The Best Yeast Rolls Ever

I've been making these rolls for almost 40 years now and I think I've improved an already great recipe. You can make these rolls with 100% all purpose flour, 100% bread flour or part whole wheat flour and part bread or all purpose. The rolls in the picture were made with approximately 2 cups of whole wheat flour and the rest bread flour. If you use part whole wheat flour, add the whole wheat flour to the liquid mixture before the bread or all purpose flour and let it just sit and absorb the liquid for a few minutes before adding the rest of the flour. If you want to serve these rolls early in the day you can refrigerate the rolls in the last stage of rising after you've pinched them off and put them in the baking pan. They'll be ready to pop in the oven and take with you in no time. Obviously I've had plenty of opportunity to experiment with this recipe and I know what works and what doesn't. All you have to do to make these rolls as pretty as the ones in the picture is to invest a little time. If you do you're sure to start your own family tradition of yeast rolls.

Recipe

2 packages of yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup oil (i use olive)
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
6 to 7 cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water. In a large bowl, add remaining two cups of water, oil, sugar, salt and dissolved yeast mixture. Add enough flour to handle. Knead for about 15 minutes. Grease and cover. Let rise for several hours. Punch down and let rise again. Pinch off and make rolls. Let rise for about 35 or 40 minutes. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Now for some more tips. If you have a kitchen aid mixer you can do almost all of these steps with it. Dissolve the yeast in the kitchen aid mixer bowl, add the rest of the ingredients with the mixer attachment. When the dough starts getting thick attach the dough hook and mix until it forms a ball. I usually flour the countertop at this point and finish up with a little hand kneading until I get a nice elastic ball to work with. For less mess to clean up you can actually hand knead them right in the bowl. Just keep adding a little more flour when the dough gets sticky to touch. At this stage I transfer the dough ball to a good size bowl with high sides that has been oiled. I put the ball in the bowl and turn it over to oil the top of the ball. At this point you can cover the bowl with a towel, but I like the plastic bowl covers with elastic. Just place the bowl in a warm draft free spot and watch the magic. When I had a wood stove I would place the bowl on the hearth next to it, but an oven that's been turned on to warm for just a minute and turned off works just as well. In the summertime if you have a screened in porch you can sit the bowl out there when the weather is over 80. Good luck and enjoy!

Rainbows in the Morning

This is what I saw when I looked out my bathroom window Saturday morning. It was a lovely way to wake up and start my day! It looked like there was a spotlight highlighting the mountains and making them even lovelier with the addition of the rainbow. Since rainbows generally signify a promise of better things to come I took it as an omen that Saturday was going to be a good day. I started hearing Black Eyed Peas songs in my head and felt a lighter spring in my gait. There are worse ways you can start your day!

Race for the Cure 2009

Usually I support the Race for the Cure by just writing a check to my daughter to support her while she runs. This year having no job and more time than money, I decided to join her and participate. Never being one to half do anything I made a pink ribbon sweatshirt for myself and a coat for Bianca. Baxter(my grandpuppy) wore his pink polo and my daughter wore her Saving Second Base team shirt. If you've never participated in this great event, you should. It was very moving to see all these people out raising money to find a cure for this hideous disease. The atmosphere was so positive and the weather was truly a gift from God. It made you think with all this positive energy that we were actually making a difference. I know it inspired me to give even more.Even the starting/finish line was pink.

The Saving Second Base Team

And people say I go overboard.

There were two precious yorkies in this stroller. I had to give this lady my card. Anybody that loves their babies this much needs custom clothes for them.

Me and my girls.

One of my favorite teams, Thanks for the Mammaries.


There was all variety of attire. I never did quite figure this one out.

It was very moving to see 4200 people strong supporting this cause. Next I want to volunteer Habitat for Humanity. Stay tuned!

Zen Moments

Everyone needs a zen moment now and then and fortunately I've had lots of opportunities in the last few years for those moments. This picture was taken on a lovely spring morning at Dupont State Forest in North Carolina. We had spent the night in a quaint bed and breakfast very near the park and hiked to this waterfall immediately after breakfast. I've been an early riser most of my life and it definitely has its advantages. There was no one else in the park except for the wildlife. While David was off taking hundreds of pictures, I just sat and enjoyed the mist of the waterfall hitting my face. Ahhhhhhhh!
Eventually I did get up and explore the rest of the waterfall. We climbed to the very top of this triple fall waterfall that day. Great day!

