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Monday, February 15, 2021

Cinnamon buns

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk (about 115 degrees F)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup salted butter (barely melted)
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour (divided), plus more for work surface
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

For the Filling:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter (almost melted)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream*** (for pouring over the risen rolls)

Icing:
  • 2 c powdered sugar aka confectioner's sugar
  • 2 Tbsp butter melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 4 Tbsp milk can substitute with heavy cream or half and half

  • Combine powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla and milk in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
  • Pour over warm rolls and spread.


Instructions

  • Pour the warm milk in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast overtop.
  • Add the eggs, butter, salt and sugar.
  • Add in 4 1/2 cups (save the other 1/2 cup and add only if you need it) of flour and mix using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids.
  • Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it. Attach the dough hook.
  • Beat the dough on medium speed, adding in up to 1/2 cup more flour if needed to form a dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth. **The dough should be tacky and will still be sticking to the sides of the bowl. That's ok!
    • Spray a large bowl with cooking spray.
    • Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl. 
    • Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper.
    • Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until double. I like to turn on the oven to the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes. Then turn off the oven and place the dough to rise in there. It normally takes about 30 minutes for the dough to rise. Do not allow the dough to rise too much or your cinnamon rolls will be airy.
    • While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. In a medium bowl, combine the soft butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing until well combined. Set aside.
    • Sprinkle a pastry mat generously with flour. Turn out the dough onto the pastry mat and sprinkle the top of the dough with additional flour. 
    • Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to about a 24×15" rectangle. (the size of the rectangle can vary…it does not have to be exact!)
    • Use a rubber spatula to smooth the cinnamon filling over the whole dough rectangle.
    • Starting on the long end, roll the dough up tightly jelly roll style. 
    • Cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan.
    • Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes or until nearly double.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off. Don’t make it hot…you just don’t want it cold. It should be warm to the touch.
    • Once the rolls have risen, pour the heavy cream over the top of the rolls, allowing it to soak down in and around the rolls.
    • Bake at 375 degrees for 27-30 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through. 

Seasoned pretzels

1 cup Mazola oil

1 packet ranch dressing mix (not dip mix)

Dash garlic powder

Dash of dill weed

Bag of Wedge broken pretzels, break the bigger pieces into smaller ones. 


1. Mix oil with seasonings.

2. Put pretzels in a 13x9 pan. 

3. Pour the oil mixture and stir to coat everything.

4.  Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 min, stirring really well every 5 minutes.

Broccoli cheese casserole

Fresh broccoli (cut up and steamed)

1 can cream of mushroom 

Velveeta slices (10 slices)

1 sleeve of Ritz (crushed)

I stick butter (melted)


1. Preheat oven for 350.

2. Mix steamed broccoli with cream of mushroom soup in a 13x9 pan.

3. Tear up Velveeta slices and mix them in.

4. Top with crushed Ritz.

5. Drizzle one stick melted butter on top.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

 

Chicken corn soup

It’s best to use fresh corn for this. Our family usually freezes fresh corn every year and it’s perfect in this soup to whip up quick with grilled cheese during the week.


4 packets of bouillon 

7 cups water 

1 cup chopped rotisserie chicken

3 carrots sliced

3 stalks celery sliced

1 - 1 1/2 cups sweet corn

Egg noodles

Salt and pepper to taste

Onion powder to taste 

Taco soup

Taco chili 


1 lb ground beef

1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped

3 cans Hormel no bean chili 

1 can diced tomatoes, do not drain

1 can corn, do not drain

1 can tomato sauce

1 packet taco seasoning

Water, as desired


Combine all ingredients and bring to low simmer until heated.


Add water to thin out if desired.

Chocolate chip banana muffins

I may or may not be able to eat an d tire batch of these in two days by myself...

  • 1½ cups mashed bananas
  • ⅓ cup oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1½ cups flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • Sugar for sprinkling on tops

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine bananas, oil, egg large mixing bowl.
  3. In a separate large bowl, sift together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder. Add to banana mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
  4. Spoon batter into greased or lined muffin tins. Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
  5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Creamy Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

I have a handful of tried and true macaroni and cheese recipes. One stovetop, one baked, and this one for the crockpot. It is the cheesiest, doesn’t clump as it sits, and reheats really well! Perfectly portable for potlucks!

  • 16 oz Macaroni (cooked)
  • 4 TB Olive Oil
  • 2 Cans (12 oz each) Evaporated Milk
  • 2 Cups Milk
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 4 Cups Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 Cups Velveeta Cheese (cut into 1 inch squares)
  • 4 TB Melted Butter
  1. After cooking macaroni, drain and add to slow cooker.
  2. Add Olive Oil and Butter and toss to evenly coat the cooked macaroni.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
  4. Cook on low for 2 hours in the slow cooker. Stir after one hour.