What happened to January? One moment I was beginning a new year, making plans for the long, long month of January- next thing I know it’s almost over! The stretch of unusually balmy weather certainly helped to speed up the process. I also have a sneaking suspicion that I’m on that downhill slide, having reached a venerable age where there aren’t near enough hours in the day. I come sliding into homeplate at the end of the day and my to-do list still has glaringly undone projects staring at me. But luckily for me, I have acquired a bit of wisdom thru the years, and am quite capable of walking away from that list. My husband has helped tremendously. He stares at me intently, speaking in slow, distinct cop-like tones ‘ Honey- put the list down. Slowly. Hands over your head. Now- turn, and walk away.’
The next list I’ll be creating will be the Farmers Market Valentine’s Day shopping list! We’ve decided to sneak up on the Big Stores and woo you away by making shopping for your sweetie easy, unique, and affordable. Beginning next week we will offer you a list showing proven sweetheart favorites. You may choose a theme, such as a Breakfast box. It might have granola, scones, honey, pretty napkins & fresh ground coffee – you make the choices. We will lovingly package your choices into a bakers box, tie with red ribbon and have it all ready for you to pick up right before Valentine’s Day. You needn’t support Hallmark when we have gorgeous art cards from local artists which will win his or her heart. Plus- we will have 50 free tickets to offer for the Take your Honey to Hoquiam 7th Street Theatre showing of Dirty Dancing!
Because January has zipped past at such an alarming rate, you may be just as surprised as I to learn that Tuesday is Groundhog Day! Intending no disrespect to Punxsutawney Phil, I have my own plan for forecasting what the rest of our winter will bring. After all, P. Phil is clear across the country and can’t possibly predict what will happen in Grays Harbor, can he? Here’s my plan. Remember our Christmas Mountain Beaver? He’s been nibbling away on the lovely sword ferns which he collected in case of harsh weather. Come Tuesday morning, I’ll be watching and waiting at the entrance to his burrow. Will he come out and be blinded by sunshine? Will he encounter a gloomy drizzly day and stroll around happily? The tension is building. I doubt that I can get a news camera crew to record the momentous occasion, but I will report to you, and we can be making plans accordingly.
Our beloved master baker Nancy is nearing the end of her January rest & recovery time, and soon the Market will be filled once more with pies, warm bread, and cinnamon rolls! Last January I decided that being on an imposed homemade bread fast was not going to happen again, and I pulled out my Grandma Bennett’s recipe for Dinner Rolls. Grandma used to make these twice each day, for breakfast and then again for dinner. Of course, she ran a boarding house for several years and had a crowd to feed. She loved to cook and used only the best ingredients, so she lost money on the boarders! This recipe is easy and unbelievably scrumptious!
Grandma Bennett’s dinner rolls
2 1/4 tsp. Yeast (1 package) plus 1 Tblp. Sugar. Add 1/8 cup warm water and let the yeast proof. It will get bubbly and start puffing up.
Stir into yeast mixture;
3 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tblp. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
3/4 cup of lukewarm buttermilk
1/4 cup of oil
Mix it all together, adding more flour as you knead if necessary. Put in bowl, cover with damp towel, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes. Punch down the dough, let it rise again another 45 minutes. Punch down and slice into rolls. Put on baking sheet, spray with cooking oil, and let rise in warm place for 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Be sure to have plenty of good butter ready when these come out of the oven!
I double the recipe when company is coming for dinner- really, I could just serve the rolls and everyone would be quite happy!
You may need a new apron or potholders to help your baking project along, and the Farmers Market has several styles in pretty old-fashioned fabrics. We also have the honey and jam to serve with your warm rolls!
My Grandma would be so pleased to share the goodness of her baking secrets, and I feel proud to be able to pass the recipe along to you. Enjoy!
Barbara Bennett Parsons (grandma’s favorite!!) at the one and only Hoquiam Farmers Market
aka Grays Harbor Public Market is open 5 days a week!
Wed. – Sat. 9-5
Sunday 10-4
Located at 1958 Riverside, just before the bridge in happy Hometown Hoquiam
(360) 538-9747
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