Friday, February 17, 2012

Cinnamon Rolls -Pudding in the Mix!

My Husband is a Danish Man..

No, I am not Danish!… He loves pastries of all kinds.

Well, I nearly fainted at the price of the “cheap,”

danishes at the store the other day. I refused to buy and went

straight home to make some really GOOD cinnamon rolls.

Not only was it rewarding it turned out to be a family activity!

cinnamon roll

Adapted from the recipe found on a million things I love

ROLLS
1/2 cup warm water
7 teaspoons dry yeast
1 1/2-2 tablespoons sugar
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding (and 2 cups milk)
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups flour
1 1/2 – 2cups butter, softened
3 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
In a bowl combine water, yeast and sugar. Stir until dissolved; set aside.
In large bowl, take pudding mix and prepare according to package directions.
Next, add butter, eggs and salt; mix well, then add yeast mixture; blend.

doughhookIMG_1797

Gradually add flour; knead until smooth.

Place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap until doubled.

Punch down dough and let rise again.

risen doughIMG_1799

Next, roll out on floured board to 34 x 21-inch size.

rolleddoughIMG_1800

Take  softened butter and spread over surface.

Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over top.

brownsugarIMAG0197

Roll up very tightly - Cut into 20 rolls

*Tip : use dental floss to cut the dough! it ensures evenly cut slices that stay round!

(we like minty fresh!)

dentalflossIMG_1802
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart; lightly press down on each roll.

Be sure to roll tight. Cover and let rise until double again.

Bake rolls in a preheated 350F oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove when they just start to turn golden.

bakedrollsIMAG0203
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar and milk until smooth and fluffy.
Frost warm rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Now, tear it up!

Since this truly made 20 rolls we flash froze 15 of them and then

individually wrapped them in plastic wrap and placed them in a large freezer bag.

You can leave one on the counter to thaw the night before

or  throw one in the microwave in the morning.

Either way… So delish! 

yummoIMG_1805

Best Blogger Tips Pin It

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hawaiian Vacation… a Feast away!

An Attempt to Escape for the Evening

to a Happier Time...

view from hotel Hi

My family has recently experienced a tragedy and we are

finding it hard to find reasons to smile each day.

While browsing Pinterest, I found an easy recipe for Kalua Pork,

or Hawaiian pork BBQ. I felt inspired to bring a bit of our

Hawaiian vacations of the past, to our winter home, in order to 

help warm up our thoughts and bring some excitement

to our 3 year old son.

 

Horn blower Hi 

Kalua pork.

I did not use the recommended pork shoulder for the Kalua pork.

 I tend to buy as lean of meat as possible for health, and

all I had around in the freezer was pork loin roast.

I was only feeding 3, so a small roast worked for us.

However, it came out very dry due to the lack of marbling in the

meat. Next time, I will splurge and buy the pork shoulder since it is

not a meal we would make often!

Kalua Pork,

To make the pork: rub 1 tbs. sea salt (I used coarse kosher instead)

on a 3lb. pork shoulder.  Then add 1 tbs. of Liquid mesquite smoke

and rub that evenly over the meat.(I also added about 1/2 cup

water to the bottom since my meat had very little fat)

place in crockpot  for 16 hours.

(mine took about 10hrs due to the size)

“Fried Salad”

To go with the pork I made a cabbage side dish that

our family likes to call “Fried Salad.”

It is simple and goes very well with pork!

 

Start with a head of cabbage and shred it finely.

shredded cabbage, cabbage salad, fried salad

 

I also add thinly sliced carrots.

(sometimes I add onions and mushrooms too, but not in this case)

In a fry pan heat up a 1-2 tablespoon of oil (olive or canola).

Add your cabbage and carrots.

 

fried salad, cooked cabbage, cabbage salad,

Then sprinkle approximately 3/4 tbs. coarse salt

and 3/4 - 1 tbs. Sugar. (Yes sugar, it is a necessary step. I have

tried it w/out the sugar and it does not work well. The sugar

and salt brings out the moisture and the sugar cuts the

bitterness of the cabbage.)  

cabbage, fried salad

 

I also grind fresh pepper on top, mostly for looks.

Mix/stir gently and then cover with a lid.

The steam will soften the cabbage, continue to stir/turn over

occasionally as it cooks.

 

IMG_1778 

You know it is done when you see that the cabbage is starting to

caramelize on the edges and the cabbage is slightly translucent.

 

Fruity Drink

fruit drink

 

What is a Hawaiian meal with out a fruity drink?

I simply took a package of Crystal Light Strawberry,

Orange, Banana mixed according to directions and then

added a little fizz with a can of Ginger Ale!

 

 

Delightful Island Dessert!

One thing that is bound to come up when we reminisce about

our Hawaiian vacations is the amazing fruit we

experienced day in and day out. Unfortunately for this

particular dinner fresh summer fruits were not

an option at this time of year so. I did the next best

thing…

tropical fruit salad

1 small can tropical fruit w/ juices

1 small can mandarin oranges w/ juices

*(I try to buy fruit in their own juices as opposed to syrup

as they contain much less sugar)

1 small box  vanilla pudding (I used sugar free)

1 container Cool-whip

 

In a large bowl dump both cans of fruit with their

juices and mix in dry pudding mix until well blended.

