This recipe is from my stepmom, Cris. She makes this recipe for us everytime we visit and we all anxiously wait for these warm, gooey rolls to come out of the oven.
1/3 C. cornmeal (yellow)
1/2 C. sugar
2 t. salt
1/2 C. shortening (part butter)
2 C. milk
Heat the above ingredients on low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.
2 eggs
4 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 pkg. yeast (dissolve in 1/4 C. warm water with 1 t. sugar)
Sift flour and baking powder together. Combine eggs with first ingredients and slowing add flour/baking powder mixture one cup at a time. Mix thoroughly until no longer sticky. Let rise 1 hour. Punch down and let rise another hour. Put in pans and let rise one hour again. Bake bread at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. (Three rises total for bread or rolls. The reason is so the bread has less air bubbles and a smoother texture).
To Make Cinnamon Rolls:
Roll part of dough 1/2 inch thick (after 2nd rising). Dot with butter and sprinkle on cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up and cut into 3/4-1 inch slices and put in pans that have been buttered and sprinkled with more brown sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle bottom of pan with a little water (not much). Put rolls in pan, leaving a little space between them. Let rise 1 hour.(This is your 3rd rising) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Can add pecans to top or before rolling up. Frost with powdered sugar frosting that has a drop or two of maple flavoring added and a little vanilla extract.
Can make dinner rolls or loaf of bread from the remaining dough.
From the kitchen of: Crystal Mashak