my cinnamon rolls

I have tasted and seen too many sub-par cinnamon rolls lately, and I feel the need to share my methods. I know everyone probably knows how to make their own cinnamon rolls, but just in case there is someone out there who is struggling, perhaps this will help a titch.


I follow my favorite basic roll recipe to the T (see it below), and when the recipe calls to "shape the rolls" I roll out the dough for my cinnamon rolls. You want to make a rectangle shape. The longer and skinnier you make it, the more (smaller) rolls you will make. If you make a square, your rolls will be humongus and you will make far less.
Next I take cold butter, about 1/4 cup, cut into tiny pieces, and scatter them on the dough. (You could add an extra 1/8 cup butter and only make it better.) The problem with most rolls I taste is the butter issue. I know butter is fatty and whatever, but YOU CANNOT SKIMP THE BUTTER WHEN YOU MAKE CINNAMON ROLLS! Without enough butter you end up with rolls without the goo. Trust me- you want the goo.

I'm sure someone out there in the world measures, but I don't, so I sprinkle the cinnamon all over- MAKE SURE YOU GET THE EDGES REALLY GOOD, you are going to wipe the counter off anyway, right?

Next I sprinkle hand fulls of brown sugar until.... well covered. I'm sorry, I don't measure.


Then start the roll.

When cutting the rolls, you are NEVER EVER ALLOWED TO USE A KNIFE! Cinnamon flavored dental floss is the best way to go. Simply slide the floss under the roll, twist the two ends and pull. This will cut the roll from the outside all at once. The ends usually have the least numminess, so scoop up all the filling that falls out as you cut the rolls and stuff them inside and on top of the end pieces- that way they aren't a waste. A little butter on them would work wonders as well.
Place on a greased pan NOT TOUCHING! My roll recipe calls for 1 hour of raising after the rolls are shaped, so they get plenty big.Cook them according to roll directions. When finished, drizzle with frosting and enjoy!

MY FAVORITE ROLL RECIPE

These rolls are super soft and nummy even without the cinnamon roll stuff.

Romano's Macaroni Grill Rosemary Bread

Ingredients:

Servings Size

• loaves

Yield: 2 loaves

• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons rosemary
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly.
2. Mix in 1 T butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour.
3. Add one tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary.
4. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. Add more flour if necessary.
6. Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel.
7. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled.
8. Punch down dough and divide in half.
9. Let dough rest about 5 minutes.
10. Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray.
11. Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves.
12. Sprinkle remaining 1 Tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface.
13. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.
14. Preheat oven to 375°F.
15. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
16. Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter (and salt if desired.).

I copied and pasted this recipe from this web site.

There are about 220 reviews and tips on the link, so check it out.

Taco Braid + PB & J Braid

I couldn't resist this recipe when I read it on the girl who ate everything.

Use this pizza dough recipe (from the previous post) then divide in two. (one half for each braid.)

Taco Braid

4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup salsa

1/2 to 1 lb. ground turkey, beef, or sausage, cooked and seasoned with a taco seasoning mix

1 15 oz. can black beans

1 cup of shredded cheese

olive oil

garlic salt

Spray counter and hands with cooking spray and knead dough for a few seconds to form a smooth ball. Roll dough into a 15-inch rectangle. Place on a greased cookie sheet. (It's very important to place the dough on the cookie sheet before you fill it because once you fill it, it will be too heavy to move onto the cookie sheet.) Spread cream cheese lengthwise down center third of rectangle., salsa, then seasoned meat and black beans. Sprinkle with cheese. On each long side, cut 1 inch wide strips about 2 1/2 inches into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack or cutting board with a couple spatula's. Garnish with Sour cream, avocado slices, and cilantro.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Braid

(use the other half of the pizza dough)

Peanut butter, creamy or crunchy (we used about 1 1/2 cups

Favorite flavor of Jelly (we used about 1 cup)

Roll dough out into a 15 inch rectangle (fit it to a cookie sheet) and put it onto the cookie sheet. Spread the peanut butter, then the jelly down the center third of the dough. On each long side, cut 1 inch wide strips about 2 1/2 inches into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. PInch ends to seal and tuck under. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 18-22 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack or cutting board with a couple spatula's. Enjoy! (this one goes best with a glass of milk)

