My Roll Recipe

I've had a lot of people ask me about my recipe for rolls and decided since I didn't really use a recipe -- and really just did it from off the top of my head I'd try to share it in a "written" form, so here's my attempt at trying to share this most delicious recipe.

My rolls

I start with 2 cups of flour in a mixing bowl, and then add 2 Tablespoons of yeast (which equals about two packets if you are using those) and then I add either 1/2 cup of sugar or honey ( I alternate between batches, both taste good), 1/2 cup of oil, and then I add four cups of warm water. (Sometimes I even add about 1 cup of potato flakes and mix in also) Pour all of this into the mixing bowl and mix well. Let sit for about 20 minutes, and after the 20 minutes you can then add cups of flour to this mixture and mix into the rest of it. Keep adding flour until the dough starts to become a ball in the bowl and you could start kneeding the dough on the table. Pour some flour (a little at a time) on the table and place the ball of dough there, add flour still to the top of this ball and start kneading the dough. I have it down until I get the consistency I want, the dough will seem smooth and not to sticky. It usually takes about 5 - 7 minutes of kneading (maybe longer -- I haven't really timed it -- but now maybe I should). After it gets to the consistency that you could handle it enough to make rolls without getting your hands caked with bread dough then you proceed to shape the rolls ( It seriously takes practice-- so the more you do this the better you'll get)

This recipe makes a couple dozen rolls, my family goes through them fast. And you can always place in a ziplock bag or an old roll bag as airtight as possible and eat more later. Use within a few days though (freezing might work, but I've never needed to try). We seriously eat these SO FAST!!!

So after you shape the rolls let them sit for about 30 minutes to rise some more, and then when they have gotten bigger you can place them in your preheated oven which was set at (425) and then bake them for about 15 - 20 minutes but before you place them in your oven drizzle melted butter over the tops or not. Let them cool slightly before taking them out of the initial pan, after about 5 - 7 minutes than place them on a cooling rack, and when cooled completely store in a "bag" if needed. If you have questions just ask -- I might have forgotten to say something.

Updates .....

This has been a rough week for me, okay seriously it isn't that bad, because I enjoy being woke up at 3 am and dealing with my son who is nearing the age of 2, and kept awake for three hours, because he can't sleep for some reason. I REALLY LIKE THAT ! ( All the above is said, with a lot of SARCASM!!) Well, I enjoyed (SARCASM AGAIN) myself more, when I took him to the doctor and discovered that he had double ear infections. (OUCH!!)

So now that he's on the antibiotics, we can once again, be peaceful and try to sleep at night.

Last Saturday I had my husband take off with ALL FIVE kids and be gone from the house for a few hours so that I could do some "CLEANING". I seriously had a week's worth of dishes on the "to-do" list for at least a few weeks, and I had about 5-6 loads of laundry that have been on the list for at least 3-4 weeks, I also had a corner full of "Christmas STUFF" that has been on the list to be packed away and placed under the house since Christmas (so what is that??? Two months. YIKES!!!) I've had a piano that needed serious attention (aka CLEANING) as well as the entertainment center. Plus I had an oven that hasn't seriously been cleaned in the time I've owned it -- Scary I know!!!

Well I was busy at this all day long. I cleared off my piano wiped it down, and made it "SHINE" again, no more finger prints, entertainment center was cluttered with video tapes and "Christmas decor" it's all gone and now my children's pictures sit across the top. I washed ALL the dishes that day too, and have kept up with them all week. Hooray for me!! Well I actually make the kids wash their own dishes after they eat every night. It seriously helps, we'll keep that tradition going for as long as they live here or until I find a better one. The laundry was all folded and put away, the Christmas boxes now total 5, and all were taped, labeled and placed under the house. I also cleaned the inside of my oven, organized a lot of our VHS movies for the kids -- and yes, we avidly use these still. Call us old fashioned, but at least the movie doesn't skip when you get to the really "Good" part. I would have to say that day was a total Success. So thanks Chris for taking away the kids, so that I didn't have any constant pulling on my legs, or whining in my ears, or I need this and that's, so that I could do these things that got put off for so long.

We're coming up on another Saturday and I'm wondering if we should make it a tradition for at least 3 - 4 hours like they were last week. My goal for this weekend is to get my kitchen floor mopped and clear of the counter top. I then need to head for the bathroom hallway and attack that place. It's starting to get borderline SCARY in there.

