Crusty Cornstalk Rolls Food

PRIZE-WINNING CRUSTY ROLLS (BREAD MACHINE DOUGH CYCLE)

Steps:

• Place ingredients in bread machine pan as suggested by manufacturer.
• Choose dough cycle and start machine.
• Upon completion of the dough cycle, remove dough.
• Form rolls, place on a greased baking sheet.
• Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free location for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.

CRUSTY DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine all of the dough ingredients and mix and knead them together-- by hand, mixer or bread machine-- till you've made a soft, somewhat smooth dough; it should be cohesive, but the surface should still be a bit rough.
• Allow the dough to rise, covered, for 3 hours, gently deflating it and turning it over after 1 hour, and again after 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly greased or floured work surface.
• Divide it into 12 pieces, shape the pieces into balls, and firm them up by rolling them under your lightly cupped fingers on an unfloured work surface.
• Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover them, and let them rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until they've doubled in size.
• Refrigerate them for several hours, or overnight.
• Remove the rolls from the refrigerator, and brush them with a wash made of 1/2 cup water mixed with 1 tablespoon egg white (you won't use up all the wash).
• Slash a 1/4-inch deep cut across the top of each roll, and bake them in a preheated 425°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're a deep golden brown.
• Remove them from the oven, and cool on a wire rack.
• For an extra-crisp crust, allow them to cool in the turned-off, door-propped-open oven.

CRUSTY ROLLS

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine 1 cup warm water (about 110°F), sugar, salt and yeast.
• Let stand until yeast is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in 2 egg whites, 1 cup flour and 2 tablespoons oil.
• Add 2 1/2 cups more flour and stir until incorporated.
• Scrape dough (it will be soft) onto a well-floured board and dust with more flour.
• Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as required to prevent sticking.
• Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn over to coat.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, then knead briefly on a lightly floured board to expel air.
• Divide dough into 20 equal pieces and shape each into a ball that is smooth on top.
• As you shape balls, dip bottoms in cornmeal.
• Set about 1 1/2 inches apart on an oiled 12x15-inch baking sheet.
• Rub tops lightly with oil, drape with plastic wrap and let rise until puffy, about 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl, beat 1 egg yolk (discard remaining yolk or reserve for another use) with 1 tablespoon water to blend.
• Brush rolls lightly with egg yolk mixture.
• Move 2 oven racks to the lowest positions in oven.
• When rolls are ready to bake, preheat oven to 400°F, put another large pan on lowest rack and add at least 1/4 inch of boiling water.
• Bake rolls on second rack (above rack containing pan of water).
• Bake until richly browned, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer rolls to a rack to cool.
• Serve warm or cool.

COUNTRY ROLLS

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in the bread machine pan.
• Select dough cycle.
• When the machine beeps, remove the dough from the machine and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Punch dough down and divide dough into 8 equal portions.
• Form each portion into a ball. Place rolls in a greased or parchment-lined sheet dusted with cornmeal. Dust rolls lightly with flour.
• Cover rolls loosely with plastic wrap and let them rest for 1 hour.
• Bake in a preheated oven ( 400º F ) for about 20 minutes. Serve hot from the oven.
• Note: If the rolls appear to be browning too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil for the final 5 minutes of baking.