Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and if you’re like me, no holiday is more tantalizing than the fourth Thursday in November. A chance to celebrate with friends and family over a table or buffet of carefully crafted food. Ryan and I are going to Houston to share Thanksgiving with my Aunt Sharon, her family, and my sweet Grammy and Papou. Grammy is the true inspiration of all my baking. And I can’t wait to make pies with her on Wednesday and to sample, once again, her famous dressing recipe.
The visit will be bittersweet though. Ryan and I are moving home to Colorado in….THREE weeks. This return home has been long-anticipated. Austin has been a wonderful place, and we’ve made some beautiful friends, but when I think about Colorado (my parents, my sister, Ryan’s family, and so many friends), I can’t help but feel like I need to return to where I belong. That doesn’t leaving Texas is easy. I’m sure the next few weeks will be emotional ones for us. And certainly this Thanksgiving, with my grandparents, will be both good and hard.
As most of you know, Ryan and I tend to be busy people. In the midst of the move, Ryan has another big event coming up. This weekend, his jewelry will be featured in Austin’s Renegade Craft Fair. Some of you might have seen his work, but I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight his beautiful cross-stitched pendants. Here is what Ryan says on Stitch and Saw’s website:
My name is Ryan Kulp, and I make jewelry and other fine goods in Austin, Texas. My interest in design began as a child. Like many other children of the 80′s, I spent afternoons designing and making friendship bracelets and beaded lizard key chains. Although I made a profit on those initial designs, I abandoned the craft of making to pursue more abstract concepts like Calculus, Physics, and Economics. After graduating from the Colorado of School of Mines with a B.S in Economics, I moved to Baltimore and then Austin with my wife, Monet Moutrie. A stint as a home security installer helped me reconnect to the joy that working with my hands brings. I took up cross-stitching on a whim, only to discover it was a perfect match for both my creativity and my love of the particular. After stitching a few larger pieces, I found my niche in creating small portraits of animals. Because my grandfather and father both worked with wood, I wanted my creations to reflect that heritage. I began salvaging fine woods from local cabinet makers and cutting out the wood discs that serve as the backs of my pendants. Each new pendant is designed and stitched by me. Using the very best materials and unique designs, I hope to create pieces that make people smile and reflect on the small things that make life beautiful.
So if you’re in Austin the weekend after Thanksgiving, come find Stitch and Saw at the Renegade Craft Fair. If you’re not, and you’d like to order a pendent, Ryan is still accepting holiday orders. You can find more information about ordering a necklace at his site. So while Ryan is busy with last minute preparations for the craft-fair, I’ll be in the kitchen making a few of my holiday favorites. These honey wheat rolls are a family classic. I made them here in Texas, and my little sister made a batch in West Virginia. Come Christmas, we’ll both be in the kitchen making another batch…together.
These holiday wheat rolls are sweet and wholesome. A step above the typical white Parker House rolls you often see on the Thanksgiving table (which are very good, mind you). They rise beautifully, which is always a plus for the beginning baker, and they make your house smell like freshly baked bread (forget a candle!).
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. And I hope you all have a beautiful and safe Thanksgiving.
Holiday Wheat Rolls
2 Packages of Active Dry Yeast
1 3/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup honey
1 egg, beaten slightly
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cups AP flour
*An optional 1/4 cup butter, melted, for topping the rolls after baking
1.In a large bowl, dissolve your yeast in the warm water and let sit for ten minutes or until creamy. Add honey, beaten egg, and melted butter into your yeast mixture.
2. Mix whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour into your yeast mixture. If you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer, attach the dough hook and stir for 5-8 minutes. If not, turn dough out into a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel (I like to stretch a rubber band around the rim of my bowl to ensure that the towel stays on).
3. Let your dough rise in a warm place for about an hour or until dough doubles in size. Punch down dough, cover, and let rise again (about 30 minutes).
4. Grease or line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide dough into 2 ounce pieces. You can shape the dough however you like. Once divided, place on baking sheet and allow to rise, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes.
5. Bake rolls for 10-12 minutes in a preheated, 400 degree F oven. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter.
those little pendants are so sweet!
I know it’ll be bittersweet, but I’m so happy that the two of you are moving to Colorado. I think you’ll be very happy to be surrounded by family and old friends.
And I love Ryan’s work! It’s beautiful.
