Patti's Famous Dinner Rolls...Turkey Style (and Christmas Tree)

I came across this idea for turkey rolls via Be Different Act Normal. We went over to a friend's house to make pie and rolls the day before Thanksgiving...but with the kids running into nap time, we only got the pies done. I said I'd just pick some up on the way home, but Boy was asleep by then, so we just drove home. I went out to get groceries and planned to buy rolls, rather than make a mess of my kitchen while I'm trying to pack. I got to the store, though, and stood in front of the rolls looking at the price. I just couldn't bring myself to buy them, knowing Patti's Famous Dinner Rolls would taste better, and I had a whole pantry full of ingredients that I don't want to move...so I made rolls.


Here's our turkey before the second rise. We used almonds for the eyes.

We always make at least a double batch because these rolls are SOOO good. Since we still had plenty of dough left and this is too late to inspire anyone for Thanksgiving, I thought we would try a Christmas tree too. I rolled the dough extra think to cut out the star, since that part wouldn't be folded.

Then we let them rise for a while and this is what they looked like right before going in the oven:

They took a couple extra minutes to cook (but then just about everything does in my oven.) since they were all crammed together. This is how they looked after they came out.

I decided to experiment with coloring them, so I added some green Wilton paste to some melted butter. (It didn't mix super well...it must be water solable.) I brushed the on the tree, leaving the star and trunk plain. I can't decide whichI like better...plain or colored...what do you think?

I was going to try to sneak and do it without the kiddos help...but this blog is supposed to be about being more patient with my helping little hands...so they got to help and we had a pretty good go of it.

I think turkey rolls will be an annual appearance at our house. They were actually easier than laying them out the regular way (for me anyway). Since you can lay out more of them on one cookie sheet, we didn't have to bake them in shifts, so cooking them when a lot faster. The one downside to doing them this way...you can't snitch any before dinner because everyone will know some are missing. :)


Patti's Famous Dinner Roll Recipe (actually this originally came from a friend of Patti's mother, but in our family, they're always credited to Patti!)

Warm mixing bowl and add:
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast and let it dissolve.
Add:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
Mix using hands until shortening is fairly well distributed in small clumps. Mix in:
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg (room temperature)
3 1/2 cups four.
Knead until flour is mixed in well. Add flour as needed to control stickiness. Set in warm place and let rise until it doubles in size. Roll out to 3/8 or 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with the top of a cup or glass. Fold in half and place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Set in warm place and let rise until double in size. Bake for about 10 minutes and 375. Brush tops with butter while still hot. Makes 20 rolls.
(Don't tell Patti, but I usually don't mix it with my hands anymore, but kids sure think that step is fun.)