Recipe Train

In 1973, Sandy Triplette moved to Hawaii, and she was going to prepare her first Thanksgiving meal for several friends. Since phone calls cost a lot back then and there was no email, she wrote home and asked her mom, Betty Brown, for a few recipes that she needed to make a wonderful meal, like she always did. So Triplette’s mom typed up a couple recipes and mailed them to her.

“She always made these dinner rolls for every special dinner, and everyone loved them,” said Triplette. “After my mother wasn’t able to continue making the rolls, I kind of took over the role. And every special holiday my children always ask for me to bring the rolls, of course.” Triplette still has the original, typed recipe card that her mother mailed. “It is a wonderful treasure for me.”

The recipe below is submitted the same way her mother wrote it. Triplette had learned to make crescent rolls in her home ec class in high school and showed her mom how easy they were. So Brown changed from making Parker House style rolls to crescent shaped rolls. Triplette uses the same recipe for cinnamon rolls and cabbage pockets, as well.

Parker House Rolls

1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup milk, scalded and cooled
6 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup melted shortening or butter
1 egg, well beaten
5 - 5 1/4 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in the warm water. After the scalded milk has cooled, add all the ingredients together, slowly adding flour as needed. Use the beater at first, then finally turn onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth. Cover with a warm, damp cloth. Let rise until double in bulk.

Then make into whichever type of rolls you prefer. Lately, I have been making them into crescent rolls, like you taught me, remember? Let rise until triple in bulk. Bake in a hot oven (375 degrees) for 15-18 minutes.

Note: You can spread some softened butter on the dough before rolling up into crescents. And when they come out of the oven, I brush them with softened butter also.  Enjoy.

Next stop on the recipe train: Mary Austin’s Salmon
Chugga chugga chew chew!