overnight rolls

Life has been busy since January.  I have been traveling most weeks.  It is either to my Dad's or with family.

My Dad has felt that he has declined since he got COVID.  I would agree.  He seems to be more fragile.  I do not think we will have him in our lives as long as we may hope.  I am trying to just spend more time with him.  It does mean I get to go for more walks in the woods.  I also feel like I have learned to travel more easily.  I am down to one carry on bag when I fly.  Even when I travel by car.  I just do not need to take everything anymore.  Simple is good.

I still take a crochet or embroidery project.  My hands need to be busy.  Mending is never ending so that is where most of my sewing attention is currently.  I am contemplating making my next spring suit.  A neoprene swimsuit basically.  The one I have has completely stretched out and I cannot find anything that I like in a shop.  My biggest problem there is that I have found five pieces of fabric I like.  Making a decision on fabric is sometimes the hardest thing.  I really only need one.  The idea of sewing with neoprene is not even as daunting as just making the decision of which fabric.

My Beloved and myself went to New Orleans for my birthday week.  Lots of walking, food, drink, and good people.  We stayed in a bed and beverage that had a roof deck with Adirondack chairs on it.  It was the straw for me to get the chairs I wanted for the front porch.  I am continuing the New Orleans tradition of having my morning tea on the front porch.  It make life better.  It is where I am writing now.  I can sit and have Blue or Bear sharing the space and it is not quite as overwhelming as being inside.  I also can watch the roses I planted grown.

One of the things I have found hard with all the traveling I am doing is having home baked fresh bread.  When we were in Homer, I came across a cookbook called The Nordic Baker.  The author has a recipe for overnight bread rolls which I have been using.  I can have fresh bread for breakfast even if it is not in the form of a loaf. 

I do find I have to share with the Bear.  I have to be very specific if I need to save some for say a camping trip.  I went by myself and this was the bread I took.  It travels well.  I have also taken the author's idea of an easy overnight roll and made a more enriched dough for the bun.  It worked well.  What I am saying, is that I have used this recipe as a framework and gone other directions with it.

overnight rolls

Note:  I modified this recipe from The Nordic Baker to use sourdough and more to my taste.  I have also kneaded in butter and used milk instead of water, added more sugar.  The only thing I have not tried with this so far is to add an egg but it would make something more similar to a brioche if you did.

2 tablespoons sourdough starter 

1 1/4 cup water (the recipe called for cold but I use room temperature water)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup rye flour

2 1/4 cup spelt or wheat flour (I have used both)

I mix everything in a bowl and then put it in a covered Pyrex to sit on the counter overnight, 8 to 12 hours. My winter kitchen works very well for leaving the dough on the counter.  My summer kitchen will need me to put this dough in the refrigerator for this time.  Make sure the dough is covered well.

This should be a wet sticky dough so kneading will probably not happen.  Just stir very well.  If not extra.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface.  Divide into 10 equal portions.  Do not work too much about shaping.  I push the corners under to make the rounder when I move them to the silpat covered baking sheet.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden.  Let cool for a few minutes and then serve warm.

I like them with butter and jam.  Or cream cheese and smoked salmon.  On my camping trip, I cut them in half and fried them in not butter to have for breakfast.  It is really a great way to have fresh bread.