Grandma S. Overnight Rolls

When I lived in Kansas City, Grandma S would come through on her way to and from her daughter's homes. I think I would drive her, but I do not remember that for sure. I do remember her going to Des Moines once to see her son, my uncle, Richard.

When she would come to Kansas City, my roommate, Susan  and grandma would share recipes.  Susan just posted this on facebook.

Rita’s Grandma’s Overnight Rolls

by Susan B. O. on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 9:49am ·

Makes 60 to 80 rolls
1 ½ cups Sugar
4 cups Water
1 pkg. or 2 ½ tsp. yeast
½ cup water
4 eggs well beaten
2 tsp. Salt
1 cup Oil
12 cups Flour
At 6:00 p.m.

Dissolve sugar in 4 cups water. Boil together for 5 minutes and cool to lukewarm.

Mix yeast in ½ cup warm water.

Add 4 eggs, salt, and oil to above mixture. Mix well and gradually add 12 cups of flour or enough to make a soft dough.

(I use a kitchenaid mixer for the first 8 cups of flour. Then I dump the last 4 cups of of flour on the counter, pour the dough into it and use a pastry scraper to incorporate on the flour into the dough.)

No need to knead…this will be a very soft dough. Place in a greased bowl and cover.

At 8:00 p.m. Punch down dough.

At 10:00 shape dough into buns. Stretch and tuck to form nice round balls. Cover with a kitchen towel and let sit overnight to raise.

Bake the next morning in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.


I also make cinnamon rolls out of this dough. Roll the dough out flat and brush with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll up the dough jelly roll style then slice in 1” pieces. Cover and let rise overnight. After baking, drizzle with powder sugar glaze.

Rosie Bowe's sugar cookies

from Peggy Bowe

Rosie Bowe's sugar cookies:
3/4 cup soft shortening (part butter)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon, flavoring (ex. vanilla or lemon or almond or a combination of two)
...

Mix these items thoroughly.
Then sift together and stir in the following items
2 1/2 cups gold medal flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
then chill overnight. Roll out 1/8" thick. Cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheet (we now use parchment paper to line the cookie sheets) Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Bake until delicately golden.
Temp. 375 degrees
Time 6 to 8 minutes (you must watch the oven diligently or they will burn)
Yields about 4 dozen 3" cookies.

The secret to cut out cookies (in my humble opinion) is a rolling pin cover and a fabric pastry sheet. Rub both the rolling pin cover and the pastry sheet with flour.
Roll a small amount of dough at a time --about a cup to cup and a half. Sprinkle additional flour on the dough as needed to prevent the dough from sticking.
Cut as many cookies from each rolling as possible. Take left over dough and reform into ball and re-roll. You can do this a couple of times but the scraps will get tough if you do it too many times. It also sometimes helps to dip the cookie cutters in flour before using, then shake off the excess and cut.

Anyone who went to elementary school would recognize these cookies. My Mom made them for every holiday. She even baked dozens to have at my wedding along with the cake. Her "specialty" was being able to roll the dough out almost paper thin.
From the time I was old enough to help I was the official "sugar-er" and as I got older, I manned the oven as well. Last Thursday morning, I recreated the role, by helping my neighbor Charlotte --old skills never die, I fell right back into the rhythm. One person rolls the dough and cuts, the other sugars and mans the oven. Rosie was in heaven smiling and her spirit will be with each of you as you make these. They were her pride and joy.
PS she made cookies almost every night between Thanksgiving and Christmas so she could give a plate or a tin of cookies to almost everyone she knew for Christmas and then she made them for every other major holiday.

Banana Oatmeal Cookie Recipe, Peggy Bowe

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

recipe from Peggy Bowe (it was her mother's recipe and had been lost for a while)

The banana oatmeal cookie recipe as requested.
1 1/2 cups of sifted all purpose flour
1/3 tsp salt
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup sugar
...

1 cup mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Sift flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg together. Blend shortening and sugar, beat in egg. Add bananas and lemon juice. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in (by hand) the oats and walnuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheets (we now use parchment paper found in baking departments at kitchen or craft stores).
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Enjoy!!