Edna Lewis Cloverleaf Potato Rolls Food

CLOVERLEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• Stir the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into the milk. Set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, combine the remaining sugar, flour and salt. With the mixer on low, add the yeast mixture and the egg and knead until the dry ingredients have been incorporated (you may have to help it along at first with a spatula) and the dough is smooth, about 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully add the melted butter (the dough will slosh around in the butter for a few minutes, but will eventually absorb it all) and continue to knead the dough until smooth, increasing the speed to medium, another 5 to 10 minutes. The dough will be shiny and elastic; if it's at all sticky, scrape down the sides of the bowl and gather the dough into a neat ball (no need to add extra flour). Cover the bowl with plastic and set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Butter a standard 12-cup muffin tin. Gently tip the dough out onto a work surface. You shouldn't need flour at this point. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Work with one piece at a time and keep the other pieces covered. Divide each piece into 3 equal pieces, roll each piece into a tight ball and place into one cup. Repeat with the remaining dough. Cover the tray lightly with plastic wrap and set aside to double again, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The dough should look puffy and spring back slowly when pressed gently.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Remove the plastic wrap and without deflating the dough, gently brush the rolls with butter. Bake until puffed and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with more butter and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm.

GRANDMA'S CLOVER LEAF ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles begin to form, but the milk is not simmering. Stir in the sugar, shortening, and salt; set aside until cooled to 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and set aside for 5 minutes.
• Beat the egg in a mixing bowl, then stir in the yeast and milk. Stir in half of the flour until no lumps remain, then stir in the remaining flour a little at a time until a smooth dough forms. Place into a greased bowl, turn once to grease the top, cover, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Grease a 12 sectioned muffin tin. Deflate the dough, and place onto a well-floured work surface. Divide the dough into 36 pieces, and form into balls. Place 3 balls into each muffin cup. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

EDNA LEWIS CLOVERLEAF POTATO ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. In a medium saucepan, cover the potato with the water and bring to a boil. Cook until the potato is just beginning to fall apart, about 15 minutes. Drain the potato, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Pass the potato through a ricer into a large bowl. Add the reserved potato water and let cool slightly. Stir in 6 T of the flour, the sugar and the yeast. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let stand overnight in a draft-free place. 2. Uncover the starter; it should be foamy and have a slightly fermented aroma. Add the milk, eggs and 2 1/2 cups of the flour and stir until incorporated. Stir in 1 T of the butter, 2 T of the lard and the salt. Add the remaining 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously to form a silky, slightly soft dough that pulls away from the bowl as you stir, about 8 minutes. 3. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. 4. Gently deflate the dough by turning it in the bowl several times. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise again until doubled, about 40 minutes. 5. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 6 T of melted butter and 2 T of melted lard. Punch down the dough and divide it into 5 equal pieces. Cut 1 piece of dough into 18 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball; dip the balls in the melted butter and lard and place 3 balls in each cup of a muffin pan. Continue to form the rolls, working with 1 large piece of dough at a time. Brush the tops of the rolls with the butter and lard and set aside in a draft-free spot until risen just beyond the rims of the muffin cups, about 1 1/2 hours. 6. Preheat the oven to 425°. Bake the rolls in the lower and middle thirds of the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the rolls from the oven and brush liberally with the butter and lard. Return the rolls to the oven and bake for 5 to 6 min longer, or until golden all over.