A few days ago when it was cold, rainy, and dreary, I got in the mood to bake some bread. Baking bread has been on my list of things that I wanted to learn to do since I retired from teaching. And I knew the exact recipe that I wanted to try.
This one! I had saved this recipe from my home economics class in high school. You can see how tattered it is.
It's a recipe for whole wheat rolls. It was printed on yellow mimeograph paper that was commonly used in schools in the late 60s and the early 70s. I have carried it around from place to place for over 40 years. Occasionally I would come across it and say, "I've got to learn how to make these one day," but I never did.
Miss Brown was my home ec teacher, and I adored her. She was an old maid schoolteacher whose whole life revolved around the school. I scanned this photo of her from my high school yearbook. She attempted to teach me how to sew, but my mind was elsewhere. But I was interested in cooking, and she made the best whole wheat rolls in the world. I remember some great times when she would take a bunch of us to summer FHA camp where she would make her rolls for dinner each evening. Even after 40 years, I still remembered how I loved those rolls so I decided to make them a few days ago.
First, I activated 2 packages of yeast by putting them in ¼ cup of warm water and then added 1 tsp. sugar to the mixture.
In a few minutes, the yeast looked like this, all foamy and bubbly!
The directions said to scald 2 cups of milk and then add ½ cup sugar, 2 ½ tsp. salt, and ⅓ cup shortening.
I used this brand of shortening that comes in sticks which makes it easier to measure the amount. The shortening softened and melted in the warm milk. Next I let the milk mixture cool to lukewarm.
I used my thermometer to make sure the milk had cooled enough so that when I added the yeast, it wouldn't be killed. Look at that hand! It's beginning to look like it's been out of high school for 40 years! Yikes!
Next I poured the milk mixture into a large bowl and then added the yeast.
Two beaten eggs went into the mixture, and then I added 1 cup of whole wheat flour.
I used the dough boy's flour! Hehe! Can't you just hear him?
Then I added 1 cup of bread flour. If you don't have bread flour, you can use all purpose flour. I had purchased bread flour a few months ago when I thought I'd be baking my own bread all winter. I beat this together by hand with a wooden spoon. Then I added 3 more cups of whole wheat flour and about 2 more cups of bread flour until it started to come together as a soft dough.
Using a small amount of olive oil, I greased a different bowl. Then I added the dough, turned it around to grease the surface of the dough, covered it with a tea towel, and placed it in the refrigerator.
About 2 hours before dinner, I took the dough out of the refrigerator, kneaded it lightly, and formed it into rolls. At this point, I wished I had Miss Brown to ask how large to make the rolls. So I made some on the small side. I made enough rolls to feed a bunch of hungry teenage girls, except I don't have hungry teenage girls around the house. So I invited Leo's brother Jim and his wife Jean to come for dinner.
I covered the rolls and let them rise again. They rose a little, but they never did double in size like the recipe said they should. I went ahead and baked them at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.Tada! Here's my first batch of homemade whole wheat rolls!
When I bit into them, they were good, but not like the rolls I always remembered Miss Brown making. I figured it was my inexperience that kept me from making those warm, soft rolls that I remembered. So I got on the internet yesterday and read about 20 different recipes for making rolls and I came upon one from The Frugal Girl.
So I followed her instructions and mixed up some more dough.
It rose beautifully.
And here are the rolls that we had for dinner last night . At the first bite, I knew I had found the taste that I remembered from so many years ago. The rolls were soft and pillowy.
Even if Miss Brown's recipe wasn't totally successful, it did bring back a lot of wonderful memories of her and the fun times we had at FHA camp each year. FHA means Future Homemakers of America, for those of you who are wondering.
And if you're inclined to make some rolls yourself, try The Frugal Girl's recipe. It worked for me!
Sherry Humphries
Yummy.... I love homemade bread. My mom made it all the time when I was growing up. One thing I can share with you is that she always said it usually doesn't turn out good on rainy days. Maybe that's why your first batch didn't rise. I've found this to be true with a lot my baking too. It always seems to turn out better in nice weather. Happy baking!
Charlene
Oh Jane, you've really stirred up memories for me too. I loved Ms Brown & I think probably all that were priviledged to be in her class loved her & still have some recipes from her classes. Indeed, she was the best. I think I'll trust your judgement & try my luck with The Frugal Girl recipe. Thanks for sharing & give my love to Ma Prater!
