injury.
It is hilarious to think about now, but at the time I threatened him and begged him not to tell his family. Needless to say, yeast rolls and I weren't the best of friends after that. I did learn that baking late at night while very tired is not a good combination.
So, Emily (and all of you hard-working women), don't be upset if a recipe doesn't turn out the way you hoped. Just think of me and my dog burying my yeast rolls and you will feel better. :-)
Now, on to the recipe!
Mom's Yeast Rolls
4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour (I used 5 cups today.)
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, margarine, or shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
In a mixer bowl combine 2 cups of flour and yeast.
In a saucepan heat milk, sugar, butter, and salt just until warm and butter is almost melted, stir constantly. Add to flour mixture; add eggs. Beat at low speed for ½ minute, scraping side of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at high speed.
Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Kneed in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6-8 minutes total). Shape into a ball. Place in lightly greased bowl; turn once to grease surface. Cover; let rise in warm place until double in size. (About 1 hour).
Punch down; divide dough in half. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Shape into desired rolls. Cover; let rise until nearly double (about 30 minutes).
Bake in 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes 2-2 ½ dozen. Brush with butter, if desired.
I also made the
Holiday Dinner Rolls that Amy of
The Finer Things in Life posted this week. The recipe was easy to follow and they look pretty. I am sure they will taste good as well.
If you have made it this far, thank you and have a great weekend!
Yeast Roll Ramblings
and 
to my oldest two children to treat colds they had and was happy with the results. I am leary of using most conventional over the counter products, but liked the fact that I could give my children something for their symptoms that was homeopathic. I hope to not have to use the 
for flu symptoms, but am glad to have it in case. 
