Tomato Basil Rolls

So I'm finally back from Florida. The moment we drove into Michigan the sky turned a hazy shade of gray and started bombarding us with snow. Typical.


As soon as we walked in the door, Tay was like, "Wow, everything looks so much smaller than I remember!"

Then all of the kids immediately went and weighed themselves, like they always do after vacation.

I do not understand this behavior.

"Guys! I weigh seventy pounds now! I've been waiting my whole life to weigh seventy pounds!!" said Boots.

"I gained ten pounds!" Bellie said flailing her long skinny arms in the air.

Then Tay walked in, looking dumbfounded. "Guys... I gained twenty pounds."

Well, I guess it just goes to show, we do not have very good eating habits on vacation.

Seriously though, he was a few inches shorter than me before we left and now he's a few inches taller. Why did I not notice? And why didn't I notice that his pecs were practically bursting out of his t-shirt.

Oh well, new t-shirts for me!

 

Tomato Basil Rolls

2 tablespoons yeast

1 cup hot water 

6 oz. tomato paste

1 tablespoon dried basil

2 tablespoons oil

1/4 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

4 3/4 cup bread flour

A beaten egg and freshly grated parmesan for garnish (optional)

Mix together the yeast, water, tomato paste, basil, oil, and butter. Let sit for 3 minutes or until the yeast is dissolved. Add the sugar and then the flour and mix in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment for 10 minutes. Add the salt in while it's mixing. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm moist place for about 1/2 hour or until doubled. Line a baking sheet with parchment or grease it. Form the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for fifteen minutes more. Brush with egg and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 425º for about 10 minutes.

 

 Oh wait. Before you go, here are a couple pictures from Florida.

 

Tay took this with an underwater camera. I know... it's pretty intense. And that was just a little 8 megapixel camera. The reason it looks so good is because of my mad photo enhancing skills.

 

And this is a picture I took of a sunrise in the Florida Keys.