Just before Thanksgiving, the Washington Post Food Section produced a story featuring classic recipes from legendary chefs, updated slightly for the modern Thanksgiving table; included were Fannie Merritt Farmer's cranberry sauce, Edna Lewis' turnip soup, Julia Childs and Jacque Pepin's deconstructed turkey. Each of the dished looked appealing, but I immediately printed the recipe for James Beard Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls, and they took place front and center on our Thanksgiving table this year.n.o.e.'s notes:
- This was the first James Beard bread recipe that I've baked, although I've always heard of Beard on Bread.
- I used fresh yeast rather than active dry yeast.
- Since I used my food processor to mix the dough, I started with the dry ingredients and mixed in the wet ones. The dough was a bit sticky until I kneaded it on an oiled counter. Afterwards it was silky and supple, and a lovely pale apricot color.
- The fresh yeast rose very quickly in my kitchen.
- I formed the rolls into 2 ounce balls in two glass pie plates.
- I tried the par-baking approach with my rolls, baking them about 12 minutes until they were puffed and a bit golden on top, but as they cooled they fell and were a bit smooshy towards the center of the pie pan. My guess it that it was the glass pie plate. After reheating, the rolls in the outer ring were baked perfectly. The inner rolls were flat (but still tasty).
the verdict:
These rolls might have been my favorite part of an exceptionally delicious Thanksgiving dinner. It was a little unreal to think that I'd baked the rolls, when just a year earlier I'd never baked anything with yeast. Additionally, these were perfect dinner rolls: soft and golden, a tiny bit sweet, with an inside crumb that just melted in the mouth. The (relatively minor amount of ) sweet potato wasn't particularly noticeable in the flavor but help contribute tenderness and a lovely color to the crumb.
The rolls made wonderful sandwiches with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. I plan to make these rolls a tradition with Thanksgiving dinner, but I might not wait an entire year to bake them again!
I'm submitting this bread to Yeastspotting, a weekly roundup of extraordinary bread baked in home ovens throughout the world. Stop by on Fridays to check out the bounty of yeasty goodness.
8 comments:
Gorgeous rolls Nancy and a fun way to discover a real treasure.
My copy of Beard on Bread is oh so old ... 30 years I'd guess, don't have it with me or I'd look. I think it was my first bread book. Lots of recipes I still bake out of it on a regular basis, like Walnut bread, Monkey Bread, *Oatmeal Whole Wheat Bread*, and the one I thought about opening a bakery with Flat Bread Crackers.
I saw this article and these sounded so good! Thanks for testing them for us...now I'll make sure to make them.
These look amazing! I am definitely going to try them before the next "roll" holiday (Christmas?) so I can be ready to go in the roll department on a moment's notice. Sounds like they are perfect!
Lovely! Perfect holiday table rolls, I hope to try them soon.
Popped in to say hi! I've been looking for fluffy dinner rolls, and these look perfect!!!
Those rolls look wonderful! I must have them! :0)
I must try these...I copied down the recipe but just ran out of time before the holidays. I am going to give them a shot soon, though, as they look and sound wonderful.
Did you know that Beard was actually an actor out of work when he started cooking. Good thing for us he did.
these rolls look just perfect.
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