Mrs. Inez’s Quick Rolls

FB rolls single on plate

by Mary Wood

Yeast rolls are a holiday tradition in our home, but it hasn’t always been that way. When I was younger and not quite as confident in my cooking abilities, I was intimidated by the whole process of making homemade yeast rolls. I learned how to make rolls from an older lady in our church named Mrs. Inez Bonds.

She was a spunky woman with a quick wit and an opinion on just about everything. She had a long history in the south Arkansas area. As a girl, she and her mother traveled the back roads of the farming community of Blevins, Arkansas in a horse-drawn wagon raising money to build the local church we attended.

As I was visiting with this precious 90-year-old lady one afternoon in her 90-degree house, I mentioned that I didn’t know how to make homemade yeast rolls. She gasped in absolute disbelief, looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and asked, “Can you turn on an oven?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered shyly.

“Then you can make rolls,” she said firmly.

She handed me a used envelope and a pen and started listing ingredients and gave brief instructions. I was initiated into the fine art of yeast breads. I kept the original envelope and cherish it as a prized possession. I proudly pass on Mrs. Inez’s recipe to you, I think she would be pleased. May you and your family enjoy them as much as our family.

FB rolls recipe on envelope

MRS. INEZ’S QUICK ROLLS

Servings: 24 rolls
Prep Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1 package dry yeast
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cup to 2 ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup shortening or butter (softened)
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1.  In a medium mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
  2. Add sugar, salt and ½ the flour.
  3. Beat thoroughly for about 2 minutes. (By hand or mixer.)
  4. Add egg and shortening and the rest of the flour and beat until smooth. (Dough should be fairly moist.)
  5. Let rise in bowl for 40 to 50 minutes in a warm place until double.
  6. Stir down dough and drop into greased muffin tin OR used greased or oiled hands to divide into golf ball sized roll balls. Drop balls into well-greased 9” x 13” baking pan.
  7. Let rise again for 30 to 45 minutes.
  8. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.