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BEST cinnamon roll recipe

BEST cinnamon roll recipe

Really. I have never tasted a cinnamon roll recipe like this. And I have made quite a few different recipes, too! The rolls are huge – one is plenty adequate – and super moist. The centers, according to John, are still the best part: all gooey and dripping with filling. Before this recipe I had never used cream cheese in my glaze. I don’t think I will ever make roll glaze without cream cheese again. It is SOOOO good!

Ultimate Cinnamon Buns
from Cook’s Country – Dec./Jan. 2009

dough:
3/4 cup milk, heated to 110*
2 heaping tsp yeast
3 eggs, room temp.
4 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbsp (3/4 cup) butter, cut into chunks and softened

filling:
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter, softened

glaze:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. for the dough: adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 200*. When oven reaches 200*, shut off. Line a 9″x13″ pan with foil, allowing excess to hang over pan edges. Grease foil and a medium bowl.

2. whisk milk and yeast in liquid measuring cup until yeast dissolves, then whisk in eggs. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook [or by hand], mix flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add warm milk mixture in steady stream and mix until dough comes together, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and add butter, one piece at a time, until incorporated. Continue to mix [or knead by hand] until dough is smooth and comes away from sides of bowl, about 10 minutes. Turn dough out onto smooth surface and knead to form a smooth, round ball. Transfer dough to prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in warm oven. Let rise until double in size, about 2 hours.

3. for the filling: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a 18″ square, spread with butter and sprinkle evenly with filling. Starting with the edge nearest you, roll the dough into tight cylinder, pinch lightly to seal seam, and cut into 8 pieces. Transfer pieces, cut side up, to prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. for the glaze and to bake: Heat oven to 350*. Whisk cream cheese, milk, vanilla and powdered sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Discard plastic wrap and bake buns until deep golden brown and filling melted, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and top buns with 1/2 cup glaze; cool 30 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift buns from pan and top with remaining glaze. Serve.

Maple Leaf Cookies

Maple Leaf Cookies



Maple Leaf Cookies from Martha Stewart Living, Nov. ’08
makes about 8 dozen

3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 ounces butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light-brown sugar
1 egg yolk
3/4 cup maple syrup (not imitation)
1/3 cup sanding sugar

Sift flour and salt into a medium bowl. Beat butter and sugars until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed and add egg yolk, then 1/2 cup maple syrup, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture, and beat until just incorporated. Shape into 2 disks, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).

Roll out 1 disk of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a sheet of lightly floured parchment. Place parchment with dough on baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.

Coat baking sheets with cooking spray, line with parchment, and coat parchment. Cut out cookies from frozen dough using a 3 1/2-inch maple-leaf-shaped cutter and space 1 inch apart on sheets. Roll and cut scraps. Freeze cookies until firm, about 15 minutes.

Bake cookies in a pre-heated 325* oven until edges begin to turn golden, about 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire racks, and let cool for 5 minutes. Brush cookies with 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and sprinkle with 1/2 of the sanding sugar. Let cool. Repeat with remaining dough, syrup and sugar. (Cookies will keep for up to 2 days)

These are very delicious, and taste somewhere in between sugar cookies and maple sugar candy. And they smell incredibly good, too!It makes me wish that I could add a smell feature to the blog …. Perfect with a morning cup of coffee, or an afternoon cup of tea.

pictures from an october walk

pictures from an october walk

:: a little “friend” we found ::

I love fall. I love it almost as much as I love spring.

I love the intensity of color, how inviting it is to take an evening walk, the sound of the leaves as they crunch underfoot. I love the cooler weather, the crispness. I love how the grey days make me want to bake and clean. Or snuggle up with a blanket and a book.

I love fall.

bits from today

bits from today

:: sweater for Baby ::

“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.”
– Mark 15:44

For some reason that phrase caught my attention this morning: he was known by the fact that he was awaiting the kingdom of God. Was he zealously waiting? Or was it just commonly known that Joseph from Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom of God?

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getting colder …….

getting colder …….

For the past few nights the temperature has been dropping down into the mid 30’s, so I have been bringing the plants in at night to keep them a little cozier. we don’t have too many plants left from the summer, but the tomato plant has decided to give us an additional late crop and I really don’t want the new tomatoes to freeze!
oct 3

oct 3

toast, with really yummy lemon curd

This morning John and I went to visit the midwife again, and we came home knowing that both baby and mama are doing great. Both healthy and growing, though my blood pressure is a bit low – 112 over 60-ish – and she had no explanation for why my hair keeps falling out. Silly me, it’s supposed to fall out after Baby is born, not before. Baby even put on a little show for her by moving all around when she tried to listen for the heartbeat (which is loud and strong!).

changing hue

changing hue

Yesterday morning was just lovely. A tad brisk, but lovely. I walked down to the church behind our place and took some pictures of their trees (since we don’t have our own yet), and when I was looking at the pictures again this morning, they reminded of a line in a Josh Groban song: “Flaming flowers that brightly blaze/ Swirling clouds and violet haze/ Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue/ Colors changing hue/ Morning fields of amber grain …”

Isn’t autumn a gorgeous time of year? All the seasons can be, I know, but I particularly notice the Spring and Fall. It’s almost as if God gets out His box of colors for a final flourish before He sends the world to bed for the winter.

pillow #2, in progress

pillow #2, in progress

Today it’s a little chilly – well, I guess 67 isn’t cold, but it is enough for a California girl to grab a sweater – so I’m doing dishes, laundry, and getting started on the embroidered pillow. And I’m ready for my next cup of tea!
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