‘Stubborn as the birds,’ he muttered under his breath.
‘Did you just compare me to the doves?’
He looked at me squarely. ‘That I did. They wouldn’t eat from my hand when I had food for the taking. Like them, you’re loyal. Compassionate. But you never want help when I offer.’
‘Stop offering and I’ll stop refusing.’
He chuckled. ‘Whatever you say, Dove.’
Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Doves are a popular symbol. They represent love and peace. They’re the gift given on the second day of Christmas. It represents communication as the main image on the crest Tactical Communication Wing as part of the Royal Air Force. But perhaps the most important symbolism the dove provides is one Cohen creates for Britta in the Ever the Hunted novel by Erin Summerill. Yep, the most important by far.
Today, we will be celebrating the Clash of Kingdoms series and Britta and Cohen by making *drumroll please* Dove Dinner Rolls!
Some Quick Tip and Tricks
Before we get started, here’s some quick tips and tricks for bread making to help you with the recipe, or with any other breads you plan on making.
Choose the Right Dough
- Dinner rolls can be made from lean or enriched bread doughs.
- Enriched doughs like brioche give fluffier results, while lean doughs like ciabatta give crustier results.
Stick to the Scale
- A kitchen scale ensures accurate measurements for consistent baking results.
- After mixing, weigh the dough and divide it evenly for uniform rolls.
Handle Dough with Care
- Use a “lightly floured surface” as needed to prevent sticking.
- Adjust flour amount depending on dough texture.
Prep Dough Ahead
- Make dough ahead for convenience and flavor.
- Adjust liquid temperature and rise time for overnight dough.
Perfect Proofing
- Proper proofing ensures the right texture and flavor.
- Use visual cues like puffiness or the poke test to determine readiness.
Get Creative with Shapes
- Experiment with various roll shapes beyond round.
- Try split-top, folded, knotted, braided, crescent, or pull-apart styles.
Finish with Flair
- Enhance browning with scoring, egg wash, or butter basting.
- Add garnishes like salt, seeds, pepper, or cheese for extra flavor.
Recipe
Dove Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 packages 1/4 ounce each active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1/2 cup butter cubed
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 4 to 4-1/2 cups bread flour
Assembly
- 48 dried currants
- 24 slivered almonds
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons 2% milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix pastry flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a small saucepan, heat water, milk and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed 1 minute. Add egg; beat on high 2 minutes. Stir in enough bread flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
- Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
- Punch down dough. Let stand, covered, 15 minutes. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide and shape into 24 balls. Roll each into a 10-in. rope; tie into a loose knot. Bring 1 end up and tuck into center of roll to form head. Flatten opposite end; with a sharp knife, cut 4 slits to form 5 tail feathers. Press 2 currants into head for eyes and 1 almond for beak. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
- Cover with kitchen towels; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg and milk; brush over rolls. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks; serve warm.
Enjoy
There you have it! The cutest dinner rolls ever. Thanks to Erin for writing the inspiration for this recipe! I’ve met Erin before and she is super kind and a very talented writer. She also gives the best book recs!
To purchase Erin’s books, shop Amazon or Audible.