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...



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!



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.



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.



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?



Knead for 5 minutes.



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



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 :)



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!



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.



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



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.



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



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



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

Kitchen Fun: Banana Bread

Scott & I didn't register for wedding gifts because we don't really have a house. We move. A lot.

But; thankfully, one of Scott's Aunt & Uncle got us a house gift anyways. A kitchen gift. One I've wanted for a long time now.

Cue: Clouds parting, angel's singing on high, golden light....enter stage left - KITCHENAID MIXER!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!



Too much? Okay, a quick little hug for my most amazing new stand mixer and moving on.



I decided to christen my new mixer with a recipe I usually ask my mom to make for me.

Banana Bread.

One of my personal favourites, but one I have been too timid to try. Until now that is - with my glorious new mixer by my side!



You will need:

A Better Homes & Garden 'New' Cook Book, circa 1980. And yes, my mom received it brand new.

1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mashed ripe banana (the more black the better, says my mom)

Cream together shortening and sugar. Then add eggs and beat well. Oh, does the Kitchenaid ever beat well.



Sift, if you are sifting type of person, dry ingredients. And yes, my mom's sifter is also circa 1980 - maybe even earlier. Then, add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with banana.



Pour into well greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Admire your adorably cute apron and then do the ol' knife-in-the-middle comes-out-clean-then-you-know-its-done-trick.



And voila! Golden banana bread! Let cool and enjoy!



I'm impressed with myself that it actually turned out great for my first attempt at banana bread. It must have been the mixer ;)

Kitchen Fun: The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever.

I know - that is a pretty ambitious statement. Believe me though, these are my tried and tested best chocolate chip cookies. Ever. I have to give credit to my wonderful friend, Gina, for giving me this recipe way back in Jr. High. I have tried other ones and they just never measure up.

Okay, enough talking these babies up. Here we go.

There is a special ingredient.....vanilla pudding mix. Oh yes, prepare to be amazed.


You will need:
- 1 cup margarine
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 package instant vanilla pudding
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- chocolate chips

Ingredients, check. Cute - yet slightly wrinkled - apron, check.



First, cream the margarine and sugars together. I use my wonderful Kitchen Aid mixer - my second favourite kitchen appliance.

My first favourite is my Tassimo Brewer, just in case you were wondering ;)

Then add in the eggs and vanilla.



Next, add in the special ingredient - the vanilla pudding!



In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking soda together. Feel free to sift if you are the sifting type of baker. Then slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, a little at a time until everything is all mixed together nicely.



Lastly, add in as many or as little chocolate chips as you want. I like them quite chocolately and usually use about half a bag. This time I used mini ones but regular size ones work just as good.

Now for the all important taste test. Whichever method suits your fancy - the finger swipe or possibly the beater lick. Or both.



Then spoon onto a non greased or lined cookie sheet. We use the two spoon method around our house.



*Thanks Scott for your help and doing such a great job demonstrating the two spoon method! Big hugs and kisses to you!*

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Take them out when the edges are just barely golden and the tops look almost moist, and then just leave them to cool on the sheet and it bakes just a little more.

A quick before and after baking shot.



And there you have it! The best chocolate chip cookies ever.



Is your mouth watering yet?

Trying something new..

... so let me know if you like it and want to see more or if you think I should just stick with photography ;)

This summer I have been making an effort to prepare healthy, easy, quick meals and I thought I would share one of my favourites - homemade pizza pops! I greatly dislike the store bought kind; but, Scott really likes eating them so I had to come up with a compromise. I love how these turned out, they are quite simple and delicious fresh out of the oven or frozen and heated up for a quick meal whenever!

Now, keep in mind, this is not a very technical recipe so just adapt it to what works for you.

Here are the ingredients I started with:
- Pillsbury Pizza Dough (Homemade dough would be great, but I'm not that confident in my cooking abilities!)
- Cheese (I used the pre shredded pizza blend)
- Pizza Pepperoni, sliced
- Pizza Sauce
- Oregano & Parmesan Cheese



Super cute apron on, check.



The worst part of making these is opening the dough can - it scares me every time! Waiting for the *pop* is so awful and always catches me by surprise.



First roll out the dough and cut it into the same-ish sized squares. I got 12 squares.



Then top with pizza sauce, cheese, and whatever pizza toppings you like. I just kept it plain and simple with pepperoni.



Next, fold all the corners in.



And then fold them all in again to close any openings. It doesn't have to be pretty as this is the underside.



Put all the pizza balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano and parmesan cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.



And, voila! Easy, tasty, healthier than store bought, pizza pops!