Delicious Little Dinner Rolls

When putting together a Thanksgiving meal, a lot of thought has to go into the side dishes. Sure, the turkey is the star, but it doesn't make for a very well rounded feast on its own. You've got to have various veggies, perfect potatoes, and can-shaped cranberry sauce.

And then there are the rolls. I have mixed feelings about serving rolls with dinner. I mean, at a restaurant they kind of serve it to you to fill you up while you wait for the good stuff- they are just empty calories. With the focus of the Thanksgiving meal being about all the wonderful things to eat (oh yes, and all the joy of family and thankfulness too) who wants to eat boring bread?

Yet, having a delicious bread on the table is somehow necessary. Why? I don't know, but I felt that I needed that extra warm, starchy addition and I wanted it to be homemade, not Pillsbury crescent rolls or the like. So I found a great recipe off of Amber's blog. They were sweet, but not too sweet, and just right as that buttery, squishy side that complimented the rest of the feast.


Sweet Warm Dinner Rolls
From Amber

• 1/2 C. Water
  
• 1/2 C. Milk
  
• 1/3 C. Sugar
  
• 1 (.25 ounce) Package Active Yeast
  
• 1 Egg
  
• 1/3 C. Butter, softened
  
• 1 tsp. Salt
  
• 3 3/4 C. Flour
  
• 2 Tbsp. Butter, softened

1. Mix together the water and milk and heat in the microwave until it is around 100 degrees, which is just pleasantly warm to the touch. Pour liquids into a pre-warmed mixer bowl. (I rinse the metal bowl with hot water to warm it up.)
   
2. Stir in sugar until dissolved, and then add in yeast. Mix and let sit for 10-15 minutes until the yeast is activated and foamy.
   
3. Add in egg, butter and salt and blend on low speed.
   
4. Slowly add in in the flour, 1/2 C. or so at a time, mixing all the while with the dough hook. Continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elasticy and not sticky, about 5-10 minutes.
   
5. Remove dough from bowl and shape into small round balls. Remember that the dough will rise to about twice the size, so size your dough balls accordingly to how large you want the final roll to be. Brush rolls with half of the melted 2 T. of butter.
   
6. Cover dough balls with towel and place in a warm, draft free spot for about an hour to rise.
   
7. Heat oven to 400 degrees and bake risen rolls for 10-15 minutes until just golden brown. Upon removing, brush rolls with remaining butter. You can either serve these rolls immediately or freeze, defrost, and reheat at a later time.