Autumnal Favourites!
So many memories come flooding to my mind when I think of Autumn, or as they say in America, Fall. One of my favourite things about moving to England was the return of seasons, I absolutely love when it starts to get cold.
1. Carving Pumpkins!
I love it when the weather starts to turn cold, the leaves change colour, and the farmers start to bail their hay. It makes it so much easier to walk Hobson and we just love the gorgeous scenery right on our doorstep! Hobson of course loves the open land, making it easier for him to chase the rabbits back into their holes, and the deer back into the woods, he's like the guardian of the field for the farmer :)
3. SQUASH ROLLS!
No autumn festivities, or Thanksgiving, would be complete with out this tasty addition to your meal. Perfect for a snack or to accompany a savoury or sweet entree. My mom baked these every autumn and my family couldn't keep their fingers off them, this includes eating the dough while they're being prepared. After several requests I've decided to post the recipe below, believe me when I say they taste a lot better than they may look in these photos. They're like gold in our family!
Ingredients:
1 c. warm water (1 part boiling, 2 parts cold)
1 Tbsp fresh yeast
1 Tbsp sugar (for yeast)
5 c. strong bread flour
2 tsp salt
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. dry milk
1 c. cooked winter squash
3 Tbsp oil
Directions:
1. Peel winter squash, cut in half, remove seeds, and cube. Boil in water for approximately 10-15 minutes or until squash feels soft when poked with a fork.
2. Mash and set aside to cool. I usually put in the refrigerator because it takes a while for it to cool.
3. Activate the yeast. Put 1/3 c. boiling water in a glass bowl/jar. Dissolve 1 tbsp sugar. Pour 2/3 c. cold water into jar and stir. Sprinkle yeast over the top and mix with a whisk. Put in a warm place and cover with a damp cloth. Leave to activate for 15 minutes.
4. While yeast is activating, tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, dry milk, and sugar and mix together.
5. Once the yeast has activated, whisk it together and add it to the dry ingredients with the squash and oil. Mix this together by hand. You want dough that is soft, but not soggy. Use the mixture to clean the inside of the bowl and keep going until the mixture forms a rough dough. You may need to add a little warm water if the mixture is too dry.
6. Coat the work surface with a little flour to prevent sticking. Then tip the dough onto the surface and begin to knead. Keep kneading for 5-10 minutes. Work through the initial wet stage until the dough starts to form a soft, smooth skin.
7. When your dough feels smooth and silky, put it into a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with a tea towel and leave to rise until at least doubled in size -- this means at least 1 hour, but it's fine to leave it for 2 or even 3 hours. Resting the dough strengthens it and helps develop a robust crumb structure.
8. Prepare a rectangular roasting dish by rubbing olive oil or butter over the inside.
9. Tip your dough onto a lightly floured surface. Punch the dough to release the air pockets. Roll the dough to 1" thickness and cut with a round biscuit cutter. Put the cut rolls into the greased dish.
10. Put the dish inside a clean plastic bag and leave it to prove for about 1 hour, until the rolls are at least doubled in size and springs back quickly if you prod it lightly with your finger. Meanwhile, heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and put another empty roasting tin in the bottom to heat up.
11. Fill the roasting tray in the oven with hot water to create steam and put the rolls into the oven.
12. Bake for 15 minutes or until the rolls are cooked through and have a slightly browned colour to the top. I usually check and turn the roasting tray halfway through to ensure an even bake. To check if they're finished, tip one roll over and tap the base -- it should sound hollow. Cool the rolls.
ENJOY!
4. DIY Crafts
If the weather has you shut indoors this Autumn, make a nice cup of tea, get the fire roaring and set up your table for some festive crafts that will make your house look wonderful!
DIY autumn leaf flowers
Don't rake up all of those leaves and send them off with the garbage man, why not make a vase of these autumn leaf flowers to decorate your table.
1. Carving Pumpkins!
This year Josh and I grew our own pumpkins out in our garden. Pumpkin patches sadly aren't as popular in England as they are in the USA so we had to create our own!
2. Walks with Hobson
3. SQUASH ROLLS!
No autumn festivities, or Thanksgiving, would be complete with out this tasty addition to your meal. Perfect for a snack or to accompany a savoury or sweet entree. My mom baked these every autumn and my family couldn't keep their fingers off them, this includes eating the dough while they're being prepared. After several requests I've decided to post the recipe below, believe me when I say they taste a lot better than they may look in these photos. They're like gold in our family!
Ingredients:
1 c. warm water (1 part boiling, 2 parts cold)
1 Tbsp fresh yeast
1 Tbsp sugar (for yeast)
5 c. strong bread flour
2 tsp salt
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. dry milk
1 c. cooked winter squash
3 Tbsp oil
Directions:
1. Peel winter squash, cut in half, remove seeds, and cube. Boil in water for approximately 10-15 minutes or until squash feels soft when poked with a fork.
2. Mash and set aside to cool. I usually put in the refrigerator because it takes a while for it to cool.
3. Activate the yeast. Put 1/3 c. boiling water in a glass bowl/jar. Dissolve 1 tbsp sugar. Pour 2/3 c. cold water into jar and stir. Sprinkle yeast over the top and mix with a whisk. Put in a warm place and cover with a damp cloth. Leave to activate for 15 minutes.
4. While yeast is activating, tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, dry milk, and sugar and mix together.
5. Once the yeast has activated, whisk it together and add it to the dry ingredients with the squash and oil. Mix this together by hand. You want dough that is soft, but not soggy. Use the mixture to clean the inside of the bowl and keep going until the mixture forms a rough dough. You may need to add a little warm water if the mixture is too dry.
6. Coat the work surface with a little flour to prevent sticking. Then tip the dough onto the surface and begin to knead. Keep kneading for 5-10 minutes. Work through the initial wet stage until the dough starts to form a soft, smooth skin.
7. When your dough feels smooth and silky, put it into a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with a tea towel and leave to rise until at least doubled in size -- this means at least 1 hour, but it's fine to leave it for 2 or even 3 hours. Resting the dough strengthens it and helps develop a robust crumb structure.
8. Prepare a rectangular roasting dish by rubbing olive oil or butter over the inside.
9. Tip your dough onto a lightly floured surface. Punch the dough to release the air pockets. Roll the dough to 1" thickness and cut with a round biscuit cutter. Put the cut rolls into the greased dish.
10. Put the dish inside a clean plastic bag and leave it to prove for about 1 hour, until the rolls are at least doubled in size and springs back quickly if you prod it lightly with your finger. Meanwhile, heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and put another empty roasting tin in the bottom to heat up.
11. Fill the roasting tray in the oven with hot water to create steam and put the rolls into the oven.
12. Bake for 15 minutes or until the rolls are cooked through and have a slightly browned colour to the top. I usually check and turn the roasting tray halfway through to ensure an even bake. To check if they're finished, tip one roll over and tap the base -- it should sound hollow. Cool the rolls.
ENJOY!
4. DIY Crafts
If the weather has you shut indoors this Autumn, make a nice cup of tea, get the fire roaring and set up your table for some festive crafts that will make your house look wonderful!
DIY autumn leaf flowers
Don't rake up all of those leaves and send them off with the garbage man, why not make a vase of these autumn leaf flowers to decorate your table.
For those of you with a lot of scrap fabric leftover, use it to make these adorable little pumpkins. It's a very simple way to add some festive cheer to your home!
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