Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls are my weakness, so I rarely make them. Today I made some warm, gooey, tasty cinnamon rolls for my neighbor who just had surgery. So, we shared in the bounty. :)

Ingredients:

2 C. scalded milk

1/2 C. butter

1/2 C. warm water

2 1/2 Tbsp. yeast

1 C. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 C. mashed potatoes

2 eggs, beaten

7 C. flour (I add at least 1 C. wheat), about

1/2 C. pecans, chopped

1/2 raisins

Filling:

1/2 C. butter, softened

1 1/2 C. brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

In a measuring cup add water and yeast. Let sit. 

 Heat milk in the microwave for 2 minutes. Add butter. Stir until melted. 

Add sugar and salt. 

Make 1 cup of potatoes by using instant or cooking a potato in the microwave for 8 minutes, peeling, and mashing. 

Add potatoes to milk mixture. Add 3 C. of the flour. Mix well. Add yeast mixture and eggs. Mix well with a wooden spoon or mixer.

 Add the rest of the flour, pecans, and raisins (This is the step I love. I usually just add the nuts and raisins to the filling, but when you add it to the dough, it making the flavors all throughout the roll). 

Knead for 3 minutes. Let rise in the bowl for about 10-15 minutes. 

Cut in half.

 Roll out into a long rectangle on a well greased counter top. 

Top with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Pinch all opening closed (so filling doesn't fall out) into a long roll. 

 Cut into rolls and place into greased 9X13 pans. Make sure rolls are touching, then they will stay more moist as they expand in the oven. 

Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Take out of oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. 

Frost. 

Serve warm.

Frosting:

2 C. powdered sugar

1/4 C. butter, softened

1 tsp. water

1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk together.

I was a bit lazy today, so I just decided to use store bought vanilla frosting I had on hand. :)

Enjoy! Recipe idea from: Cookin' at Home with the Lunch Bunch

Recipe by: Becky

Crescent Rolls

I got the Lion House Christmas Recipe book a lot time ago from my Aunt. This is one of my favorite recipes and is so easy.
This recipe isn't their recipe word per word, but the ingredients are the same.

In a small bowl add:
2 Tbsp. yeast to 2 C. warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl add:
1/3 C. softened butter (I like to soften mine in the microwave for probably about 40 sec to 1 minute)
1/3 C. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2/3 C. nonfat dry milk
1 egg
Stir well.
Then add:
Yeast mixture
5-6 C. flour
Knead about 25-30 times on a well greased surface.
Let rise until double in bulk in a well greased bowl.
Punch down and cut into three sections.
Roll out.
Slice with a pizza cutter into 12 pieces. (Cut in half, then in half again, and again until you have desired sized pieces)
Start from the thickest side and roll up.
Place spaced out about 2 inches on a well greased cookie sheet.
Brush tops with melted butter. 
Let rise until double in bulk.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen rolls.
Oh ya, I added about 1/2 C. 6 grain cereal mix for added nutrition. You can also add oats. 

Enjoy! I do. :)

Fluffy Whole Wheat Rolls

The other day I went to Winco Foods. I love getting stuff out of their bins. They also had a lot of free recipes. Those of you who know me, know I love new recipe ideas. I found this one. We tried it a few nights ago and these were a hit.

What you will need:
2 Tbsp. dry yeast

1/2 C. warm water
1/4 C. honey
1/2 C. butter
3 eggs

1 C. warm water
1 1/2 tsp. salt

4-5 C. whole wheat flour (I used 3 C. wheat and the rest white)

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 C. warm water.
Cream softened butter and honey to a fine stream.
Add eggs, one at a time and beat (or mix vigorously with wooden spoon, that's what I did).
Add yeast mixture.
Add the 1 C. water. 
Add flour and salt.
Let rise until double in bulk.
Knead then rest 3 minutes.
For rolls- let rise and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

Makes 12 rolls and 1 small loaf of bread.

Recipe found at Winco by the bins. :)
(Isn't word per word).

Bread Sticks/ Pretzels

The other day I wanted to make a quick after school snack for my kids. So, this is what I came up with after reviewing a few recipes.

In a bowl add:
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
 Whisk together.

Then add:
1 egg
1/2 C. milk
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla or any extract you choose
Stir together and form into a ball.

Knead for about 5 minutes.

Form into pretzels (you basically tie it in a knot and let the two sides hang over) or bread sticks (I twisted two long snake like pieces together).

Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cool.

Can dip in Jam, peanut butter, Nutella, honey, etc.

Recipe by: Becky

Yummy Rolls

My sister and her family stopped in last Sunday and we fed them dinner. I wanted to make them something good. These rolls turned out just as they are named, yummy! I got this recipe out of one of my favorite recipe books, "Cookn' at Home with the Lunch Bunch".
1 1/4 C. scalded milk
2 Tbsp. yeast, dissolved in 1/2 C. hot water
2 eggs, beaten
4 C. flour to make quite sticky
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. butter

Pour milk over butter to melt it. (I just put the milk in a bowl with the butter and just nuke it in the microwave for a minute or two, until the butter is melted). Then I add the sugar, eggs, salt and flour and the yeast at the end, so the heat of the milk mixture doesn't kill the yeast. Knead for about 5 minutes or until smooth. Pinch of ping pong ball size balls and roll until nice and round. Put in greased baking dish or on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Let rise for about 1/2 hour. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy.