Memaw's Rolls

For as long as I can remember my maternal grandmother ("Memaw") has made the BEST pies and rolls!  Her most requested pies are pecan and chocolate (with homemade crust and perfect meringue, of course). 

My mom actually discovered the roll recipe in her high school Home Economics class.  With her special touch and lots of experience Memaw became the pro!  Growing up the whole family looked forward to them at all holidays and gatherings.  Several aunts and cousins have attempted and I figured it was my turn!  I decided they would serve as one of my contributions to Easter lunch this year. 

Here is the recipe with ingredients listed in bold:

Dilute one pkg of yeast in1/2 cup of warm water.  Set aside. 

Mix in a separate bowl: 1 egg slightly beaten, 1/2 cup shortening or butter, 1/3 cup sugar.

To the egg mixture, add 1/2 cup very hot water.  Careful with hot water.  (Boil 1/2 c water in a pan, remove it, count to ten, then slowly add hot water to mixture while carefully stirring--be careful w sudden temperature change in glass bowls and avoid splashing).  Immediately after blending hot water, add 1/2 cup cold water and yeast mixture. Mix well.

To this mixture, add 4 1/2 cups of flour and 2 tsp of salt.  Here is where more flour may be needed depending on the weather.  Flour hands and kneading surface.  When mixture holds together, knead gently until it's not sticky, but too much additonal flour can make it heavy.  Experience makes perfect!!

Allow mixture to rise one hour before making into balls for baking at preheated 350 degrees until brown.  Mom and I have always made it ahead of time, placed it in refrigerator to rise overnight covered w plastic wrap.  Three hours before serving, flour hands and gently pull a piece of dough from risen ball, keeping flour handy if dough gets sticky.  Make balls a little larger than golf balls, place on greased baking sheet, cover, and allow to rise 3 hours on or around warm kitchen.  You may also make three smaller rolls and place in greased mufin tins for a Parker House type roll.  Also makes breakfast cinnamon rolls but need to rise 3 hours before baking.

29 and a half

Today is my half birthday.....I am officially 29 and a half.  It sort of makes me shiver. 

I owe all of you loyal blog readers an update on accomplishing my list.  Look here for my very first entry and see the updates in blue.  To date I am 23.33% done with my list and many of the remaining goals are in the works.  I hope to enjoy my last 6 months of being 20-something!

Prayer Journal

And my God will supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ. -Philippians 4:19

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and repeition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6

During our time living in Oklahoma I kept a prayer journal (pictured in the middle above).  It had a space for me to reflect on 'a moment of thanks', 'a prayer' and 'an answer'.  This made it very simple for me to keep track of how God was working in my life.  The first entry was April 7, 2002 and the last entry was on January 29, 2006.  One of the last entries reads:

"Be with Jarrod and I as we discover what you have in store for our lives.  Please calm our concerns regardng moving and finances.  Please speak to us and let us know when the time is for a baby...."

We had just decided to move back home to Texas, but little did we know Emma would be born that year!

After that prayer journal had been filled I never started a new one.  I always had intentions but never got around to it.  That is, until last night!  My new one (pictured to the left) has its first entry.  To the right is the Women's Study Bible Jarrod got me for Christmas.  God knows our needs/wants/feelings, long before we do.  This is AMAZING!!  Even so, he desires for us to voice those to Him in prayer.  He desires an open line of communication.