When this time of year rolls around, all I can think about is Thanksgiving food. Crescent rolls, pies, stuffing, funny little pickle appetizers, cranberry sauce... more pie. Seriously, it's a problem. This year it's even worse, maybe because Thanksgiving is a week late. I've been dreaming of hosting a "Friendsgiving" just so I have an excuse to make all my favorites.
In our family, Thanksgiving is a big deal. Always potluck style. Always at Grandma's house. The four granddaughters would always stay the night before at Grandma's. And for as long as I can remember it was always our job to make the rolls. We'd start the rolls the night before, have some hot cocoa and then watch a movie. Staying up late a grandma's house was always a treat.
The next morning, we'd get up. Gram would make lattes and silver dollar pancakes for breakfast. We'd roll out the rolls and tuck them in under her vintage flour-sack towels to rise for a few hours. Help her get the turkey started. At some point we'd turn on her Michael Crawford CD and have good laugh listening to the opera singers. We'd pull out all the Thanksgiving decorations, decorate the table and figure out a seating arrangement. Eventually, we'd head upstairs to get ready, finishing just in time for everyone to show up.
This weekend we had some friends over. While Joe and I were mulling over the dinner menu, it dawned on me - even if we're not hosting a full-blown "Friendsgiving", why not make my favorite rolls? If they're so good, I might as well make them more than once a year, so I did... and they were delicious. Here's the recipe.
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Crescent Rolls - Makes 4 dozen
Ingredients
1 package yeast
2 Tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups of milk
1 egg
1 tsp salt
6 cups of flour
3/4 cup butter
Instructions
The night before, mix together the yeast, 2 T warm water and 1/2 cup of sugar in a bowl. Let rest a few minutes. Add 2 cups of warm milk, 1 beaten egg, 1 tsp of salt. Mix together. Add 3 cups of flour and mix well. Add and stir in 3/4 cups of melted butter (somewhat cooled). Add another 3 cups of flour. Mix until smooth. Do NOT knead the dough.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning the dough will be sticky w/ crusty top. Divide into 4 balls.
Flour a work surface and then using a rolling pin, roll out each ball into 12 inch circles. Cut into quarters, then cut each quarter into 3 pieces (like cutting pizza) to end up with 12 total triangles. Roll up the triangles starting with the wide edge. Place on greased baking sheet. Repeat with the other 3 balls of dough. Cover with light towels and let rise 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 12-15 minutes until the tops are a light golden brown.
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What about you guys? Do you have any favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
