Icebox Rolls

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 3 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/2 cup sugar (optional)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds (optional)
• 7 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water.
• 2 sprinkle yeast into water.
• 3 allow to stand until yeast is dissolved and begins to bubble (or proof).
• 4 add oil, poppy seeds (if using) and 3 1/2 cups of the flour.
• 5 stir with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are well mixed.
• 6 at this point, the mixture will be the consistency of a mash.
• 7 continue to add flour in batches until mixture becomes too stiff to easily stir.
• 8 turn out mixture onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed to keep dough from sticking to surface or hands.
• 9 when dough is "ready", it should be smooth, supple and stretchy.
• 10 grease a medium bowl.
• 11 form dough into a ball.
• 12 place in greased bowl, turning to coat ball on all sides.
• 13 cover bowl with a clean dish towel and put in a warm, draft-free place to rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
• 14 i like to place my bowl in the oven with just the light on.
• 15 when doubled, punch dough down and slap it around to get out all the air bubbles.
• 16 at this point, dough can be refrigerated for future use or divided and formed into the desired shape (ie. dinner rolls, cloverleaf rolls, hamburger buns, etc.).
• 17 once formed, place on ungreased cookie sheet, cover again and allow dough to rise until doubled again which will take about 1/2 hour (longer if dough was refrigerated).
• 18 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 19 bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. the larger the roll, the longer it will take to bake it.