The Staff of Life

Bread. That high-carb, best if fresh from the oven slathered with butter treat that most everyone loves. I have found that most men love homemade bread. They don't really care what kind, they like it. Don't matter if it is rolls or a loaf, either.

You can do so many things with bread - make a sandwich, bake your fillings in it, make a pizza, toast it, make stuffing. There are even some restaurants that have made their name by throwing it. Yes, Lamberts, home of the throwed rolls. No matter where you are, the chef will throw you a roll if you hold your hand up.

Bread is comforting. When my brothers and I were growing up, Mom would make homemade bread, 6 loaves and before the day was over, at least 2 of them would be gone. Fresh from the oven, slathered in butter and honey, move over Rover, because we will run you down!

Now that we are all grown, Mom does not make 6 loaves at one time. She does, however, have 2 bread makers. I love a bread maker, to make the dough for bread. I prefer to bake it in the oven, however. Just one of my quirks, I guess.

I like all different kinds of bread. Irish soda bread, french baguettes, naan, puris, lavosh, tortillas . . . . the list is very long. What I do not like is supermarket bread - that white doughy lumps that they call bread. Full of chemicals. Tasteless. That, dear readers, is why I am giving you the following recipe . . .

Brioche Rolls
1 dozen

This dough is made in a bread maker and I am listing the ingredients in the order that I put them in my breadmaker, which is a Wellbuilt. It makes a 1-1/2 pound loaf, if you want to bake it in the breadmaker.

3 large eggs
1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick or 1/4 lb.)
1/3 cup milk (70 to 80 degrees F)
3 Tablespoons water (70 to 80 degrees F)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 cups bread flour
1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Measure all ingredients into bread machine pan in order suggested by manufacturer. Process on dough cycle. When cycle is done, take dough out and divide it into 12 equal portions. This is a fairly soft, almost sticky dough. That is part of its charm! Place the dough balls in a 9 x 13 greased pan. Let rise for probably about 45 minutes. Snip the top of each roll lengthwise with kitchen shears. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and slather with melted butter. Serve forth with pride!



These rolls are super easy and will make people goggle. They are light, fluffy, buttery delicious. What are some of your favorite breads?