Saturday, June 11, 2011

Butter Wheat Rolls

The history of making wheat bread dates back to about 10,000 BC when people of ancient civilizations such as Egypt would pick wild wheat stalks, grind the berries, mix it with water, and make flat wheat cakes.  Spelt, wheat’s cousin, was also used for this back then.  Once the population became so great wheat started to be cultivated and grown on purpose, to feed millions.
Wheat bread evolved over time.  Around 3,000 BC the Egyptians figured out how to leaven (rise), bread by using wild yeast.
Time went on and around 150 BC baker’s guilds began to be formed in Rome.  Wheat eventually spread throughout Europe and then to The Americas with the explorers and immigrants from the “Old World.” In the early 1800’s yeast was figured out as a plant-like organism and then cultivated.  By the 1850’s there were over 2,000 bakeries in the United States, with wheat bread being their primary product.
One thing that almost every culture shares is that our ancestors all made and ate homemade wheat bread.  So the next time you are planning your meals for the next week, consider making some wheat bread homemade, instead of buying it, and see if you can feel an ancient connection to those of your family who are long passed.
Butter Wheat Rolls
These rolls make excellent gravy mops!
1 cup warm water
1 ½ teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter, melted + extra to spread on the top
Stir the yeast into the warm water and let sit for 10 minutes (it should be foamy).
In a large mixing bowl stir the yeast mixture in with the remaining ingredients (except for the butter).  Begin to knead the dough with your hands until all of the flour in the bowl had been incorporated into the dough.  Lift up the dough, spread a dab of oil in the bottom and sides of the bowl, place the dough back into the bowl, then turn the dough over (oiling both sides).  Cover with plastic and let rise for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Butter the bottom and sides of a pie plate and set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, using a floured rolling pen, roll out the dough to make a large rectangle.  Spread the melted butter evenly over the rolled out dough.  Cut the dough in half length wise, then from there make long rectangles with the two halves (about 1 ½ inches wide).  Roll up each rectangle and place them snuggly side by side in the prepared pie plate.  Cover with plastic and let rise 1 more hour.
Preheat oven to 375.  Bake the rolls for 20-23 minutes (or until they are golden brown).  After removing from the oven spread a bit of butter on top of each roll.

By Miriam Barton in promotion for The Pioneer Cookbook: Recipes For Today's Kitchen.

This recipe is being shared with the Hearth and Soul Hop, Take It From Me, Inspiring You To Save Wandering Wednesday, Mommy Only Has Two Hands Hump Day Hop, The King's Court IV What's Cooking Wednesday, This Chick Cooks, Miz Helen's Country Cottage Full Plate Thursday, Little Brick Ranch, My Adventure In Mommyhood, KB and Whitesnakes Home Simply Delish, My Meatless Mondays

19 comments:

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

Yum! Those wheat rolls are making my mouth water. I'm definitely a carbaholic :) Thanks for the info on the history of wheat. I had no idea people had been making bread in one form or another for so long! Have a nice weekend, Miriam!
Katie

Anonymous said...

Looks very good! Thanks for following my blog. I will follow back :) LG Tina

Tina´s PicStory said...

LG Tina

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Oh, boy...these look so good! I love that they're made with half whole wheat flour...less guilt that way! And the rolling up makes these so fun to eat...like crescent rolls, but a step up :)

Theresa said...

I haven't even read one word and I so want to follow your blog. These pics are tantalizing.

These rolls look fantastic. I just said yesterday I need to make more rolls. Supposed to be a rainy day tomorrow. Think I will try these with dinner.

Hopping by from Finding New Friends. I'm your newest follower. Would love a visit back at It's a Mom's World.

http://www.theresagrisanti.com

KB and Whitesnake said...

They look really good. Thanks for sharing with Simply Delish.

KB

Patricia said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. Join you on GFC. The wheat rolls look delicious.

Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Delightful and yummy!
My stomach is rumbling and my mouth is salivating.....

Kristin H said...

Sounds like a great recipe, and thanks for the history lesson:)

Mrs. Plum said...

These look absolutely beautiful and delicious.

annies home said...

they look awesome and sound great perfect for sunday dinner come see what I shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

Alea Milham said...

Your rolls look mouthwateringly delicious - so perfect and flaky. YUM! thanks for sharing your healthified rolls with the Hearth and Soul Hop.

carolinaheartstrings said...

What a great post. Enjoyed reading it. The rolls look delicious!

Emz said...

These look great, I just may try making these tonight. Glad I Found you through the wed. blog hop - please visit me back at www.fourlittlemonsters.com and follow me back! Thank you!

XOXO, Michelle said...

Love a good food blog!!

New follower from the hop!

Paula
http://realhousewifeofsingapore.blogspot.com

XOXO, Michelle said...

Love a good food blog!!

New follower from the hop!

Paula
http://realhousewifeofsingapore.blogspot.com

Our Italian Kitchen said...

Love these rolls! Great blog too!

Miz Helen said...

Hi Miriam,
This is a great roll I can almost smell them coming out of the oven. They look delicious! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!
Miz Helen

Unknown said...

these do look really yummy--i imagine the wheat flour with honey makes for a heart warming nutty flavor...my mouth is watering just thinking about it! thank you for sharing this recipe and a little bit of history with tuesday night supper club.