To-Do Tuesday and 90-Minute Rolls

This past week I've been obsessed with making blocks from various projects and only one thing got done on my list from last week. Above the current state of my sewing room, with projects begging me to look at them.

Here are my goals from last Tuesday:

✔1. Finish yellow blocks for RSC - DONE and posted here

2. Finish quilting Squirrel - no progress

3. Sandwich flower quilt - no progress

4. Sandwich Meadowland quilt - no progress

5. Finish making blocks for Exploding Heart quilt - no progress

I asked Mr Texas Quilt Gal to take a picture of me trying on some "fancy" boots, and this is what I got.

One distraction from my list was a day of shopping for work boots for Mr Texas Quilt Gal. I swear no woman takes as long as he does to decide on shoes. But he is very kind to help me and fetch other sizes when I am trying on shoes, so I was happy to help. One of the stores we visited was Boot Barn, and I found some boots with black glitter trim that I loved. But I have foot surgery in my future, so I am holding off for now. And Mr. TQG found his work boots!

90 Minute Rolls

Here are the rolls I made last week. This is a recipe I've used since 2014. The original recipe, "30 Minute Rolls", can be made more quickly by not doing the first rise and simply forming them into rolls after you make the dough. I like to do that first rise, so mine take longer - hence the "90 Minute Rolls" title. They never fail to be light and fluffy and delicious. We had these with ham, baked beans, and deviled eggs. And a stick of butter! Here is the recipe, with my notes. I mix mine entirely with a KitchenAid, but it can be done with a regular bowl and kneaded by hand. 

90 Minute Rolls
Makes about one dozen

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water

1/3 cup oil

Heaping tablespoon active dry yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

3-1/2 cups flour (can sub part whole wheat or rye flour)

Combine water, oil, yeast, and sugar. Let mixture rest 15 minutes.

Whisk together 2 cups flour and salt and add with egg to yeast mixture, mixing on low until combined. Switch to dough hook and add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time. Mix with dough hook for 3-5 minutes. (Dough will probably be sticky.) Remove dough to greased bowl, flip it, and cover with kitchen towel. Place bowl in warm area and allow to rise for 20-30 minutes. (I use the Bread Proof setting on my gas stove.)

Remove dough to generously floured surface and knead for a minute or so until dough is easy to handle. Form into rolls, place in greased 9 or 10 inch round aluminum cake pan. Dough can also be made into crescent rolls and placed on a parchment lined cookie sheet, or into cloverleaf rolls and placed in a generously greased muffin tin. Cover with kitchen towel and allow to rise 20-30 minutes or until rolls are about doubled in size.

Place pan in oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees. Bake 10-15 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Note: Dough is pretty sticky. Some recipes list “3-1/2 to 4 cups flour” in the ingredients, but  I do not add additional flour until ready to make into rolls. I think that keeps the texture light and fluffy.

The National Weather Service calls these "scary looking clouds". No severe weather attached, but they produced some gusty winds and a "dustless devil" that blew items in strange ways for about 5 seconds!

Last week I "attended" a virtual webinar - SKYWARN - for volunteer storm spotters. These classes are sponsored and taught by local meteorologists with the National Weather Service. The class is very interesting and much needed during our potentially volatile spring. I needed to refresh my training from 10 years ago, and it was actually enjoyable to be able to sit at my desk to take this class. Next month is the advanced training class, and I can't wait. 

My To-Do list for the coming week includes the things I did not do last week:

1. Finish quilting squirrel

2. Sandwich rose quilt

3. Sandwich Meadowland quilt

4. Work on SAHRR pinwheel border

5. Make Riley Blake block for RBD quilt block challenge

6. Think about "You're Crazy" challenge block for Project Quilting

You may find other creative quilters' inspirational goals right here at Chris's linky party!