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Monday, January 16, 2012

The Best Cinnamon Rolls!!!!!!

Ok let me start by saying these are just about the most wonderful things in the world.  I love them and so does my family!  I am going to make them today and share a pan with someone for no reason and hopefully they will do the same, pay it forward!!
Enjoy!

Prep Time 2 Hours
Cook Time 30 Minutes
Servings 8
Difficulty Easy

 Ingredients

  • 1 quart Whole Milk
  • 1 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2 packages Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 Ounce Packets
  • 8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
  • 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
  • Plenty Of Melted Butter
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon
  • _____
  • MAPLE FROSTING:
  • 1 bag Powdered Sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
  • ½ cups Milk
  • ¼ cups Melted Butter
  • ¼ cups Brewed Coffee
  • ⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.

Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (Note: dough is easier to work with if it’s been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan/bowl. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 x 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.

To make the filling, pour 3/4 cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don’t be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.

Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don’t worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you’re finished, you’ll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.

Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices. One “log “will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)

Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking. Remove the towel and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Don’t allow the rolls to become overly brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee, and salt. Splash in the maple flavoring. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter, or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.

Remove pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing’s moisture and flavor. They only get better with time… not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It’ll seal the relationship for life. I promise.




Saturday, January 14, 2012

A Sweet Shovel... great kids valentine idea!!

I love this idea!!! I think I may do this for my daughter to take to school. I love homemade things and this looks great!

A Sweet Shovel

What's the scoop? Just a sweets-laden toy shovel that's perfect for a kid's sandbox pals.
Materials
·    Small bag of candy
·    Twist tie
·    Ribbon
·    Toy sand shovel
·    Paint pen
Total Time Needed: 1 Hour
Instructions
1.   Close a small bag of candy with a twist tie. With a ribbon, tie it to the handle of a toy sand shovel. (We found a good selection of shovels at www.iparty.com for 40 cents apiece.)
2.   Use a paint pen or permanent marker to write your message at the base of the shovel, just below the candy bag.
Tips:
Message Ideas
  • I dig you!
  • Here's the scoop on Valentine's Day
  • It's Valentine's Day--dig it!
  • You've got the scoop on me!

Weight Watchers Cheesecake Squares recipe

These look amazing!!!
 
http://ww-recipes.net/2008/07/weight-watchers-cheesecake-squares-recipe-5-points/
 
 
Weight Watchers Cheesecake Squares recipe
Makes 16 squares
Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup M&M or Smarties candies
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 egg
1/3 cup margarine
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar, granulated
1/3 cup sugar, brown packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat the margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the walnuts and flour; mix well.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture; press the remaining crumb mixture into bottom of a 8″ square pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
6. Combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla; using an electric mixer, mix at medium speed until well blended.
7. Add the egg; mix well.
8. Layer 1/2 cup of the Smarties or M&M candies over the crust; top with the cream cheese mixture.
9. Combine the remaining candy and reserved crumb mixture; mix well.
10. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cream cheese mixture.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
12. Let cool completely before serving.
WW POINTS for one square: 5
Nutritional information for one square: 217 calories, 13.6g fat, 0.7g fiber

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Easy Parmesan Knots

These are very very good and soooo easy... you should try them ASAP!!!


http://realmomkitchen.com/609/easy-parmesan-knots/

Easy Parmesan Knots
  • 1 tube (12 ounces) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits ( I used Pillsbury Golden Layers Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I did use the green can stuff)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  1. Roll each biscuit into a 12-in. rope and tie into a knot; tuck ends under. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; brush the warm knots with the mixture. Yield:10 knots.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Mexican Dorito Casserole

Here is another casserole dish, I must be on a kick. There was rave reviews about this at my house.  I hope you enjoy!
 

Mexican Dorito Casserole
Serves 4-6

2 c. shredded cooked chicken
1 c. shredded cheese (or more if you are a cheese hound)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes (canned tomatoes with jalepenos-mild)
1/2 packet taco seasoning (or more- to taste)
Bag of doritos

1. Pre-heat oven to 350-f degrees.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except doritos.

3. In a greased 2 qt baking dish, put a layer of crushed doritos (about 2 cups), then a layer of the chicken mixture. Repeat once more, ending with a layer of chicken mixture. Top with more shredded cheese, cover, and bake for 30-35 minutes, till bubbling hot.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

Another awesome recipe.... just had to share it!  It looks amazing, I have not yet made it but I am thinking tomorrow??  How can you go wrong with putting Doritos in something... did I just say that???  Enjoy!
Chicken Enchilada Pasta




Chicken Enchilada Pasta

Makes: 8 to 10 servings

Prep: 40 mins Bake: 350°F 35 mins Cook: 10 mins


Ingredients

·         1 12 ounce package dried jumbo shell macaroni

·         3 large green and/or red sweet peppers, chopped

·         1 1/2 cup chopped red onion

·         1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

·         2 tablespoons vegetable oil

·         2 cups chopped cooked chicken

·         1 16 ounce can refried beans

·         3 Tbsp Taco Seasoning mix

·         2 10 ounce can enchilada sauce

·         1 8 ounce shredded Mexican-style four-cheese blend

·         1 Cup sliced green onions

·         2 cups nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips, crushed (2 oz.)

·         Avocado dip and/or sour cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse; drain and set aside.

2. In skillet cook sweet peppers, onion, jalapeno, and 1/4 tsp. salt in hot oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken, beans, taco seasoning mix, and 1/2 cup enchilada sauce. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup each of the cheese and green onions.

3. Divide filling among shells. Spread 1 cup of the remaining enchilada sauce in 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange shells atop sauce. Drizzle with remaining enchilada sauce.

4. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chips and remaining green onions. Serve with avocado dip and/or sour cream. Makes 8 to 10 servings.




Chewy Peanut-Marshmallow Bars

Hello, I thought I would start off the day with something sweet!  Here is a recipe for some bars that are very similar to payday bars and oh so good.  I love them and I know you will too! http://chriscookin.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/chewy-peanut-marshmallow-bars/

Chewy Peanut-Marshmallow Bars


Chewy Peanut-Marshmallow Bars
Crust
¾ cup butter (1 ½ sticks)
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
1 pkg (18.25 oz) yellow cake mix
Filling and Topping
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup light corn syrup
¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)
3 cups miniature marshmallows
2 cups crisp rice cereal
2 cups dry-roasted peanuts

Prepare dough for crust. . .Preheat oven to 350F. Place butter and peanut butter in Small Micro-Cooker. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 1 minute or until butter is melted; stir until well blended. Place cake mix in Large Mixing Bowl; whisk to break up lumps. Add peanut butter mixture; stir until thick dough forms.

Spread dough in pan and bake. . .Break apart dough and distribute over bottom of ungreased Large Bar Pan. Pat dough into pan; spread evenly using Large Spreader. Bake 18-20 minutes or until crust is set and golden brown. Remove pan from oven; let crust stand 2 minutes to cool slightly.
Spread filling over crust and bake again. . . Meanwhile, combine peanut butter, corn syrup and butter in Saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth. Spoon ½ cup of the peanut mixture over hot crust; spread evenly and immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven ; bake an additional 1-2 minutes or just until marshmallows begin to puff. Remove pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack.

Top, cool and serve. . .Add cereal and peanuts to remaining peanut mixture. Spoon over marshmallows and spread gently in an even layer. Cool completely or until topping is set. Cut into bars.