A Post to Help My Memory

Happy Thanksgiving Week to you!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, and November one of my favorite months.  It is a day of fullness--full of blessing, full of gratitude, full of anticipation, full of food.

We have had assorted Thanksgiving traditions over the years, but one that remains constant is the appearance of Butternut-Oatmeal Rolls on the menu.  

They coincide with DD#2's first Thanksgiving, which makes them extra-special.

That also means that the magazine they came out of is 13 years old.

This morning I had a brief moment of panic when I couldn't find it for a few minutes.

I might have been disowned by certain members of the family.

This post, then, is to bless your family with the yummiest rolls ever, and to save my hide next year if something happens to that magazine over the next twelve months.

Butternut Oatmeal rolls on last year's table; they get a photo op every year.

So without further ado, I present

Butternut-Oatmeal Rolls

      2(1/4 oz) envelopes active dry yeast

1 1/4 cups warm water (100* to 110*)

5 1/2 to 5 3/4 cups bread flour, divided

1 1/4 cups mashed, cooked butternut squash (1 medium)

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup oats, divided

1 tablespoon water

Combine yeast and 1 1/4 cups warm water; let stand 5 minutes.  Combine yeast mixture, 3 cups flour, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until smooth. Set two tablespoons of oats aside; gradually stir in remaining oats and 2 cups flour to make a moderately stiff dough. 

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes). (Great stress reliever!)        Add enough of the remaining flour, a little at a time, to prevent sticking.  Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat top.  Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 35 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down.  Divide dough in half,and shape each portion into an 18x7 inch rectangle.  Spread each half with 2 tablespoons butter.  Cut into 1x7 inch strips; roll up strips and place in lightly greased muffin cups.  Cover and let rise in a warm place, 25 minutes or until doubled.  Bake at 350* for 15 to 18 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Yield: 3 dozen

Don't be intimidated by the long directions or by the process of making yeast bread.  Yeast breads are quite forgiving; the trickiest part is the dissolving the yeast, and candy thermometer to check the  temperature of your water takes the stress of that away.  If you're not sure the rolls have cooked long enough, pop one out of the muffin tin and tap the bottom of it; if it sounds hollow, the rolls are done.

These make awesome turkey sandwiches!
Be blessed today,
Ginger 
linking up over at Brambleberry Cottage

Currently

It's been a while since I've done a "Currently"  post (okay, since I've done any post) but I have good reasons, I promise.

Recovering: from the triple-whammy of revival services at our church, the last week of school before Thanksgiving break, and Round Two of the sinus-stomach-headache bug-thingy that's been circulating our campus.  Oh, and insomnia. Make that a quadruple-whammy.

Listening:to Barlow Girls Carol of the Bells for our Christmas music at church; I admit I'm getting into the Christmas spirit early this year

Neglecting:housework and exercise

Fighting:the army of ladybugs that keeps landing in my lap

Savoring: Friday afternoon and a skinny Peppermint Mocha

Looking forward to:Hobby Lobby run tomorrow morning with a friend, and an afternoon shopping excursion with the DD's.

Reading:The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, a very British mystery with an 11 year old protagonist

Realizing: my "I'll do that over Thanksgiving break" list is impossibly lengthy

Planning:Christmas mantels, gift lists, blog surprises

Be blessed this weekend,

Ginger  

   

Thankful Thursday

It's almost here.

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and it's my favorite holiday.  I love the family, the food, the weather, the anticipation of Advent.

This year, I toyed with the idea of writing a thankful post every day in November, but I've learned that blogging goals + the current realities of my life= epic failure.

So I'm going to do the best I can and be thankful for grace.

Seven things I'm thankful for on the 7th of November:

1. Big Red--He prays; he studies the Word;he applies the Word; he makes me laugh; he fixes things; he's my best friend.

2. My children and all the joys and challenges and prayers they represent

3. Our home--There's a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in this place, and I am grateful for it.

4. My job--Right now, it's God's provision for us.  As long as it lasts, I thank Him for it.

5. Bible Study

6. The precious women who taught me to study and have studied with me over  the years

7. Sunrises--They're like personal paintings from the Father; I feel like He's showing off for me.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Be blessed,

Ginger           

This is All I Have to Say

This is all I'm going to say today:

Lord, please have mercy.

 

Thoughts on a Thursday: Here Comes the Bride

 

"The Gospel is our engagement ring, and it says everything the world needs to know about the Groom that is pursuing us."

Zach Neese, How to Worship a King

Be blessed,
Ginger

  

Tunes on a Tuesday

Still a bit squeaky-voiced around here, so I'll just sing along in my heart!

Be blessed,

Ginger 

Thursday thru the Web

Broadcasting from the couch yet again.

For the record, teachers, for the most part, find it a pain in the neck to be out sick. 

 Since "Do lesson #24 on page 116" went the way of the TV antenna, leaving a meaningful assignment that a sub can handle can be quite challenging--especially if one is thinking about it at 3:30 am after a lengthy coughing spell.

Said cough convinced me to stay put another day,

 that and all the people who saw me yesterday who murmured,

 "Poor dear, you are going home to bed, aren't you?" 

 in that voice which means,

 "Go away and don't breath on me until  you are germless." 

So here I lie, doing what everyone does in these situations--

surfing the Web!

So with no further ado, here are some of my finds:

 (from here) 

She had me at "scone".

And "gingerbread".

And "cinnamon glaze".

  

(from here)

I have to bring cookies to a baby shower this weekend.

These are high on my list.

Hello, chocolate and mocha.

Yes, please. 

 

(from here)

I haven't just looked at food.  A Geek in Glasses has a simple tutorial for making your own baker's twine.  Uber-cool Christmas packages, anyone?  

Finally, a post on a more serious note from my friend Helen.

God's goodness is a marvel, really, in uncountable ways, but it always astounds me when He gives me something just because

 it would make me smile, like a child tickled by a peppermint fished out of Grandpa's pocket.

If you've read here a while, you know I love all things Anglo, so it delights me to no end that God would bring me a British blogging buddy--one with a tender heart toward Him and and sweet, true words. I hope you appreciate her heart as well. 

What's your latest find?  Do tell all.

Be blessed today,

Ginger