Christy's Homemade Rolls

Mix Dough:
1. Sprinkle 2 yeast packages ( 1 pkg = 1 TB) in 1/2 cup warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Set aside. Stir.
2. Place 1/2 cup sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt in large mixing bowl.
3. Heat 3/4 cup milk in microwave for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1 cube margarine to hot milk. Stir to melt.
5. pour milk/margarine mixture into sugar/salt mixture in large mixing bowl. Beat.
6. Beat 3 eggs and add to mixture in large mixing bowl.
7. Add dissolved yeast. Beat.
8. Stir in 4 1/2 cups flour. Dough is very soft.


Let Rise
Place dough in lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease the surface (or spray with PAM). Cover, let rise in warm place for 2-4 hours.
(you can also put the dough in the fridge for overnight and roll the rolls out in the morning, believe it or not this really does work.)

Shape Rolls
Turn dough onto floured board. Knead slightly. Divide dough in two halves. With a floured rolling pin, roll one half of dough into a circle about 16 inches in diameter. Spread with softened butter. Using a knife or pizza wheel, cut the circle into 16 pie-shaped edges. lightly grease baking sheet. Roll each wedge from wide end to point. Place point down two inches apart on cookie sheet. Repeat with second half of dough.

Let Rise
Cover rolls with dry dishtowels and let rise i warm place 1 hour.

Bake
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Bake rolls in oven for 12 minutes.

Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

1/2 bag spinach
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2 bag romaine lettuce
1/2 c. bacon, cooked & crumbled
1/2 purple onion
3/4 c. chopped tomatoes and/or mushrooms
3/4 c. swiss or parmesan cheese
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1 orange, peeled and cut up or sliced strawberries

Mix all ingredients together in a salad bowl and toss. Serve with vinaigrette.

Strawberry Vinaigrette
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. poppy seeds
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
About 3/4 c. hulled strawberries
1/8 chopped onion

Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Will keep 10 days to 2 weeks.

Braided Bread

1 tbsp yeast
1/2 c warm water
Combine and let rest.

1 1/4 c milk
4 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
Scald milk (bubbles on sides), than add butter, sugar and salt. Put 4 1/2 c flour in a bowl and add yeast & milk mixtures. Knead for 10 min in mixer or by hand.
Let rise 1 1/2 hours. Punch down. Braid into 2 loaves (fits lengthwise on a cookie sheet). Let rise 1 hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 min.