Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
A lthough there are a lot of steps to this recipe, the joy of creating homemade cinnamon rolls make it worth the effort.
Makes 12
½ cup whole milk
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 package (2¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
½ cup warm water
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
3¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
FILLING
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Milk for brushing
ICING
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1. In a glass measuring cup, microwave milk and butter until butter melts.
2. In a large bowl with electric mixer on low speed, combine yeast and warm water; let sit for 5 minutes. Beat in ½ cup granulated sugar and eggs at low speed until blended. Beat in salt, warm milk mixture and 2 cups of flour until blended, about 1 minute. Switch to dough hook attachment. Add 1 ¼ cups flour, and knead at medium-low speed, adding up to ½ cup additional flour if dough is sticky. Mix until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 10 minutes.
3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured countertop. Transfer dough to a large, lightly oiled plastic bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; let dough rise until double in size, about 2½ hours. Punch down center of dough. (At this point, dough can be covered and refrigerated overnight.)
4. Turn dough onto a lightly floured countertop. Let dough rest 10 minutes. Lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
5. For filling: In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon.
6. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Brush with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar filling, leaving a ½-inch border along one of the long sides. Roll, beginning with the long side of the rectangle opposite the ½-inch border. Using fingertips, seal edges firmly to form a seam. (Do not seal ends.) Using a serrated knife, cut dough log into 12 even rolls and arrange in prepared pan.
7. Cover pan with plastic wrap; let dough rise until double in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°F. Set oven rack to center position.
8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Invert rolls onto wire rack; cool 20 minutes.
9. For the icing: In a small bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Place rack over a piece of wax paper; reinvert rolls onto rack. Using a spoon, drizzle icing over rolls with spoon.
TIP
If you like, after the first rise (Step 3), cover the dough and refrigerate overnight. Continue the recipe the next day.
Lunch
at 204 ROSEWOOD LANE with
Grace Sherman Harding
M y daughter, Olivia, and Grace Harding have always been best friends. In grade school they were both in Girl Scouts and attended summer camp together, and as teenagers they were inseparable. Many an afternoon was spent in my kitchen, making cookies for their boyfriends, bake sales and various class functions. Grace is a natural; she loves to cook even more than Olivia does.
Grace married her high school sweetheart, Dan Sherman, right after graduation. They were far too young, of course, although Clyde and I were married when I was even younger—but that was during the war years and marriage at sixteen or seventeen wasn’t uncommon. Pretty soon I knew why Grace and Dan had rushed to the altar.
Grace was pregnant with Maryellen. While Olivia went off to college, Grace became a wife and mother. In order to support his young family Dan enlisted in the army and left for Vietnam. Their younger daughter, Kelly, was born after his return.
Although Olivia never said anything to me, I had the feeling that Grace’s marriage wasn’t a happy one. But she persevered and I do believe she loved Dan, although he could certainly be difficult. I admire the fact that she made the best of things. I also admire Dan for the way he took over much of the housework while Grace went back to school and got her librarian’s degree. And no doubt about it, his girls loved him. I suspect that Dan was a better father than he was a husband.
Because she was often busy with her studies, I gave Grace a number of recipes that were quick and easy to prepare. My homemade soup recipes, in particular, became popular with her family through the years.
The Chicken Noodle Soup, for example, originated in my mother’s kitchen. It’s good for what ails you, as she liked to say. The Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil was contributed by my dear friend Bess. She often brings it to the Senior Center potlucks, and I’ve seen grown men squabble over the last bowl.
But back to Grace…I don’t think anyone was more surprised than me when Dan Sherman went missing—what was it? Eight years ago? Grace got home from work one afternoon and Dan wasn’t there. He’d apparently vanished into thin air—no message, no phone call, nothing. More than a year passed before anyone learned what had happened to him. It turns out he’d gone deep into the woods and taken his own life. I feel sad whenever I think about him.
Grace was beside herself with worry that whole year, and the girls, too. Kelly, who was pregnant, convinced herself that Dan would return in time to see his grandchild. Needless to say, he didn’t, and it broke the poor girl’s heart. Eventually they all found peace with Dan’s death but it took a long time—and a lot of compassion.
Then Grace met Cliff Harding. I feel personally responsible for that, although I’m no matchmaker. It just seemed that they were two lonely people who had a lot to offer each other. Although the course of true love didn’t run smooth (and I’m sorry to tell you that was mainly because of my son, Will), Cliff and Grace did end up together. In fact, they eloped in San Francisco. They told me how much they enjoyed visiting Chinatown, which is one reason I’ve included some of our favorite Chinese recipes. Spicy Hot Sauce Chicken Noodles are downright addictive, according to Cliff, and the Wonton Soup is a perennial favorite.
I’ve never seen Grace happier. After the wedding (such as it was), she moved into Cliff’s place in Olalla, where he has a small horse ranch, and now rents out her home on Rosewood Lane. She’s brought a real sense of warmth to his house, which desperately needed a woman’s touch. I can picture her in that huge kitchen with a big pot of soup simmering on the stove, making Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for Cliff and whoever might be visiting.
The next time you have people over for lunch, try some of these recipes, courtesy of Grace (and me!).
Spicy Hot Sauce Chicken Noodles
T his versatile dish tastes great hot, warm or cold.
Serves 4
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup rice-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
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