Pizza dough

(homemade veggie/cheese pizza)

1 1/2 cups very warm water

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 Tablespoon yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoon Olive Oil

4 cups flour

in a large mixing bowl dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Foam should form on top. Whisk in salt, olive oil, and 1 cup flour. Whisk in 2nd cup of flour. At this point put add the last two cups of flour as you gradually mix, or in a Bosh / Kitchen-aid with the dough hook attachment. If your dough is too sticky, add flour a little bit at a time until dough forms a ball. Knead for 5 minutes by mixer, or 10 minutes by hand. Place dough in oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for an hour in a warm place until double in size. Punch down dough and divide into two parts. Each half will make a 12 inch pizza, If using this Assemble desired amount of sauce, cheese and toppings, then let bake at 450 for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is starting to brown and crust is golden. Pizza stone's dusted with cornmeal seem to produce the best results!

this recipe adapted from The Sister's Cafe. Thank you "Sisters"!

easy Garlic bread

Use this recipe with Crusty French Bread or any french bread.

Ingredients:

1 loaf of french bread
2 T. butter
2 T. olive oil
3 cloves garlic

Cut French bread in half lengthwise. Put it in the oven to toast under the broiler.

Simmer butter, oil and crushed garlic for about 2 minutes. Don't use a timer, use your NOSE to smell when it starts to smell sweet, then remove from heat. DO NOT burn the garlic.

Brush the garlic flavored oil/butter over the toasted slices of bread. Mmmmm.

Crusty French Bread

This recipe makes one yummy loaf of French Bread.

1 package (or 2 t.) active dry yeast
1 C warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees)
2 T. sugar
2 T. Vegetable oil or Olive oil
1 1/2 t. salt
3 C all-purpose flour


In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water for about 5 minutes. Add the sugar, oil, salt and 1 cup flour. Mix well and add the remaining flour to form a stiff, sticky dough (I can always tell when there is enough flour by watching until the dough stops sticking to the side of the bowl in my mixer.) Don't add too much flour!

Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. (I found a neat trick to raise the dough/bread in a cool oven with only the oven light on.)
Punch down dough; return to bowl. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and flatten it into a rectangle. Roll the dough (on the longest end) to make a roll of dough. Pinch the seams and taper the ends. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet covered with cornmeal or oil. Cover and let rise for 25 minutes.


cornmeal
1 egg white
1 t. cold water

Beat egg white and 1 t. water, brush over dough. With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes 2 in apart across the top of the loaf.
Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
*** Put ice cubes on a tray at the bottom of the oven to create steam so that you can get a little extra crunch. It is is soft on the inside.

Honey Wheat Millet Bread + Strawberry Freezer Jam

What is better than fresh, warm, homemade bread for breakfast? My Mother and Father-in-law make this bread often and it is sooooo good. It's not too heavy and it is perfectly sweet. The Millet flour adds something that makes it different . . . lighter, nuttier. I don't know. I just really like this bread and have been craving it all week. I haven't ever made bread, (except for in a bread machine, with a packet) so I actually had to go and buy loaf pans just for this.

Combine in a LARGE bowl:

5 cups hot water (from the tap)

2/3 cup oil

1 tablespoon salt

1 1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup powdered milk

mix well, then add:

2 cups ground millet flour (you can get it at a regular grocery store in the "health" section)

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 heaping tablespoons yeast

mix well, then add:

7 cups white flour

3 cups whole wheat flour

then knead the dough for a good ten minutes.

form it into 5 medium sized greased loaf pans and let raise for about 45 minutes

bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

enjoy!

as for the Freezer Jam,

just buy a packet of "freezer pectin" and combine with 4 cups of pureed fruit and 1 1/2 cups sugar. As shown in the picture, I made all this jam from two giant strawberry clamshells at Costco, and 4 packets of pectin. I also use half sugar, half Xylitol. The Xylitol is just as good if not better than sugar, is zero calories, and is excellent for your teeth. Plus, that way I don't feel so bad about smothering it on everything I eat. Freezer Jam is just soooo satisfying.

