June 11, 2012

Kitchen Fun: Cinnamon Buns

I haven't posted a recipe in SO LONG that I thought it was time to change that :) Plus, Scott and I really wanted cinnamon buns this morning!

This was the very first 'bread' recipe that I tried and so my great surprise they turned out really good - so, if I can do this, anyone can!

First, the ingredients...

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Dough:
1 cup milk
4 Tbs butter, cut into chunks
3 1/4 – 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 (.25 ounce) package instant or ‘rapid rise’ yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg (not pictured because my super cute kitchen helper was at the store picking some up :)

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened

Secondly, put on your cutest apron. Bonus points if it matches your toenails!

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In the microwave, melt the butter in 1/2 c. milk then take out and add the remaining 1/2 c. milk. Stir until the butter is melted.

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While the butter/milk is cooling, whisk together 2 c. flour, the white sugar, and yeast in your mixing bowl. Once butter/milk is warm (not hot) add it to the flour mixture along with the egg and mix together, using the beater attachment if you are lucky enough to have a kitchen aide mixer :) Beat until well combined.

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Add the remaining flour slowly, until the dough barely leaves the side of the bowl. You want the dough to be slightly sticky but not so sticky you can't touch it without it sticking all over you. How's that for overuse of the word stick?

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Knead for 5 minutes.

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Take dough out of bowl and put on a floured surface. Let rest for 10 minutes.

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While dough is resting, put all the filling ingredients in a bowl and mix together. I had a super cute kitchen helper to do this part for me. He is just so cute :)

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Then, roll the dough into a 12 x 14 rectangle. Spread the filling mixture across the top. I use my fingers; because, try as I might I just couldn't make it work with a spoon or spatula. Bonus points to you if you can!

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Roll up from the LONG edge. I did this wrong the first few times. It actually makes a big difference!! And now, here is the biggest secret - use dental floss to score and slice the dough. You just wrap it around the dough and pull the ends in opposite directions. It's like magic.

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Then put buns into well greased pan and let rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

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While you wait, you can mix up the icing:

1 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 T melted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbs milk

Just mix all ingredients until smooth.

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Bake until golden brown. This time, the middles popped out of some but that's okay.

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Then just spread some icing on the gooey delicious-ness and enjoy!

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I originally found the recipe here. It is a great site full of amazing recipes!

June 08, 2012

Backyard Beauty: The Front Yard.

This morning I woke up to overcast skies and the scattered puddles left over from rain. I grabbed my camera and, in my pj's, ran out the door to take a few quick pictures in our front yard....

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June 06, 2012

Complete Randomness.

Because I sometimes feel so very random - here is a completely random post today.

Things I've been loving lately....

Bones.

Why have I waited so long to watch this show?!?!?! It's on Netflix and I've already burned through Season 1. Just a warning if you want to start watching this show - don't eat anything while watching. Trust me.

This song.

Just everything about it. It's rocking my world.

Golf.

Slowly, very slowly, my golf game has been improving and my score getting lower. I am so surprised how much I've been enjoying this ridiculously frustrating game!

Instagram.

I've really been trying to document more of my own life and I just love posting instagrams. They make my heart happy. Plus it's just so fun to go through and pick which 'effect' to add to the picture :)

Lazy mornings.

I love me a good cup of coffee and being able to relax on the couch while drinking it? Yes, please.

Slurpees.

I had my first one of the year yesterday - cream soda, the best flavour ;)


And just when you thought it couldn't get any more random...

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Yes. That is me in a bunny costume.

Happy Wednesday!

June 04, 2012

Preserving Memories. Part 2.

In this digital age of photography it is very easy to get wrapped up in seeing photographs only online or on a computer screen. Easy to think that just because it is digital, it will be there forever. Easy to forget about displaying that photograph in another form.

Easy to forget how important preserving our memories for future generations are.

You know, in the off chance Facebook doesn't last another 20 or so years ;)

As a photographer, it is also easy to get wrapped up in the actual taking of photo's instead of displaying and preserving our own. It may have taken me almost 7 months but I finally made the effort to make a physical copy of my favourite wedding images!

I started with some prints hung up in our apartment...

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And then put together a wedding album. I love the way it tells the story of that wonderful day...

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I print most of my photo's at Costco and used iphoto to make the album.

Are you printing your photo's? How else do you preserve your memories?