Kelly
I've never made homemade rolls before. Gosh, they look good! It looks like a lot of work to make them, but I'm sure well worth it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Ellen
I love this post! What wonderful memories. You are so much more gutsier than I am. I've always wanted to try to bake bread, but I'm just intimidated by yeast! I say kudos to you.
Jordan@the2seasons
Reading this my mouth was watering. This sounds so good! Plus what fun to use a recipe from back in the day!
Pat@Back Porch Musings
Jane, these look wonderful! Warm, right out of the oven, slathered in butter...yum!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs
I thought I was the only person saving things like that from jr. high and high school. I loved my Home Ec teacher....she was a true Southern Belle...Thank you for showing us this great recipe..
Honey
I know without tasting, these are delicious! I enjoyed your story about Mrs. Brown. Thank you for sharing at Potpourri Friday! I always enjoy and appreciate your posts!
Jana
Jane,
I really enjoyed your story of you and Mrs. Brown. Isn't it funny how the smell or taste of certain foods bring back great childhood memories. Your wheat rolls look great! Thanks for checking my blog out for roll recipes earlier. Funny how we both were thinking bread today. :0)
Jean Windham
Jane I am really impressed you would have something from high school H.E. class. The rolls look delicious. Thanks for sharing. Jean
JoAnn
These look scrumptious! I don't bake bread - because I end up eating it all 🙂 I just love the photo of your H.E. Teacher. I remember those days, when the smell of what that class was cooking, the aroma floated down the halls and into the neighboring rooms - making all of us kids hungry!!! Thanks for sharing the recipes and yummy looking photos. I will have to pass this onto my daughter, she loves wheat breads!
JoAnn
sweetpepperrose.blogspot.com
Shirley
Gracias por la receta Jean, creo que me será de utilidad para esta Semana Santa. Saludos
Vonda
How well I remember those rolls and everything else she cooked and tried to teach us to cook. Like Gail, I still have my notebook and refer it to it quite often. She was the greatest teacher!
Pattie @ Olla-Podrida
What a lovely remembrance of days past. Sometimes I think the reason things don't taste the way we remember them is that our tastes become more sophisticated as we age and we change. I'm glad you found a recipe that suits you.
Linda@Coastal Charm
Thanks Jane for the recipe...these look really good and I LOVE bread.
Blessings,
Linda
Barbara F.
Hi Jane, I am slowly getting back. These rolls look wonderful. I dun't see your posts in my reader anymore, so I came through Linky. 🙁 xo
Helen
Jane, those I can almost taste just seeing the photos! In a FB classes group---10 years of us remember our Home Ec. teacher for her kindness and her great recipes. Hope you get a chance to see what I bought with my PB gift card from Christmas! Has Leo finished the irrigation for the raised beds? Y'all need your own TV show! Just a thought or ????
Kristen | The Frugal Girl
Oh, your rolls look great! I'm so glad they turned out well.
Gail Gambrell
What great memories! I loved Miss Brown, too! She did my wedding reception 33 years ago and made those rolls. I have several of her recipes; we need to compare and see if we have any different ones. I kept my notebook from her class for many years. Now I will have to search to see if I still have it.
Sue B.
It must be old home or should I say old school week for using recipes from times past! Last weekend I, too, pulled out an old recipe given me by a fellow Home Ec teacher when I was teaching in Louisiana. It was good then and still is! I just love the sweet memories!
Dolly Sarrio
Well, you are making me hungry! I have to try those.
Lavender Dreams
I love to bake bread...and eat it fresh out of the oven! I have baked a lot over the years and the old recipe looks very much like one I still use. Sometimes your house isn't warm enough for it to rise properly...there are so many variations. You can use the same recipe and have it come out different. They both look wonderful! I'm hungry for fresh bread now! Hugs! ♥
Ann
Like any woman on the planet I adore bread. Any kind of bread. These look incredible. You were a trooper to try them a second time...I probably would have thrown in the towel! The color alone makes them enticing and I can imagine how your house smelled. Thanks for placing my ad on your sidebar. It looks great. :o) Also thanks for the birthday wishes.
Debbie refresh resytle
I think I can smell them from my house, that look wonderful! Yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
Debbie