As my 8 year old daughter said, " mom, you really like cleaning, and your really good at it, you just don't like the kids that prevent you from doing so."

I wouldn't go so far as to say I don't like the kids, but rather the things they need, want or say that prevent me from getting things done. But little do they know that "MEAN" Mom is about to visit our house, and things are hopefully going to start changing for the better, meaning a more tidy and clean home. And eventually clutter free!!

Today I made each of my older two girls fold a load of clothes each and had them put them away. What a genius IDEA!!! I didn't have to do it, and I could continue to work on dinner. I think we'll keep doing that as well too.


I'm trying to come up with a "schedule" to keep me grounded so that I don't get way behind on anything again. So in another week or two I hope to have all bedrooms, free of the clutter, and actually look like the "model rooms" in the magazines (well as close as we can, which is pretty far from those images) but, at least so that I can see all of their floor and can remember what color the carpet is. So once all the rooms are clean --- I should be able to enforce the cleaning process and the tidying up every evening -- theoretically this should be EASY. We'll see. I seem to be the one with the "consistency" problem. But I'm nearing the age of 31 in a few months and don't want my kids to remember a MESSY house all the time. But I think sometimes, it's okay.

I'll be sure and post the progress every week, as a way to make me accountable.

Things that make you go Hmmm ....

Okay I was just wondering the other day, while I was driving my car, if anyone else ever "notices" the things they drive by like I do. I'll see something and then think about it, but in order for me to want to think about it, a few things need to be in place a) is it something I'm used to seeing, because if it is I don't really think about it, and b) would this catch someone else's attention -- well who cares if it won't what matters is if it catches mine.

So here are a few of my observations from a few weeks ago. I'm starting to think I'm liking carrying my camera with me everywhere -- because you just never KNOW when you might want or need it. Right??

This was a car that I saw while driving one afternoon to get my daughters from school. It was colorful, and bright, and I don't see how anyone could miss it. But I have to ask, what on earth possesses people to drive cars that have "paint" jobs like this. It looks like they tried to be frugal, and apparently are do it yourselfers, but please WHY??? It looks obnoxious, and almost looks as if they couldn't decide what color to use, and wanted to "spot test" a few different areas so that they could try them all on for "size". But then again, I don't know why they did this, but seriously if they think it looks cool --ummm I think they need to realize that it doesn't quite look that "COOL".

I saw this on the way to get my girls and just thought how beautiful it looked to me. I love overcast skies, and especially when you can see the trees that are bare that sit in front of such a beautiful scene. With how dark it looks you'd think it was near dusk, but it actually was around 3pm and I just couldn't help myself. I love the sunlight trying to get through the thick covering of clouds --- it's just AMAZING to me.


You're probably thinking why I'm putting this on. Well let me explain. I've seen this same thing a few days in a row, and it just makes me go CRAZY!!! This is a somewhat BUSY intersection by a school I drive by everyday. The shocker ??? I see a young boy about 1st or 2nd grade "aged" finishing crossing this street by himself. I then looked to the direction he came from and didn't see any parents watching him cross safely. I sat back and knew that I wouldn't let my own kids cross such a busy street by themself without another "responsible" adult to ensure their safety (as much as can be expected). Would you allow your child to cross such a busy intersection by him/her self and not think twice about it???

Luckily he crossed the few times by himself, but why didn't a parent go with him?? Hmmm.

Do you ever see things that make you question the "motive"???

Valentines Day 2009 -- Not much excitement here.

Our Valentines Day's are always pretty low key. My husband and I went on our date a week ago, so that we could spend time together as a family on Valentines Day. To start off our day we had the speech therapist that will come to our home once a month to help work with our nearly two year old son -- who has a delay in speech. She came by asking questions and just trying to get a feel for our family and our little boy. She seems nice enough, and I feel this is definatley a step in a positive direction.

So after she was done at our home she left and then we didn't have anything planned. Although we did watch Waterhorse as a family after the woman left. And Chris also went to the bank so he could pull out the money needed to pay off our little darling girls for their report cards. We owed them for the last three quarters (one being from last school year). The girls were way excited and asked if they could go to the store to "SPEND" this hard earned money. So they helped somewhat with the dishes (didn't finish them all- but like I ever do) They did however come to the aide of the livingroom and cleaned up the floor for the second time that day and vaccummed. After completing this task I had an 8 year old run up to me asking me if we could go to the store right NOW. She wasn't dressed for going outside so I came back with " NO!! You aren't even dressed, you silly girl"

So needless to say all the kids got dressed, and we headed for DI -- (Deseret Industries --a thrift store) They found a few treasures that they were glad to buy. I stocked up on a few more books, that I'm anxious to read, and a few more to collect to complete the series. Afterwords, we went to Home Depot. Why?? Well for two reasons, 1) we went to buy a new kitchen faucet. YEAH!! The current one is so OLD, and it leaks into the cabinet space below. YUCK!! 2) we needed to buy a repair kit for the toilet, so that we don't have to keep turning off the water valve when it is on constantly.