Taco Pizza

My niece came to stay with me a few weeks ago and together we experimented and just came up with this meal. It was actually super good! If any of you have other taco pizza recipe's please post them because I would love to try it! 

Ingredients:

Either store-bought dough/crust, or use 1/4 of the dough from this recipe

1 lb. ground beef/turkey

1/2 diced white onion

2/3 packet of taco seasoning

1 can refried beans

1/2 cup salsa

2-4 cups of mozzarella cheese (however much you like)

diced tomatoes*

crisp chopped iceberg lettuce*

sliced avocados*

sliced olives*

green onions*

Pizza instructions :

If you make home made dough, roll it out onto a large cookie sheet  and bake it for 10 minutes at 350. When it comes out of the oven it will be only partially cooked.  While it is cooking brown the meat and onion with the taco seasoning. Then combine the refried beans with the salsa. When the crust comes out of the oven, spread it with the bean/salsa mixture. Then top it evenly with the browned meat. Cover with however much cheese you like. Increase the oven temp to 400  and throw the pizza in there for another 8 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. When you take it out, give it a minute to cool down, then top it with whatever you like on your taco's. 

It also sounds good to drizzle the finished pizza with a small amount of ranch dressing. Enjoy!

Bran Muffins

Make no mistake, these are not the dense dry bran muffins you have had before. These are light, sweet, moist parcels of goodness that fill your house with a delicious aroma. 

4 cups 'All Bran' cereal (looks like little sticks)

1 cup shortening or butter

2 cups boiling water

2 cups sugar or honey

1 quart buttermilk

5 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

4 beaten eggs

5 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

mix it all up

Spoon batter into muffin tins until each is 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes. 

***the batter is good in the fridge for 7-10 days**** isn't that AWESOME?!? Just keep it in a ziplock. You can make hot muffins every day of the week. My kids and I LOVE these things. 

thanks Aleena for the recipe! 

Easy French Bread

I really prefer to make hoagie subs with this recipe because they are just so good. I'm never going to buy hoagies again!

2 1/2 C. very warm water
1 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. yeast
2 Tbsp. olive oil
5 to 6 C. flour

Mix water, salt, sugar, yeast, olive oil and 3 cups flour vigorously for 3 minutes. Add 2 to 3 more cups of flour and knead until smooth (about 5 minutes). Let rise at least 60. Punch down and divide with a sharp knife into 2 pieces (8-12 pieces to make hoagie rolls).

Roll each piece into a rectangle and roll up jelly roll style. Seal edge, then place, edge side down on a cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. With a very sharp knife, make 3 cuts at an angle across top of each loaf. Brush entire surface with 1 beaten whole egg mixed with water. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes (around 10 minutes if making hoagies) or until golden brown.

This recipe is great for french dip sandwiches or meatball subs. I haven't tried them with hot dogs yet, but it sounds so good.

Red Lobster Biscuits

Made these for dinner and they were so easy and just as yummy as the real deal.
2 c. Bisquick
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese*
1/4 c. butter
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Mix Bisquick and cheese; add milk. Spoon on an ungreased cookie sheet (makes about 12). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Brush with melted butter and garlic powder.

*I doubled the cheese, I figured the more cheese the better

I'm drooling

Doesn't this look Gorgeous?

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this?

I found another amazing recipe website (whatwereeating.com) with some salivating phtography. Check it out!

Oat Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:
2 cups quick oats
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 Tb salt
3 cups boiling water
2 Tb yeast (level, not heaping)
1 cup whole wheat flour
5 cups all-purpose flour
Additional butter, melted

Directions:
Combine in Bosch, oats, brown sugar, butter, salt. Mix in boiling
water. Cool to 110 degrees. (I just heated the water in the
microwave, not quite to boiling) Add wheat flour and yeast. Mix
in enough remaining flour to form a soft and slightly sticky
dough. Knead 8 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to
grease top. Cover and rise about an hour. Punch down. Turn
onto lightly floured surface Divide into 20 pieces(I made 32
smaller rolls). Place in greased 9x 13 pan. Cover and rise
about 45 minutes. Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes or until
golden brown. Remove pan to wire wrack and brush with
melted butter.

