Friday, March 23, 2012

Once a new technology rolls over you, if you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road

Crescent Rolls

2 pk Active Dry Yeast
3/4 c Warm Water (105 degrees)
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Salt
2 lg Eggs
1/2 c Shortening
4 c Unbleached Flour
Butter Or Regular Margarine, Softened


In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir
in the sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and half of the flour into the
yeast mixture.

Add the remaining flour blending until smooth. Scrape the dough from
the sides of the bowl and cover with a cloth dampened in warm water.
(The cloth should feel wet, but not be so wet that water drips onto
the dough.) Let rise in a warm place (85 degrees F.), until doubled,
about 1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough in half, rolling each half into a
12-inch circle 1/4 inch thick. Spread with the soft butter and cut
each circle into 16 wedges. Roll up each wedge beginning at the
largest end. Place, point side down, on a greased baking sheet. Curve
to form crescents. Cover and let rise until double, 1 hour. Preheat
the oven to 400 degrees F and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until
they are a rich golden brown. Brush with soft butter.

I like real problems, the human condition - twisted, darker stuff...

Yummy Pretzels!

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 tsp. active yeast (1 1/2 pkg)
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour
2 cups warm water
2 Tbs. baking soda
To taste coarse salt
2-4 Tbs. butter (melted)

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add
sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth
and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm
water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope
(about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel into soda solution
and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again. Bake in a
450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted
butter and enjoy!

Toppings:
After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.

Or for cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter
in a shallow bowl (big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another
bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. dip the pretzel into the
butter, coating both sides generously. then dip again into the cinnamon ...
mixture.