Happy Easter! Perfect Dinner Rolls & Easter Basket Goodies

Happy Easter!  With all this lovely sunshine I hope you are enjoying some Easter Egg hunts.  This year, my great-aunt is hosting Easter dinner, yay!, so I'm off the hook for cooking the ham and all the sides.  I am bring the rolls.  Store bought rolls didn't sound so exciting.  My girlfriend Angela had brought over some rolls for my family, and they were soooo good I just had to make some myself.  These are the Perfect Dinner Rolls.

3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour


2 tsp. active dry yeast


3 Tbsp. nonfat dry milk


2 Tbsp. sugar
1

 1/2 tsp. salt


1/4 cup butter, softened


2/3 cup lukewarm water


1/2 cup lukewarm milk

melted butter, for brushing on top

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients (except the melted butter) and stir until you have a soft dough. Knead — using your hands, a stand mixer, or a bread machine set on the dough cycle — until you have a soft, smooth dough.  This takes about 5 minutes in a KitchenAid.

Set the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel and let it rise for an hour or so, until it’s doubled in bulk. Gently deflate the dough by knocking it down with your hands, and transfer it to a lightly floured work surface.

Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces, by dividing in half, then in halves again, etc. Round each piece into a smooth ball.

Lightly grease two 8″ or 9″ round cake pans and arrange 8 buns in each pan. Cover the pans and allow the buns to rise another hour, until they’re crowded against one another and quite puffy. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Uncover the buns and bake for 22 to 24 minutes, until golden brown on top and the edges of the center bun spring back lightly when you touch it. Remove the buns from the oven and brush with the melted butter. Serve warm.

Makes about 16 buns.

*If you double the recipe, this makes a 9*13 and 8*8 pan.*

There are tons of pins on Pinterest about Easter basket ideas, like More than 30 things Other than Candy for Easter Eggs and I used them, because a 3 year old and almost 1 year old on candy can be scary.  A few hits in our girl house: lipgloss, bath poofs, socks, recorders, hair brushes and bows, and a preschool laptop.

The best tip I can give about buying things for Valentine's Day, or Easter, or quick little birthday giveaways: shop after holiday clearance for the next upcoming one!  By shopping Target and Wal-Mart after Christmas and Valentine's Day I was able to get massive savings on items not labeled for a specific holiday.  I mean, who cares that the Hershey Kisses are red, pink, and white?  Things like toiletries and make up are fabulous finds at $.50-$2.50.  I stocked up on Hard Candy lip glosses - $.25 each after Christmas and was able to use them for small gift ideas for Valentine's Day, Easter, and a birthday!

Good luck shopping!