With all the different types of bread recipes I've tried in the last year, I can say that I not only no longer cringe at the thought of tackling dough, but can decide five minutes before I lift Bertha from her spot in my kitchen that fresh bread it will be — and tonight if I want — even if it's the traditional version. Big Bertha, my Kitchen Aid, definitely helps since I don't have to knead the dough for 10 minutes and couldn't even if I wanted to. One or both of my arms have been royally screwed up for the last 25 years and when I do too much grasping or clenching, lifting or pruning, I live to regret it. I used to be able to use Chopin as an excuse, but can't remember the last time I touched my piano keys for more than dusting. *Sorry Mom. How much did those lessons cost when you couldn't afford much else?*
My right arm has been singing with agony for two weeks now, thanks to a couple of hours choosing travertine for our home renovations. How much does one of those 20×20" pieces weigh? Definitely more than my arms want to deal with.
I'm quite thankful for my Bertha who is about 10 years old. She's not sleek, but she's more than dependable, and when my arms are healthy, she doesn't mind that I enjoy getting my hands into a lump of silky dough.
The latest dough I experimented with was anything but silky. It was sticky and not very cooperative, but so worth it. Let's just say I was a bit more timely in getting the little not so carved pumpkin off my porch after Halloween to bake and puree this year to create Pumpkin Rosemary Dinner Rolls.
Talk about pillowey bread-like wonderfulness?
Continue reading Pumpkin Rosemary Dinner Rolls