Today the senior advanced topic English elective meets for the last time. They requested a “fun” day while they work on their final papers about one of several books which they read in independent books groups.

I remembered my promise to bring them something special at 8:23 pm last night and SH (starter husband for those for whom this acronym is unfamiliar) and I talked about just buying them donuts at the local Giant. Instead after a few minutes thinking, I pulled out my bread machine and started measuring ingredients for sweet rolls.

SH was not pleased because he thought I would be up until close to midnight — which meant he would also be up. He never goes to bed before me.

A regular dough cycle takes 1.5 hours. Then it takes 10 minutes to shape the rolls. Then it takes 30 minutes for the rolls to rise. And then it takes another 30 minutes for them to bake.

I said, “I can do this.”

“No, you can’t.”

“We’ll see.”

The rolls were baked and I was in bed by 11 pm. How? I cut out one of the rises which saved 30 minutes and then put them in a 110-degree proofing oven so they would rise even faster. Usually bread takes two rises so the dough is lighter, and I like a slower second rise so the dough develops more flavor.

For these seniors, they won’t notice the slighter denser dough — the rolls are coated in a vanilla butter frosting after all! I made the butter frosting this morning after walking the dogs and spread it thickly.

But I did pull out one corner roll for my dear SH to prove that I could make those rolls before bedtime!

Update

Here is what was left when the locusts were done. And were they ever enthused: “You BAKED for US?”