I’m so behind with you, sweet Monet! My new job has really made it hard to stay up with all my blog visits. I’m happy for you to be moving back home. Change is never easy…but, for me, it usually ends up better than I had ever hoped. I wish you the best…I’m going to be in Houston for Thanksgiving too. I’ll be in Austin NEXT weekend doing a bit of shopping. Want to meet up for coffee so I can give you a proper goodbye hug? E-mail me…
Monet! You two will be missed! Colorado is lucky to have you.
Well, I can certainly see what’s been keeping you guys busy! Moving right in the middle of holiday season has to be tough, but you can do it. And you’re right–it’s definitely important to be where you need to be (and to eat delicious things while you’re there). Also, I just have to say: BUNNY PENDANT!!
These rolls sound delicious, Monet. Good luck with the upcoming move. I’m not envying that work at all, but it will be worth it when you are there again with your family!
P.S. I love that bluejay necklace. I bet you love wearing pieces that he has made just for you!
Good luck with moving back to Colorado, Monet. It’s not easy. I’ve been moving a lot around Europe with my husband and I know what you feel…leaving your place, your friends.
Great, good Good morning Thanksgiving wheat rolls and amazing handcrafted pendants: made with love. The animals are pretty good and I like the warm natural material.
Monet,
Best of luck moving home and wishing you well. I love Ryan’s pendants, and his craftsmanship.
Enjoy this Thanksgiving cooking with your Grandma!
All the best for your move, and your husband is very talented!
Hi Monet, your wheat rolls look delicious.
The pendants are beautiful, very neat workmanship. Keep up the good work.
All the best to you and take care.
Have a nice week ahead.
That is great news! I have been missing for a few weeks. Enjoy your holidays with your grandma, baking pies. Mine just passed away a few dies ago and I cherish the moments I shared with her more than ever now.
Oh! I want the bunny! Happy Thanksgiving to you 🙂 We are having ours on the 2nd of December.. it doesn’t really happen in Australia but Tylers Dad is American so we do!
Have a very happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Monet,
Good luck with the relocation from Austin. Nice idea to showcase your hubby’s beautiful pendants.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh Wow! The pendants look beautiful and as do the delicious wheat rolls.
Happy Thanksgiving, Monet!
A
What beautiful pendants my friend 😀
And happy moving!
Oh oh and LOVE your rolls today 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I hope you have a safe move and had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
lovely rolls.
take care
I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving, Monet! I love the idea of a pile of fluffy wheat rolls on the holiday dining table – a little more nutrition on the holidays! 😉 Ryan makes the most beautiful jewelry – you both certainly have a lot of creativity.
Best of luck to you and Ryan on your upcoming move to Colorado <3
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Hi Monet! Happy Thanksgiving! Those rolls look so amazing!! 🙂 And the pendant is super cuute!! Hope you had a lovely thanksgiving!
Oh I am happy and sad for you all at the same time for your move. I am sure you will love being back in Colorado, but I am sad that you are leaving your business.
Ryan’s work is fantastic. I wish him continued success while you all are still in Austin and also in Colorado.
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, Monet. I moved from Phoenix home to Cleveland last summer, and while I miss so much about my life in Phoenix, I know that here with family is where I belong. I hope you find the same peace in Colorado.
Monet, I hope you had a beautiful holiday with your family in Texas. Moving from one place to the next is definitely bittersweet. I will be doing a big move myself in 7 months, back to the States, so I know the feeling. Good luck with the move. It sounds like a big piece of your heart is in Colorado, so Im sure the transition wont be too hard.
Ryans jewelry is so unique! I love it. I bookmarked his website to keep in mind for gifts 🙂
Your rolls look delicious and perfect for the holidays.
I absolutely adore those necklaces! So glad to see you posting again, Monet! I missed hearind from you. Have a wonderful day.
Dearest Monet, having spent this past summer in absolutely beautiful and breathtaking Colorado and Utah, plus your family there, I know it is a great, if difficult choice. I wish you all the very best.
I am so inspired, in awe and floored by Ryan’s work. Such delicate work, such elegance, such history.
Have the courage to find and follow your passion. Thank you Ryan!
Thank you for the recipe for the wheat rolls, Monet. They look delicious!
I love your husband’s work! I just ordered a buffalo pendant for my mom for Christmas. She lives up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and will love the necklace.
Good luck with the move!
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