After Home Depot we ran to Walmart where we bought two more towel rods to match the ones my husband bought me for Christmas, and that we are so grateful to use now. We wanted to put two more in for the kids to have a place to hang thier towels at. (Hopefully this will reduce the towels on the floor issue). We also bought a new curtain rod to mount in the girls bedroom, seeing how their old one broke to pieces and they've been without a curtain on the "sliding glass door". This, of course, will be my project because Chris already has a few to work on. We also bought a wall mounting shelf-cabinet thing to put over the toilet. I'm excited to get that up.

After leaving there, we stopped at Papa Murphey's on the way home and bought one of those heart shaped pizzas and pineapple/ham pizza as well. So can I really complain?? No !! Especially when my husband started the day by giving me a sweet card.





On the front it said

For my Sweet Wife

The love of my life

Then open it and it says:

When we fell in love,

I gave you my heart.

When we got married,

I gave you my word.

And as long as I live,

I will give you my love.

Happy Valentines Day.

Then of course, he signed it.

I also got a box of chocolates!! YUM!! Can't go wrong there.

But for our date last week, we ate dinner at a local Chinese Buffet place

and then we decided to head towards RC Willey and DREAM AWAY!!!

I do have to admit that I was a little bit SAD afterwards because I liked

some of the stuff I saw in the store but knew it would not happen anytime soon

that it would ever be in my house. But we did have fun, and we enjoy being together.

And we're just around the corner from being able to let our girls watch the younger

ones while we go out. How exciting!!

Want to know about us..... ??

I got this quiz off from a friend over at Facebook, and thought it would be a great one to post and answer in honor of Valentines Day. I should actually get him to answer the same questions and see how our answers differ. We'll see if that ever pans out.

1. How long have you been together?
We’ve been married for a little over 10 ½ years. (June 24, 1998)

2. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We were in the same church ward (congregation) up at Ricks College for the 97-98 school year. August – December we didn’t really interact at all, but then in January of 98 we were put into the same Family Home Evening group (Thanks Nahir) and when we started doing the FHE’s for the semester we started the “flirting”.

3. Who asked who out?
I don’t know that we ever really went on a date. I mentioned after a FHE that I needed to walk to the grocery store to go buy some groceries and he offered to take me in his “CAR”. So I accepted and it was a mutual togetherness after that.

4. How old are each of you?
Chris is 34 until May, I’m 30 until April.

5. Whose siblings do you see the most?
We see his siblings more, since they all live close by and here in Utah. Mine mostly live in California now with one sister and her family being in Roy, Utah that I try and see every couple of months.

6. Do you have children together?
We have 5. 3 girls, and 2 boys – and yes it was in that order too.

7. What about pets?
We have 1 dog named Amber she’s a german shephard mix, we also have a gray Tabi Cat named Phoebe.
8. Did you go to the same school?
We did not go to the same school –well not until College. We both attended Ricks College (back in the day when it was called Ricks, now it’s called BYU-Idaho)

9. Are you from the same town?
That would have been FUN!!! But no, we didn’t meet until we were in college.

10. Who is the smartest?
I would say, he is most of the time, but there is stuff that has to do with the “kids” and the house that I am smarter about. So maybe it could be a toss up. Just Depends.

11. Who is the most sensitive?
Are you kidding, of course, it’s ME!!! 12. Where do you eat out most as a couple?Whatever we’re craving at the moment, but we like doing Chinese or Mexican mostly. But we both LOVE SUBWAY.

13. Where is the farthest place you have traveled as a couple?
This last summer we drove across the county to West Virginia. He’s been there plenty of times, for me it was a first.

14. Who has the craziest exes?
I would have to say Me. Because I don’t know that he really dated much. But then again, I don’t know that they were really crazy as they were just not for me. (Just as Alexes said)

15. Who has the worst temper?
I think we both have tempers but my temper is more well known around our house. (something to work on)

16. Who does most of the cooking?
I feel like I usually do most of it, but Chris does help out on the weekends. And sometimes during the week.

