fluffy dinner rolls*

I have a very big problem. Although I LOVE my new-to-me gas stove in which I can roast my very own marshmallows for some quick and easy s'more making right out of my kitchen - the clock/temperature light thingamajig doesn't work! Do you know what this means?? I have NO idea what temperature in which I am cooking! This is bad. This is very very bad. I just attempted to make a big cookie for the husband and I to indulge in, and it took way longer than usual - and then I forgot about it because I was going back in forth between watching the cookie and some college football - and just about burnt the poor thing. Had I known the temperature of my sad oven, the cookie would have taken the 14 minutes in which it was timed. Oh boy...


The saddest and most upsetting part of this whole predicament is this. I have a choice. I can buy some living room furniture for our main floor living room which is almost completely empty at this time, and a new kitchen stove, and refinish our hardwood floors OR I can buy a vinyl fence. You would think this is a no brainer - right? WRONG. The dog wins again. At this point in time we have to take Tank outside on a leash to go to the bathroom every single time. We can't just let him out because the fence we currently have doesn't go all the way around and there are spots everywhere for the little guy to get out. So vinyl fence it is :(.


This recipe is in honor of all of you out there who are able to make it because your ovens will preheat to your desired temperature. I am so jealous of your lives. Please make these and think of me :).

Fluffy Dinner Rolls
from Jamie Cooks It Up


3/4 C milk
4 T butter
3/4 C hot water
4 T sugar
1 t salt
4 - 4 1/2 C flour
1 heaping T yeast (I use active dry, but instant would work as well)


1. Pour your milk into a microwave safe container. These Pyrex glass measuring cups work fabulously. Add your butter to the milk and put it in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.


2. Preheat your oven to 170 degrees. While the milk is getting nice and toasty, turn on the tap to get your hot water. Temperature is important to making these rolls rise quickly. If you add cold water, your rolls will are going to rise at a snails pace, and you'll feel like cursing. We wouldn't want that kind of thing going on....so please add hot water. I put my hand in the water to test it. You want it to be just on the edge of unpleasant.


3. Put your milk/butter and hot water in the bottom of your Kitchen Aid Mixer. Add the sugar and salt. Then add 2 C of the flour...let it mix for 1 minute.


4. Add the yeast. Turn the mixer on and add the rest of the flour 1 C at a time.


5. You have enough flour when the dough scrapes the side of the bowl clean. Mix on medium speed for 5 minutes. 


6. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes. You need the plastic wrap to trap the heat. 

7. Take a stick of butter and coat the inside of a 9x13 pan.


8. Spray your counter, or a cutting board with cooking spray. Lay your dough on top of it. 

9. Take a sharp knife, spray it with cooking spray and cut your dough into 12 pieces. Make them as equal as you can....perfection is not necessary. What a relief.

10. Gently round them into balls, and put them in your buttered 9x13 pan.

11. Put the pan into your warm 170 degree oven. Let them rise for about 20 minutes or until they have risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan.


12. Leave your pan in the oven and turn the heat up to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes. This time includes the time it takes the oven to increase in temperature. If your oven takes a long old time....you will of course need to increase the time baking. Bake until golden brown.

13. Brush with a little softened butter and serve warm.

Now give your oven and big hug and a kiss and thank it so much for being capable of baking these amazing beauties!



-alyssa*