Easter Tradition: Orange Bow Rolls

Easter is Sunday and my sister is coming to celebrate with us!  It is going to be sooo much fun!  What is it about holidays that brings back memories from our childhoods?  Some of my favorite memories are the foods that I now associate with certain holidays.  For instance, cut up oranges and grapefruit reminds me of Christmas.  We would eat this simple fruit salad (sprinkled with sugar) served in these disposable plastic Christmas cups with a holly print on them -- my Mom would make us wash them after each breakfast and we litterally reused these SAME cups every year for YEARS!  (She was an environmentalist before being earth concious was cool for sure!)

Another fond holiday memory is Orange Bow Rolls on Easter.  These yummy, fruity rolls remind me of spring.  I especially love pulling out the handwritten family cookbook that my Mom gave me when I went off to college!  The cookbook has since been typed (on an old school typewriter no less) with many additional recipes added, but the original, with my Mom's own handwriting is a treasure for sure.  This recipe, from my Grandmother Haupert is a treasure too!  I love these rolls and just had to share.

I have only made these a few times by myself, as I have to admit, they kind of intimidated me.  However, this time it went really well so maybe I don't have anything to be afraid of afterall.  The scary part was always tying the knot.  So here is a simple picture tutorial. 

NOTE:  I cut my pieces a bit shorter than the recipe calls for and stretched them a bit as I tied them.  It made a slightly smaller roll but I kind of like them.

Cut strips

Fold over

Tuck end thru opening

Pull thru to form not

Lay gently on greased baking sheet

KITCHEN TIP 

EVERY kitchen needs a microplane - this handy, super sharp tool once only found in your tool box is awesome for zesting citrus in a jif!

 

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

ORANGE BOW ROLLS
Combine:
1 1/4 cup scalded milk (Here is a great video for how to do this)
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp salt

Cool mixture and add:
1 package yeast
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup orange juice
4-5 cups flour
2 Tbsp orange zest

Mix to soft dough.  Cover.  Let rest 10 minutes.  Knead.  Let rise until doubled.  punch down.  Roll to approximately 1/2" thick.  cut into 1/2" x 10" strips.  Tie in knots and put on greased baking sheets.  let rise until doubled. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.

Orange Frosting Glaze
2 Tbsp orange juice
1 tsp orange zest
1 cup powdered sugar

Frost while still warm to form a glaze on the rolls.

Linked up with...The CSI Project