Sweet Breads of Yester-Years!

Remember the days of Yeast?

As a young girl, I remember my mother having a Yellow colored large bowl with white floral prints marked on the sides neatly placed in the corner of our warm country kitchen. On top of the bowl rested a soft linen towel protecting the ever so temperamental batch of yeast. I was always intrigued with the smell of yeast throughout the house. I would make sure to stick around the kitchen checking on the bowl of yeast for that chance of getting to punch it down. My mother never had to watch it when I was around because I kept her up to date with the transformation of the dough.  

My mother took great pride in her rolls and cinnamon rolls. It was the most requested baked good by all family members and friends. Boy, did our house smell great for at least two days as she worked feverishly on those incredible rolls covered in a maple icing that would knock your socks off! 

I was on cloud nine when I finally was able to help her punch down the dough and prepare the fillings for the cinnamon rolls. I loved it! I was in charge of spreading the softened butter on the rolled out dough. I now understand why she handed me that job....softened butter on hands keeps little ones very busy. :)

 My Grandma Adams might have a lot of yeast bread recipes, but my mother was always in charge of the bread around my Grandma. How incredible to know going through all of these recipes of yeast breads, that my grandma preferred my mother's yeast breads the best.

I watched my mother's every move when she made those rolls. As, I grew older, I wanted to be more involved in making my mother's cinnamon rolls. She was happy with that until I wanted to change the filling up a bit. I was never good at following directions or orders from someone else. I loved being creative with food and always making a change and be adventurous with dishes.

Still, to this day, I cannot make my mother's cinnamon rolls or dinner rolls. Anytime I call her and complain about my failed attempts, she would simply state "Honey, the yeast must have been bad".

Now that I am a little wiser in the kitchen, I understand my mother keeping herself from being a "know it all" with me as I tried like the dickens to copy her rolls. Life lesson learned....'with my own daughter, try real hard to never say, "I told you so" and allow her to find things out on her own. Allow her to find her own greatness!'

 Which brings me to the saying typed on the top of the page on the right side of the book. It states :

"Love comes quietly...but you know when it is there, because suddenly...you are not alone anymore...and there is no sadness inside you."

I am not for sure who the audience was for this quote, but it seems so fitting to me about my Grandmas and my mother. 

Right underneath of this is written:

  On one of his recent broadcasts, news commentator Paul Harvey shared his favorite quotation: "If you don't live it, you don't believe it"

If there were any doubts how I truly believe that my grandmas and mother can get me grounded and centered in life...I hope it has started to make sense to you all now.

   

Next Blog Post.....

 I will be taking you all through the little booklet called Betty Crocker's Holiday Heritage from General Mills copyright in 1966. 

 In the meantime, I will leave you with the two quotes posted on the far left of the book....

"No one Stands so tall as when he stoops to give someone less fortunate a lift"

MOTHER IN LOVE

How harsh a word-mother-in-law

 For one whose heart and arms stretch wide

To welcome to her family

The new and inexperienced bride.

Mother-in -love rings far more true,

Red roses more appropriate

Than cold and legal phrase for one

With a heart so tender, Love so great.

                                        Alice MacKenzie Swaim.