Happy Thanksgiving! Now Rise, Dammit

So, bread. Yeah, yeast and I have not been friends much. I've not had a good feel for it. My mom used to bake when I was very small, before I learned to cook on my own - so I never gained any confidence in working with it. Add to that, the first few tries with baking haven't worked all that well. (For example, this is a photo of the whole wheat loaf that I made about a year ago.)

If you can tell, it didn't raise well, and was pretty dense, though tasty. It made for some delicious toast, and a few nice croutons.

So, I decided to try this recipe: http://dailywaffle.com/2011/10/14/milk-bread-yeast-rolls-yeah-i-made-this/ It's a milk bread roll recipe and seeing that it's Turkey Day tomorrow and I'm responsible for said turkey, I thought I'd add in rolls for fun.

(This photo is in the final rise)
Here are my changes to the recipe: Instead of 5 TBSP butter, I did a whole stick. Why? Um. I forgot and just melted the entire stick and stuck it in. I actually didn't realize that until just now when I was reviewing the recipe. I also forgot about having to do the egg wash a second time so I am off to do that. More photos in a few moments. I don't have silpat at home, so I used parchment paper.

I'm not so sure if there are hot spots in my oven, so 7 minutes into baking I turned the pan. They looked AMAZING and I nearly stopped the baking, but I didn't. I am waiting for the next 3 minutes to go and grab these from the oven. I don't know if I'll be able to restrain myself and wait till they are cool to eat one.

Yeah, I couldn't wait.

Things I might try differently: I believe you can make this into a sandwich loaf, and next time I will definitely try it. I'll also keep the extra butter - the dough was beautifully elastic, and butter is awesome. Next, I think I'll add a bit more salt and will increase it by 1/2 tsp till it tastes right or doesn't rise. I don't know why, but I think it needs a bit more oomph. Finally, I think I'll let them cool before eating them. I kinda burnt my mouth a little.

I hope you try this recipe. I think it's a beautiful one to use.

Canned Meat Products Are Made by the 1%!!

My husband bought this at the store. I hadn't warned him:

He opened it "Um, wow, this doesn't really look like the label" and of COURSE, I rushed in with my camera.

I walk away, laughing, knowing I have another winner. Soon follows a sucking sound like when you empty dog food out of a can but the dog ran OUT of the kitchen. I hear "Ugggh. I'm NOT going to eat this. There is no way." followed by both of us literally on the floor of the kitchen crying tears at the fact the dog refused to even sniff the canned meat product.

And, here, my friends, is the final picture in the trifecta of canned grossness. The 3rd circle of Dante's Inferno.

--farah