Make Something

When you find an amazing babysitter when you have babies or small children, you have so much.  But if that amazing babysitter also happens to make the best rolls ever, well, you’ve really got it good!

Our Jeannie, who babysat the girls since they were wee little, makes the best rolls and is always willing to share.  There was nothing better than at the end of a long work day, going to Jeannie’s to pick up the girls and receiving a bag with 4 Jeannie Rolls.  Usually, only one would make it all the way home 😉

I had never done any baking with yeast, I found it way too intimidating. But, finally, I asked Jeannie for her recipe, she talked me through each step.  I faced my fear and made my first batch of rolls.  The girls were the judges and even though they did turn out fine, they claimed they weren’t as good as Jeannie’s.  Over the past few years, I’ve made the rolls with more confidence, but still get the same review every time. Jeannie makes these rolls with such love and ease, probably 99% of the time to be shared with those she loves and cares for – not only in her family, but in the community, too.

Jeannie ‘retired’ when Hannah started school { I use the term very loosely, she loves kids too much to give it up completely } and yet, the girls love to pop by for a visit and just before Christmas when we dropped by, she pulled a bag of rolls from the freezer to share with us.  The girls were over the moon and begged to eat the rolls, frozen and all….I at least let them thaw a little on the car vent first 🙂

So, I thought I would document the recipe here, not only to put it out in the world, but so that years form now, our love for Jeannie is documented, too.  <3

Jeannie Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup hot milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 envelope Traditional yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 tbsp sugar

2 beaten eggs

4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

Step 1. In one bowl, set the yeast by mixing the warm water, sugar and yeast packet

Step 2. In another bowl, heat your milk until it melts your butter

Step 3. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients and form 3 wells in mixture

Step 4. Once yeast is risen, add yeast mixture into one well, beaten eggs into another and the hot milk and butter into third.  Stir in until it forms a dough.

Step 5. Knead dough about 20 times, then oil dough and put in oiled bowl.

Step 6. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes

Step 7. Cut dough into 16 pieces and form into knots, place on tray

Step 8. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes

Step 9. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes, turning after 10 minutes

Step 10. Rub tops with butter as soon as you remove from the oven

The steps are really simple, and the rolls are delicious.  I’m glad I faced my fears of working with yeast, I enjoy making these rolls for my family and to share with friends.  Another fun part of it is always telling tales from the years at Jeannie’s house – silly stories, stories of walks, stories of friendships made – the memories are probably the best part of Jeannie Rolls.

Let me know if you try the recipe out or if you’ve had the privilege of having Jeannie Rolls made by Jeannie herself, or even better, if you are one of the blessed ones to have been in the circle of love at Jeannie’s house.

Warmly,

Lori

There isn’t much I enjoy more that getting creative with a good friend.  So when Christine messaged me to ask if I had any egg cups, I was intrigued!!  Easter Egg Candles?? Candles in eggs? Sure, I’d be game for that, why not!

This isn’t going to be a how to or anything like that.  I didn’t take step by step pictures.  In between steps, I snuggled Izzy, read a story and ate the most delicious lemon curd.  So, basically, it was empty eggs, melt wax, pour it in, stick a wick in and let it set.  There, that’s out of the way. If Christine posts a How-To, I’ll be sure to share it with you all!

Christine has always been someone who I love to be around because she, probably without even realizing it, inspires me to do things in a different way to better myself.  My photography skills I have learned from her, I can also pinpoint the exact time when she changed the path of my career and pushed me to realize there was more out there for me, to believe I deserved it and was capable of it.

Anyway, back to egg cups…I was thinking she was looking for them for a brunch she was hosting over the easter Weekend when she first asked.  But nope, she wanted to make egg candles and egg cups are the perfect way to display them.  Now, Dave and Christine have a flock of chickens of various sizes and colours that produce the prettiest coloured eggs.  They are perfect for Easter!  And even better for Easter Egg Candles!

Aren’t they pretty?  It was fun to set up a few different little settings of the eggs – but sometimes the background was cuter…. Simon was rather interested in what I was up to!

When I realized I was heading over to Christine for an egg craft, I knew I needed to dig out the crocheted egg hats Alena had made me years ago!  They’re just so cute to be left tucked away!

We lingered over hot mugs, chatted and snacked.  The kids played together and kept themselves and each other quite entertained.  I love seeing how my girls interact with Simon and Izzy, they are all so sweet together!  It makes my heart happy when I’m holding Izzy and she holds her arms out to Lena!  They have the sweetest relationship!  And Hannah and Simon just play and play and play!

After a lovely time spent together with the feel of a lazy Saturday morning, we headed home and left Dave and Christine to prepare for their Easter company.  We carefully transported the candles home and proudly showed them off to the handsome Mr. Byrne.  I knew I wanted to do a unique display with them but that meant it was time to go to the studio and dig into my stash and create something just right!

I had some barrel staves leftover { Remember when I made candle holders out of them for Christmas?  You can see them HERE } and knew that they would be perfect to hold my Easter Egg Candles!  Some drilling, some sanding and I was good to go!  Don’t they look great? I’m thrilled with how sweet they turned out! It reminds me of the old school egg holders in the old country kitchens!

These are simple to make and so pretty to display!  I’m thrilled Christine included me in this fun craft!  I hope we get to do more in the future!

Colourfully yours,

Lori