17. Who is more social?
I AM!! SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!

18. Who is the neat freak?
Is there a way to take lessons on being OCD with cleaning. I think I need to take a few lessons.

19. Who is more stubborn?
I of course, will say that he is, but I’m sure that he’d say I am. But I think he REALLY is.

20. Who hogs the bed?
We have a King SIZED bed, but he still takes up all the room and then some.

21. Who wakes up earlier?
That’s a toss up, we usually are waking up within a few minutes of each other. But I also get up during the night with any kids that need attention then. So what if I sleep a little longer --- BIG DEAL.
22. Where was your first date?
The first time he offered to take me grocery shopping we went to Milhollow (a frozen yogurt place in Rexburg) and we came back home to my place that night and stood under the tree for a while and had our first kiss. After contemplating it for a WHILE!!

23. Who has the bigger family?
I do. There are 8 kids counting me, and he has 7 kids including him.

24. Do you get flowers often?
Not really, but we bought rose bushes when we first moved in, so I get all the roses I want when they start blooming. And that’s FANTASTIC for me.

25. How do you spend the holidays?
Usually low key with just our little family and then end up at his parents for dinner or dessert.

26. Who is more jealous?
Neither

27. Who does the laundry?
I do more of the laundry, but he claims he does more laundry than any other man ever does. Because occasionally (or more so) he does his own laundry. Although lately I’ve been doing more for him. He doesn’t fold or put anything that isn’t his away ever.

28. Who is better with the computer?
Me of course. I love figuring out things, and “fixing” it with what I can do.

29. Who drives when you are together?
He does. He’s a bad back seat driver so I don’t like to unless I HAVE to. (While he’s in the car)

30.Is your family still growing?
Well of course it’s still growing. They still live with us don’t they. (yeah, yeah, I know you wanted to hear if we planned on having more – for now we’re done, but who know’s about the future yet? )

Funday Friday.

Little Man -- I don't remember what he got into, but he's just so darn cute.

Sunshine -- Think she's a little lady --- THINK AGAIN!!!

Sleeping Beauty --- Questions??? Well she went to put her nightgown on, only she didn't undo the buttons before she slipped it on her head. So she walked to the kitchen from her room like this and was asking for help and actually might have started to whimper. Chris and I thought that this was so funny I couldn't help but to take a picture. As soon as I did, she started laughing. So Chris helped her unbutton the buttons so that she could pull it all the way on. My kids are strange and funny all the time.

T-Man ---

Thinks that this is the way to pose for pictures.

I don't know if there are words enough to explain this picture. But this is Smartie Pants. She's always doing something that's off the wall bizarre and then makes us laugh.

I've been busy today... and no I wasn't CLEANING.

I decided if I want to stay caught up this year on my scrapbook --which I'm switching to digi-scrapping, I better do it throughout the year. I also realized that T-man had his birthday over a month ago and I never posted pictures. I do have to say that this was my "baby" -- the CAKE not exactly the BOY. Although he used to be my baby. These are just some of the pages that I did just this afternoon.

And as far as the cleaning go, I've been cleaning out files on my computer that are no longer needed. So I do feel like I've been productive today. More to come .. hopefully throughout the week. With the huge mounding of laundry finally folded and a few things left to hang, I'm not doing TOO badly, but then again, more clothes have gotten dirty and are in need of being laundered, so the "VICIOUS" CYCLE goes on yet again.

Mommy moments --

A few of my "MOMMY" moments that have recently happened.

February 4, 2009
The other night I was making dinner, and for dinner we were having "burritos". I was busy in the kitchen, and had just come home from the dentist with no feeling in the front part of my face. (Yes, I had a filling or two taken care of -- itty bitty ones) At any rate I opened up the can of olives and proceeded to "drain" the cans. Well, most humans probably drain the liquid into the receptacle called the kitchen sink, uh huh. NOT ME!! I had the whole can completely drained into the "TRASH CAN" before I realized what I was doing. I'm such a RETARD.


The very next afternoon (February 5th, 2009) I was getting ready to leave somewhere. My husband was out in the van with the kids and I was doing the "sweep" through the house making sure lights were off, and doors were locked. I noticed as I was headed for the front door that it was unlocked. So not thinking twice about it, I flip the knob so the door would be locked. No problem, right?? WRONG. I twisted the doorknob a few times and tried to pull open the door, only I couldn't GET why it wasn't working. DUH!!! I locked the door before I opened it, and now I had to undo everything I had already done. Well at least it wasn't to strenuous, but still, these are just a few of the crazy things that take place on any given day in my house.

