I love my neighborhood. In the thirty years we've lived here, there have been some changes, but there are also those friends that seem like "forever folks" - they were here before we arrived and they make up the fabric of the neighborhood. Strong, good-hearted people.....always in the yard or on their front porch......Smiles, handshakes and good stories accompany them........Generosity, compassion and simplicity are their hallmarks. Most of them are in their eighties now, though their immaculate lawns would make you think there are thirty-year-olds in the house! There have been a few losses recently- "Zim's" husband, Bob, who, even a few years ago at age 90, could be found on their roof, brushing the fall leaves off the shingles. (When my husband stopped to ask him what in the world he was doing on the roof, Bob jokingly replied that he couldn't get Zim up there to do it, so someone had to!). They are just "that sort of people" - WONDERFUL!!
Yesterday, we stopped over to drop a few of these little lemon twists off to some of these folks. They invited us in for conversation and we sat down for a few moments, discussing the weather, who's moving into the house next door , the coming renovations to our local park and more. Wilma, who's 84, wistfully stated that she doubted she would be around to see all the changes. Her hubby guffawed and said that he certainly planned to be! Even so, as my hubby and I walked home after the brief visit, her statement reminded me what a privilege it is to have them as part of our community as long as we have. They have been an example and a joy! May each of us be "those folks" in OUR neighborhoods!!
Make up a recipe of these treats and share them with a neighbor - that's a good start!!
Little Lemon
Twists
Dough:
2/3 cup
warmed milk
1 Tbsp/pack
Red Star Platinum yeast
¼ Cup sour
cream, room temperature
2 Tbsp.
butter, softened
1 egg
3 Cups bread
flour
2 Tbsp.
sugar
1 tsp. salt
Filling:
½ Cup finely
chopped walnuts
1/3 Cup
sugar
3 Tbsp.
melted butter
2 tsp.
zested lemon peel
Glaze:
1 Cup
powdered sugar
1-3 tsp.
fresh-squeezed lemon juice
½ tsp.
zested lemon peel
Place warm milk and yeast in EZ DOH bucket and stir to
dissolve yeast. Let rest 1 minute. Add one cup of flour, then additional dough
ingredients. EZ DOH-it for 2-3 minutes, or until dough is smooth and soft and
all ingredients are incorporated. Remove dough from bucket, spray bucket with
cooking spray, “smooth” dough and replace in bucket. Cover and let rise until
doubled. While waiting, stir together the filling ingredients.
Remove the dough from the bucket and divide in half. Roll
each half into a 12x8” rectangle. Divide the filling between the two rectangles
and spread evenly across the dough. Fold each rectangle in half lengthwise and
pinch edges closed. Cut each into 12 -1”x4” strips. Twist each strip, pulling
gently. Place in two lightly-greased 9x5” pans (or one 9x13” pan, with strips “head
to head”; You may also just place them individually on a lightly greased baking
sheet. You choose!) Cover and let rise until doubled.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes, until golden. While baking,
mix the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Remove the twists from the
oven to a wire rack. Let cool briefly. Brush with the fresh lemon glaze and
enjoy!
Adapted from a recipe in "The Complete Guide to Bread Machine Baking"
Luscious Little Lemon Twists!!