There are all types of Zen and this is Miss Bianca's type. She lives to go camping and hiking. This picture is of the bridge leading from the campground at Hungry Mother Park in Virginia over to the lake. We wore out the path around the lake on this trip.

This picture is of a perfect day on Roan Mountain. Part of Roan Mountain is in Tennessee and part of it is in North Carolina. The spot we're sitting on in the picture is in North Carolina. It was the first time Bianca had gone hiking and she took to it like a pro. I was trying to teach her how to enjoy the moment, but as you can tell from the picture she was more interested in hiking more than enjoying the view. I hope these pictures have given you a moment of zen in your busy day and inspired you to take a moment to enjoy today.

Labor Day Weekend Sales-A-Thon!

You don't need to go fight the crowds at the mall this weekend to find great deals. All you need to do is sign onto Etsy.com and shop at these great shops. You'll find great value and unique craftsmanship that is impossible to find anywhere but Etsy.

I am offering a Buy One Get One For Half Off Sale. The second item of same or lesser value will be half off the posted price. I'll refund your savings to paypal immediately after your purchase. This includes custom items!

Check out this adorable dog coat to keep your furry friend warm this winter:

Buy this coat and get anything in my shop of the same or lesser value for half off.




When you're done shopping in my shop, check out Miss Knits shop:

Miss Knits has great knitted items at extremely reasonable prices, just in time for the cool weather! Through Labor Day, she is offering Free Shipping store wide! Either convo her first and she can send a revised invoice, or she will refund via paypal! And, she loves custom orders! See a style or piece you like, but want it in a different size or color - just ask!




Next, take some time to check out the variety of items in KimsBeads shop. Her shop has the loveliest of jewelry and also a wide variety of destash. She is offering 30% off everything in her shop through the holiday and will refund your savings through paypal.




Next stop in and shop with Mindie Lee. She is offering a double savings offer for the weekend. You can get free shipping to the US or Canada and 10% off orders of $20 or more.




For adorable handpainted art, check out StymiePie's shop. StymiePie is offering a fantastic deal! 20% off any item, including custom art !!(not including shipping) she will refund through paypal. Don't wait too long, her sale ends midnight on Monday, Sept 7th!





Shop with craftsbycarer where you will find all kinds of fabric goodie 25% off her whole shop, good until midnight Labor Day.s! Pick up an apron, a tote bag or two, or maybe a couple of dish towels for your kitchen!




Laura Iverson is an amazingly talented California artist that offers original art work, prints and pendants that are precious miniature works of art. She is having a Labor Day Weekend Special...20% off your order (including sale pieces). Please put "LaborDay" in the Notes to Seller and wait for a revised invoice (or convo first to reserve an order at the reduced price). This is your chance to get a unique work of art at a sale price.


Remember, these great offers are good all weekend long! So don't miss out, before it's too late!

My blog sort of wrote itself today, thanks to an email from my ex husband. Ten years later, it still feels strange to write ex in front of husband. I never thought I'd ever be a person who would get a divorce. Life takes some strange bends sometimes and you just have to lean into them to make it to the other side. He'll appreciate the motorcycle analogy, I hope. He sent me a copy of this newspaper article that I think bears sharing. My only footnote is that I hope he's forgiven me with all the other people on his list. I hope this makes your day lighter and your life better.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month..
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Crabtree Falls

I've always thought waterfalls were a magical place. I know, I know it's just gravity pulling water over some rocks. At least that's what the practical side of my brain says, but the other side of my brain knows they are so much more. I know waterfalls helped me heal what was broken inside me while I was reeling from a divorce. And they absolutely helped me find the man I was supposed to be on this planet with. So, I keep being drawn to these magical places all over the planet. Whether it's Maui, Yellowstone or just someplace close to home in Appalachia, I'm drawn as if the water was magnetically charged. If I were to analyze the draw to these spiritual places, I'd have to say that they are simply a place of peace for me. A place to slow down and take stock of what's important in life, and what's not. A place to do nothing but enjoy watching the butterflies play in the mist, dancing in and out of the rainbows. A place to know that sometimes that's all you need in life for the moment, and the right person beside you.