And since, my kids keep reminding me how funny this one was I'll put it down here too.

A few months back, maybe even a year or so, we were having breakfast for dinner. I had gone through all the effort to make pancakes or french toast -- can't quite remember exactly what -- evidence that my brain is not functioning properly --- but I had shredded potatoes for hash browns and cooked them all up. I had also made some scrambled eggs, which happen to be my favorite. I had even made up some orange juice -- (this is making me salivate just retelling this). We sat at the table had our blessing over the food and began to attack the food. I live with a bunch of WILD BEASTS and they ravenously went for the food. We had potatoes flying through the air to one end of the table, french toast (or maybe it was pancakes) were being thrown like Frisbees to land on every one's plates, the juice was sloshing around in the pitcher after being slammed onto the table after filling up every ones mugs to the rims. And then I so calmly asked for the salt and pepper. So I pick up the pepper and sprinkle it onto my eggs, I proceed to use the "salt" only it didn't go so well. You see we have these lids that twist on to the holding cell and when you have to refill the holding cell, you have to take the lid off and are to screw the lid back on, only SOMEONE failed to do so and when I was holding the salt shaker in my hands about to sprinkle some on my eggs, it suddenly became a downpour!! I'm not kidding. But did I have quick reaction time, NO !! What actually took only 3-5 seconds seemed like 3 - 5 minutes maybe even hours. I think the relay time from eyes to brain and the brain to hands is off a tad bit. So the contents of that shaker were nearly all on my eggs now. Can I say GROSS, yet? So to try and not "waste" these good eggs, I tried to scrape off most of the excess salt. Guess what?? Didn't work so well, the damage was already done. Might have just given me a salt lick it was so NASTY!! My kids just watched on in amazed SILENCE followed by a huge round of LAUGHTER. Because MOM, made a mess.

Well, not everything in that last story actually happened, but something did happen, what was it?? And bonus points if you can tell me who actually messed with the shaker last.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT HELP!!! Only 13 questions.

Okay so my daughter is doing a science fair project which is due on Monday the 9th of February -- to help in her project I'm trying to reach a lot of people at once. She wants to do a survey. What kind?? Glad that you asked.

She wants to know about your Laundry Habits. Well not really habits but it sounds good to us.

Please answer the following:

1. Male or Female
2. Age
under 20
21- 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
Over 70
3. What Laundry Detergent do you buy and use most of the time?
4. Why do you buy it?
5. Have you used a laundry detergent and discovered that you didn't like it? Why don't you like this one?

6. What influences you most when buying laundry detergent?
7. If money weren't a factor which laundry detergent would you buy? Why?
8. When you were a child what laundry detergent did your mother use?

These following questions are more pertinent to this experiment.
9. Have you ever used Tide detergent?

Were you happy with it? Why or Why not?

10 Have you ever used Sun detergent?
Were you happy with it? Why or Why not?
11. Which one do you think cleans better?
12. Do you have sensitive skin that requires you to use detergents that are for sensitive skin?
13. How long have you been washing laundry?

Thanks in ADVANCE!!!

We've done the intial project but want to get some general population feedback. I know lots of people like to blog stalk so please help this 4th grader out. Feel free to email me or leave a comment to answer this survey. We're interested in what YOU have to say. You have until Saturday night to respond to this. Happy Friday.

Happy Groundhog Day. NOT!!!

MOUNDS OF LAUNDRY TO GO FOLD, and

NO CLEAN DISHES LEFT TO USE.

NEED I SAY ANYMORE.

PLUS I'M TIRED!!!

The best part -- I get to wake up and do the

same thing AGAIN tomorrow.

Sometimes I think I'm living my

own "GROUNDHOG DAY"

Meaning that I'm repeating the

same DAY. Because heck, I basically

do all the things over and experience

several moments in the course of a day

that feel like I've already done that.

Anyone else know that feeling??

****************

Okay so this was the thought and condition of the house

last Tuesday or so. Since then, the dishes have almost been

completely washed, dried and put away. While yet others keep

getting used and thus the task starts ALL OVER once AGAIN.

The Laundry --- well half the mound is finally gone, and the other

half is on it's way to being done with the vacation it decided to take

on my living room couch. I think the vacation is over with tomorrow.