The Whole Wheat French Bread Rolls just came out of the oven and can I say "yum"? I love their crispier crust and yet they are still light and fluffy inside. This recipe is definitely a winner. It would be especially delicious served with butter and honey. And best of all, these were quite easy to make.
While they were baking, I was inspired by FishMama to whip up some Calzone dough to stick in the freezer for after the baby is born. I'm not sure whether I'll do calzones or pizza with them but I know that already having the dough made up will be a huge time-saver!
Putting everything in the bread machine and running it made this dough incredibly simple to do. I didn't feel like it turned out quite as nicely as my usual Homemade Pizza Dough recipe, but it still seemed like it will be pretty good. I'll be anxious to use it and see how it ends up working out.
We also made the Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. These are definitely a somewhat-healthier alternative to the usual Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins we make and they are quite scrumptious. Plus, it's another great way to use up going-bad bananas–something we often seem to have around here!
I'm taking another break to drink some water and put my feet up and then we'll tackle the Banana Bread, cooking up some chicken, and cleaning up the kitchen. We're having leftovers for dinner tonight, along with the French Bread Rolls, so I'm hopeful the kitchen can be all back in order by dinner time.
Your rolls look SOOO yummy!!! I wish I had a knack for baking like you do!
Regarding bananas, once ours turn black, I just put the whole thing, peel and all, into the freezer. When I get enough for bread, I just thaw for a few minutes and they’re perfect!
How do you have so many over-ripe bananas? I bought 4 pounds of bananas, which lasted only 5 days with my 12 month old and my husband. We can’t seem to keep them around long enough to get ripe to bake with! How many do you buy and how often?
********************
Money Saving Mom here: I buy them when they are red-taped at Kroger (meaning they are reduced and going bad soon) and just buy as many as look decent or I can afford in our weekly budget or I feel like buying! These usually last no longer than 3 days before needing to be baked with.
Usually, the girls eat most of them up in a matter of a few days, but this past week, I had bought a bunch of strawberries (their favorite fruit!) and they’ve been mostly eating those or fruit salad so they only ate a handful of the seven pounds of bananasI had purchased before they were past their prime and became baking bananas. 🙂
Andrea, I have not but will look for the recipe now. Thanks so much!
I was wondering if you use whole wheat flour for your banana bread? I’m planning on giving your recipe a try but I would rather use whole wheat. Thanks!!
***********************
Money Saving Mom here: You can use either. I’ve done it successfully with both white flour and whole wheat.
Alaina-I have tried Crystal’s Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (I leave the chocolate chips out) and they are delicious–you might try those!
Way to go Crystal! Isn’t it satisfying? I’m baking tomorrow–today is shopping day.
Those rolls look so good!
I tried the “superpower muffins” yesterday after reading your post and realizing I had everything I needed for them. Yummy! I will be making more, and freezing at least a dozen for after my baby’s born.
Wow! In your last few weeks of pregnancy. You must be nesting! 🙂
I currently work full time outside the home, and we have a 2.5 year old DD, and want more, and agree I’ll quit my job when the next baby comes along, so we’re preparing now (financially) to be able to do this.
Has anyone ever made rolls or bred and then frozen them before baking? I made homemade rolls for the first time a few weeks ago, but the recipe made quite a bit. I baked them all and froze what we didn’t use. The fresh ones were awesome, but the frozen ones left a bit to be desired!! Would it work if you put the rolls in the muffin cups and froze them before rising? Then thaw out, rise, and bake?
I did the whole wheat rolls in my bread machine last night and they came out great! I don’t do bread by hand if i can help it, especially on a beautiful day like we had yesterday!
I read your Part I this morning and thought, “We need bread, but I don’t have time.” You got into my subconscious, though, and by the time the evening was over we had 2 loaves of Honey Wheat Bread, 12 Molten Chocolate Chip Muffins, and 3 dozen (yes, dozen, by accident) peanut butter blossom cookies. It honest to goodness wasn’t that bad at all, so I blogged about it. 🙂
Thanks!
I’m looking into purchasing a bread machine. How do you like yours? Do you use it just for kneading the dough or does it depend? Also, where did you get the machine? Thanks for your insight!
These all look so yummy.
I get hungry after reading Crystal’s posts! *LOVE, LOVE, LOVE* this blog! Thanks for being a GREAT inspiration! Best wishes for baby #3 as well!
You inspired me again! I came home from work and made Oatmeal muffins (from Hillbilly Housewife) and I have the starter for Oatmeal bread in the fridge. What can I say? I have oatmeal that is about to be expired that I got for free!
The recipes are going to be on my blog soon…after I try out the Oatmeal bread.
Any ideas on a healthy oatmeal cookie? I want to make a batch of cookie dough for the freezer.
I had that same bread maker. I was making bread over night once and as it was kneeding the dough, a small piece of the dough flew outside of the baking pan and got stuck to the side. My husband woke me up and said “Is the bread maker supposed to be smoking right now?”… NO! The small piece of dough had burned a hole through the side. Moral of the story: I wouldn’t leave it unattended (although it says you can!)
Does anyone else feel totally lazy (and exhausted) after reading Crystal’s posts!!!
You are an inspiration! The only issue I have with baking is I don’t know how to do it well (yet) and I try to stay away from carbs as much as I can since I have type 1 diabetes. My husband likes breads and rolls though so he would appreciate my attempts. I only have one child right now and he is only 5 months so I don’t think he will be having rolls any time soon! 🙂 Thanks for doing this blog – I cannot even imagine how many people you have helped with money saving tips!!! May God bless you!
I would also like some info on how you freeze your breads, muffins, doughs. I have tried to freeze pizza dough as well and it was useless when I went to use it. I’d love to start doing “Baking Days” myself, but I’m not sure how to freeze everything.
Crystal, I’d love to try the whole wheat rolls! Do you think I could make the dough in the bread machine? Just by adding the ingredients like I would for any other dough recipe? i.e. water, then flour, then salt, then oils, and the yeast last?
I have that exact machine – I need to use it more!!! I’m looking at all your recipes. Is there a button that just goes to recipes? I’m probably just missing it!
http://www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com
********************
Money Saving Mom here: The link to recipes which I’ve posted on this blog is here:
https://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/recipes/
I am so glad you like the rolls!
For the rolls, you baked them and then freezing them. Do you just warm them in the oven when you’re ready to eat them?
**********************
Money Saving Mom here: Likely, we’ll eat these in the next few days so I’ll not freeze them. But if I were to freeze them, yes, I’d just freeze in a freezer bag and then thaw and reheat in the oven or microwave when we’re ready to use them.
When I’ve tried to freeze bread dough or pizza dough, I’ve found that it doesn’t rise and bake as well as it should when I thaw it out later. Any suggestions?
**********************
Money Saving Mom here: I’ve found that not all doughs freeze well. But my pizza crust recipe that I linked to does freeze very successfully–at least for me! I just stick it in a freezer bag and freeze and then thaw for 4-6 hours before using.
MoneySavingMom,
Do you think the dough for the whole wheat rolls could be made in the bread machine? How would you adapt this recipe for the bread machine? Thanks!
*************************
Money Saving Mom here: I am sure it could be, though I usually find rolls are softer if done by hand. However, if someone tries these in bread machine, let us know how it goes!