Let it set for 3-5 minutes until slightly thicker,

Finally, fold Cool-whip in until well mixed.

Place in fridge for 30 minutes or until

ready to serve.

tropical fruit salad

*I would have liked to have added toasted cocoanut

flakes to the top for an even more authentic flavor!

or serve it with cocoanut macaroons!

 

Setting the Mood…

Maui, Hi.

 

On one of our visit's we saw a theatrical play about the

history of the Hawaiian people, where I purchased

one of these CD’s. However, I found the other CD at the

Dollar store of all places. I used it in my classroom and many

others I bought at the Dollar Store to inspire great writing

out of my students.

 setting the mood for a home dinner

 

Mood setting, such as setting a themed table-scape

and music are a great way to make an evening special and

memorable. It really is worth the time and effort. I gathered

the few collectables I had around the house that is not

still in storage to set the table. Two sarongs, two hand-made

banana-leaf baskets and a wooden carved fish. As you

can see, this did the trick!

IMG_1784

As much as we would like to escape to the islands 

it is not possible right now, but it was sure

nice to have dinner there, even if only in our

imaginations!

 

Tips to consider:

*This would be a great party idea that would be easy to do for a

large crowd, like a pool party/luau.

* This is also a great idea for a romantic valentines meal

* If your honeymoon was in Hawaii, this would be a good

anniversary meal too!

*You could have this as a FHE dinner and then discuss

missionary work ( a lot has been done in the islands,)

BYU Hawaii and the visitors center, or temples around the world.

 

Either way, whether you have been or dream of going, it is never

a bad day to have a Hawaiian dinner! Aloha!

Hawaiian sunset, Maui

 

Linked to: Sundae Scoop  six sisters stuff  Be different Act Normal

six sisters stuff Best Blogger Tips Pin It

Sunday, February 5, 2012

As good as Pop Biscuits!

Fresh or Freezer Biscuits

I have always known that biscuits are really not that

difficult to make from scratch and that they are quite fast and

cheap too. Therefore, I am ashamed to admit that I have

relied on what my family calls “pop” biscuits for the

past 16 years of my marriage. They too are fast,

have multi-uses and in the past, were cheap.

In the most recent, they have climbed in price and as I

try to cut the preservatives, and pre-prepared foods out

of my family’s diet, my pop biscuit habit needed to be addressed.

biscuits, valentines breakfast, breakfast in bed, freezer biscuits

I was attracted to this recipe due to the fact that it was freezable!

Ahh the convenience  of of the pop biscuit but even better

because I can make as many or as little as I would like.

 

Freezer Biscuits

4 C flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 C butter
16oz sour cream
3-5 tsp water

Melted butter

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl or your food processor. 

If using food processor, pulse until butter is small and well blended pieces or 

cut in butter by hand using a pastry cutter. 

Add in the sour cream and water and mix well. 

Pulse again until well mixed.  Add more water if it is too dry (just a little at a time.) 

Knead a few times on the counter and roll out to 1 inch thick

Use a biscuit cutter to cut or dip a drinking glass into flour and cut.

*** See below for some fun ideas other than traditional round biscuits***

freezer biscuits

Freeze individually on a cookie sheet.

After they are frozen, place in a freezer bag to store.

Use as needed.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 for 15-17 minutes or until top is golden.

biscuits

Twice during the baking process baste the tops of the biscuits with melted butter.

I found this recipe on Your Homebased Mom and on The Sisters Café

 

 

kids in the kitchen, baking with kids, cutting out biscuits

I love baking with my three year old Son. He is really learning a lot and

I am finding there are very few meals he can not help me in some way.

The following idea came directly from one of his suggestions.

fun biscuits, kids in the kitchen, valentines breakfast 

*Valentines Day Tip: Biscuits and gravy make a great breakfast in bed idea!

My son and I were making up some biscuits and he asked if we could make

stars like we did at Christmas time with our sugar cookies. Then

the thought occurred to me ! Hearts! Hearts for a Valentines day

breakfast. You can try blueberries, strawberries and cream on top

of the stars instead of gravy for the 4th of July!

I think they turned out great and my son loved them too!  

valentines day idea, breakfast in bed, biscuits, biscuits and gravy, homemade biscuits, freezer biscuits

MMMM Scrambled eggs fresh fruit and some fun biscuits and gravy! 

Now, where is my Bed?

valentines day breakfast, 4th of july breakfast, breakfast in bed, biscuits and gravy, freezer biscuits

**** Opinion on Freezer version. I did not find that I got the same beautiful

results from my frozen biscuits as I did when they were fresh.

The taste was there, but not the fluffiness. So what I suggest is

letting your biscuits thaw first before baking!

 

Linked up: * Sundae Scoop Tuesday Talent Show

Best Blogger Tips Pin It