Breads and such

Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread. Without it, it’s flat.” 

Carmen McRae

Want freshly baked bread or rolls for your holiday dinner but that just isn’t your forte? Here are some suggestions for rolls you can purchase at most grocery stores:

1. Rhodes Bake-N-Serv Dinner Rolls are my favorites. They come in bags of 36, have to be thawed and proofed, and are delicious.
2. Kroger Original Yeast Dinner Roll Dough is a good second choice. It isn’t as flavorful as Rhodes, but it is good for things like monkey bread and cinnamon rolls.
3. If you are in a hurry, and don’t mind admitting that you didn’t make them from scratch, Rhodes Warm & Serve Artisan French Rolls are a fast fix. They are crusty and smell divine.

Honey-Oat Rolls

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 large egg, room temperature

Directions

• 1. In a large bowl, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, yeast and salt. In a small saucepan, heat water, honey and 4 tablespoons butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Add egg; beat on high 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
• 2. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• 3. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide and shape into 24 balls. Place in a greased 13×9-in. baking pan. Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• 4. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake until golden brown, 20-22 minutes. Melt remaining butter; brush over rolls. Remove from pan to a wire rack.