Happy Thanksgiving!

Video of me kneading my refrigerator roll dough

I can’t believe I forgot to make my refrigerator roll dough!

I try to keep the clover leaf roll tradition alive that my father began close to 70 years ago. I found that this Betty Crocker’s recipe from my favorite cookbook, a wedding gift from over 38 years ago, tastes as close to his as I’ll ever get.

The thing is, this recipe has to rise in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, but the best part is that it will keep up to 5 days. I usually make it a couple of days ahead of time, but I totally spaced this year. Looks like it’ll be late tonight or tomorrow before we get to taste them. So worth the wait.

The cutting board I'm kneading the bread on is actually a sort of island on wheels. My sister-in-law gave it to us, and we've had it for probably 20 years. Someone in her family made it, possibly her father, I forget, but it's been one of the handiest pieces of furniture we've ever owned.

I cooked a fairly small meal this year because it was just Deni, Dawn and myself. Valerie had to work. We were invited to a couple of different family gatherings, but we weren't feeling that well, so we opted to stay at home. The turkey breast I cooked turned out to be chicken, and not very good. *sigh* But the other things I cooked were yummy. Then my niece dropped off a feast, so we'll have that with the clover leaf rolls tomorrow.

I hope you had a wonderful day of lots of good things to eat and great company with which to gather. 

Homemade Refrigerator Roll Dough

Making Clover leaf rolls is one of my proudest achievements in the kitchen. My go-to cookbook is an old Betty Crocker book, a just married gift from my bff, Lauri. It's battered and well-used, the best pages being the messiest. I highly recommend Betty's recipe (as well as other recipes found in this book, like the best peanut butter cookies in the entire world!). It's the closest thing to my dad's clover leaf rolls I can make.

I made a batch for Thanksgiving and they rose nice and high, the best I've ever made, I think.

 

A couple of days after Thanksgiving my daughters suggested I make more, but I told them they'd have to wait for Christmas. Well, I caved and whipped up another batch.

What's neat about this dough, besides the fact it makes A LOT of rolls, is that it keeps in the refrigerator up to 5 days. So I made some the other day and just now took the last of the rolls out of the oven. I made mini rolls and had enough left over to make a tiny cake-pan full.

I had some turkey breast, so I made myself a little sandwich from half of the pan bread. It was messy, the rolls separated because it was still warm from the oven, but I didn't care, the effort to keep it together was worth every bite! I wish this blog had smell-a-vision!

Turkey and Clover Leaf Rolls

I actually did what I set out to do, get the turkey in the oven so we can get it carved and ready for tomorrow, and make two batches of dough for our traditional clover leaf rolls, go me! Or, I should say, "go us" because my hubby was at my side the entire time! I wish I could have gotten photos, but we were both elbow-deep in dough, so I did the next best thing.

Bagged and in the oven, breast-side down for the juiciest turkey, evah!

There are actually two bowls of dough rising, hubby did one and I did one. I can't wait to taste the first one, fresh out of the oven. The recipe I use is the closest I've found to my dad's, which was filed away in his head, a flavor that brings me close to my father's memory. We'll be making my mom's sweet potatoes, one of the triggers that brings her memory closer to the surface as well.

I use Betty Crocker's recipe for Refrigerator Roll Dough

My dad used to put the entire Thanksgiving meal together for our large family (7 kids w/spouses, kids, and friends), and the first one without him took our entire family pulling together, each making something we learned from him. There will still be a few things missing as we all can't be together, cornbread dressing being at the forefront; the sister who makes it may not be with us much longer.

This will be a time to catch up with those we never seem to see enough of, for farewells and getting to know the newer members of our family (a brand-new nephew!). I'm looking forward to this year's gathering of family and friends, because through sadness and joy, gatherings such as this reminds me how very grateful I am to be blessed with so much love!

Have a meaningful Thanksgiving, everyone!