(I actually let them rise in a bowl and then I just made small balls out of them and put them in the casserole dish. I never used my counter top, which was nice, not to have to clean that mess up. And I actually got 2 casserole dishes out of it plus a square size as well. so plenty for the family, and fun to have a new roll recipe to try)

Quick Breadsticks

1 Tablespoon yeast

1 1/2 Cups water (150 degrees)

2 Tablespoons white sugar

1/2 Teaspoon salt

3 Cups flour

Mix all ingredients together. Knead for 3 minutes, cover and let rest for an additional ten minutes. Roll out to about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into strips, dip in butter. Place on a (greased?) cookie sheet and add garlic powder, cheese or other spices as desired. (I personally love to sprinkle "salad supreme" seasoning on my breadsticks.) Let rise for 10 minutes and then bake at 375 degrees about ten minutes or until done. 

Thank you Aunt Lori, (and your friend Lisa)! 

Enjoy!

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar

1 stick of butter at room temperature

2 eggs

3 very ripe bananas

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing until flour disappears. Pour batter in and bake for 60 - 70 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 15 min before slicing. 

got the recipe from the food network.

French Toast

1 Loaf Kneaders Chunky Cinnamon Bread cut into 8 slices

6-7 eggs

2 1/2 cups milk

1 Tbsp brown sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1 Tbsp vanilla

2 Tbsp butter

Butter a glass 9x13 pan.(just spray it with Pam) Place Bread slices flat in pan. Mix all remaining ingredients, reserving the butter and pour over the bread. Cut butter into pieces and dot over the tops. Refrigerate overnight. Bake 45-50 min at 350.

The Bread makes this dish, So those of us who live in Utah are lucky to have a Kneaders Bakery and Cafe. The Bread runs about $4.00 a loaf, and is well worth the money!!!

Fantastic breadsticks

1 TB yeast
1 1/2 C warm water
2 TB sugar
1/2 ts salt
3 1/2-4 C flour

Soften yeast in warm water, mix sugar salt and flour together and then add yeast. Knead dough for 3 minutes. If sticky add more flour. Cover and let rise for 10-15 minutes. Grease a cookie sheet, put dough in center and push out to sides, until dough is evenly spread across cookie sheet. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes until dough has doubled in size.

1/4 C butter softened
1/4 C parmesan cheese
1/4 C mayonnaise
1/4 ts parsley flakes
1/4 ts garlic

Mix ingredients together and spread on top of raised dough. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough dividing it into breadstick pieces. Bake in oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

3 eggs slightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
1 tsp . baking soda
1/2 tsp. each: baking powder, salt,
cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts/ chocolate chips
***Combine eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients to pumpkin ingredients. Stir in zucchini and nuts/chocolate chips. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake @ 350 for 50 minutes. cool for 10 minutes

Auntie Anne's Pretzels

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/8 tsp. active yeast (1 1/2 pkg)
2 Tbs. brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups regular flour

2 cups warm water
2 Tbs. baking soda

To taste coarse salt
2−4 Tbs. butter (melted)

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add
sugar, salt, and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth
and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm
water and 2 Tbs. baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope
(about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel into soda solution
and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzel to rise again. Bake in a
450 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted
butter and enjoy!

Toppings:

After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.
Or for Auntie Anne's famous cinnamon sugar, try melting a stick of butter
in a shallow bowl( big enough to fit the entire pretzel) and in another
bowl, make a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. dip the pretzel into the
butter, coating both sides generously. then dip again into the cinnamon
mixture.

French Peasant Bread

1 pkg. dry yeast
2 c. warm water
1 T. sugar
2 t. salt
1 T. dried onion
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. basil
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
4 c. flour
Oil
Cornmeal
Melted butter

Place yeast, warm water, sugar and salt in a warm bowl and stir until dissolved.
Add seasonings, stir then add flour and stir until blended. DO NOT KNEAD. Cover and let rise one hour or until doubled in size. Flour hands, remove dough from bowl and place in 2 rounds on an oiled cookie sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Lightly cover with a light towel let rise an additional hour. Brush the top with butter and bake at 425* for 10 min. Reduce oven temp to 375* and cook an additional 15 min. Remove from oven and brush with butter again. I like to serve it with a mixture of about 50/50 balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.