90 Minute Dinner Rolls

Many years ago I came across this recipe for 90 Minute Dinner Rolls not on a blog or on Pinterest, (there was no internet then),but in a women’s magazine with those multitudes of home decorating and food ideas. I could not identify which one I pulled this from, but a date on the bottom of the page  indicates 1983…Whoa!… That’s 35 years ago! This was made and enjoyed, thus torn out of a magazine for safe-keeping. My collection of recipes  are purged a lot, but this one has always been saved, then lost and then found again. I figure if I put it on my blog, it will be around for posterity’s sake. So here it goes  with some alterations to the originally indicated process.

The flour is added in portions, so start with 3/4 cup and whisk into it the sugar, salt and yeast in mixing bowl.*( I am making a double batch today to share, so mixed portions in these pictures will appear to be larger than if you were making a single batch.)

Warm milk, water and butter in microwave to 120 degrees. If it happens to measure above that temperature, just stir and allow it to cool to the desired 120 degrees. All butter should be melted before adding it in to flour mixture.

With a dough hook attached, begin blending the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients for about 2 minutes scraping sides about halfway though.

Add in another 1/2 cup; flour and mix for 2 more minutes at medium speed.

Repeat by adding in an additional 1/2 cup and increase speed to medium high for 2 minutes. The sides of the bowl still appear a little sticky.

Finally, add in 1/4 cup of additional flour and continue mixing until dough easily releases from the sides of the bowl and appear clean. Look at that bowl shine! Now you are ready to form those rolls!

Knead an additional 2-3 minutes on lightly floured surface. It doesn’t hurt to have a “little” additional help. 🙂 Keep them busy. I say! This is an example of where I talk about the story of the Little Red Hen. If you want to eat it, you have to help make it. Weston was willing to assist, since he loves to help cook. He’d like to make chocolate chip cookies every day if he could, but we do like to vary our menu a bit now and then. Since we made a double batch this day, he was able to share a dozen with his family for his dinner. A text message was sent to me later which said, “Yummy Rolls.” There’s your affirmation, folks!

Separate dough into 12 equal portions. Use a scale to measure the dough and divide by 12 to be more accurate if you can. Smooth out dough. Insert finger into the bottom and press upward.

Twist the bottom edges together and place in a 8″ or  9″ pan prepared with nonstick spray. I used Baker’s Joy baking spray with flour. Here, a 9″ cake pan was used and appears to be a perfect size to allow expansion.

One way to help the rise process is to boil 2 cups of water in a microwave-safe measuring cup, about 3-4 minutes. Then, place the pan into microwave for 30 minutes and allow its steamy environment to do its magic! Voilà! Touching with slight gaps between them is what you want to see.

These 90 MInute Dinner Rolls bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes on the middle rack.