Jailhouse Rolls and Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe came from my neighbor, Judia Sarich, almost ten years ago with this explanation:
"These rolls were made for the inmates at the Hemphill Jail House in Texas. The guards loved them so much they took the recipe home to their wives."
You will love this recipe because there is no kneading involved. All the ingredients are blended in your heavy-duty mixer (Kitchenaid), turned into a greased bowl, and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to roll it out. I make a  double recipe and turn half into cinnamon rolls. My daughter, Megan, makes a beautiful tea ring and breakfast pockets using the same dough.  The day before I make rolls I fix a simple comfort meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The extra mashed potatoes go into this recipe:

JAILHOUSE DINNER ROLLS

1 pkg yeast
1 ½ cups lukewarm water
1 cup Mashed Potatoes
2 sticks soft margarine (or butter), softened
4 whole eggs
1 cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoon salt
7 cups flour
1. Mix yeast with lukewarm water, set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl blend softened butter, potatoes, eggs, sugar and salt. (Don't worry if it separates. Everything will blend when you add the flour.)
3. Add flour to mixture and blend well.
4. Slowly add yeast water and mix thoroughly.
5. Turn dough into greased bowl. (I use my round Tupperware cake carrier)
6. Cover with damp cloth (or lid if you are using Tupperware) and store in refrigerator over night.
When ready to prepare:
7. Take bowl out of refrigerator.
8. Turn dough onto floured surface.
9. Roll out to ½ inch thickness.
10. Cut to size desired.
11. Place on greased baking sheet.
12. Let rise approximately two hours.
13. Cook on 425 for 7 to 10 minutes.
14. Remove from oven and brush with butter.

CINNAMON ROLLS:

1 stick of melted butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon (or more if you like)
1/2 c. chopped nuts (opt.)
1/2 c. dried fruit (raisins, cranberries or cherries) (opt.)
Follow steps 1 through 9.
Spread dough with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon,add nuts and fruit if you like.
Roll up jelly-roll fashion, starting at long side, cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick) slices. (See Tip below). Place rolls into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch pan. Let rise for approximately 2 hours. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Icing:

1 c. powdered sugar
3 T. milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Stir together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; drizzle over rolls. Sprinkle with additional nuts if desired.



Dough may seem too thin, but will thicken
overnight. Roll it out as soon as you get it
out of the frig, it will be easy to work with.



Roll out to 1/2 inch

Spread with a stick of melted butter

Cover w/brown sugar, cinnamon
 and dried fruit. Roll up.

Dental floss is your secret weapon to
making perfect rolls.

Slide floss under the dough,
pull up and cross thread to cut
the dough w/o smashing it.

Leave space between rolls so they can
rise to double in size

I don't really need an icing with the caramel yumminess
created by the butter and brown sugar, but some in our
 family need it. It's easy enough to glaze when rolls are cooled.

I have the Breakfast Pockets recipe on my Pinterest Board. Give them a try!
Happy Halloween!