Amanda’s Store-Bought Rolls

I am an empty nester, that is, someone whose children are old enough to move out and either gets married or live on their own.  Don’t get me wrong; my kids are amazing and I love them to pieces, but when it is time to teach the little birdies to fly, don’t hesitate or they just might not survive.  My kids were the center of my world for twenty-one years, until Candace and Ted moved out; now it’s just Brian and me.  I have always thought empty nesters were lonely without their offspring, but now I know that is a falsehood, or at least sometimes it is.  Luckily for me, two of my kids live close enough to hear the dinner bell and often our small home is filled with family dinner chatter for about an hour or so, and then off the kids go, to do whatever it is they do when we are not looking or meddling in their lives.  One of my kids lives in South Carolina; my dinner bell is not heard across so many states.  Amanda flew back to the “nest” for a two and a half week visit this month.  I love when she and I get to spend long missed time together alone without any husbands to dictate our next moves.  One thing Amanda and I have in common is cooking.  This week I made a great pot of stew and Amanda ran to the store to buy dinner rolls.  With that package of rolls, she learned that they are not all created equal.  When a package contains thirty-six rolls, but they seem small enough for a Barbie, there must be an extra step to preparing them, other than just throwing them in the oven.

            Amanda’s Store-Bought Rolls

            If you buy frozen rolls, read the instructions before cooking them.  You might find your dinner lacking a fresh backed large roll and have a more golf ball sized one.  If you need to let the rolls rise for hours before baking, try putting olive oil in the bottom of the pan, then put the small frozen ball down.  Let them sit until the rolls have doubled in size.  Then follow the cooking instructions on the package.  You will be amazed at how tasty the rolls taste with the olive oil backed into them.  If you want a bit fancier roll, brush olive oil over the top and shake Rosemary seasoning over the top, or an Italian seasoning.  This easy tasty roll will be the hit of any party, not only because it’s tasty.