Celebratory Rolls

Remember a few months ago when I made cookies for my dad's birthday and I mentioned how my oven hates me? It started out just having to bake things a few minutes longer than recipes called for. Then it turned into a lot more minutes. Which then turned into being completely ridiculous and a waste of time to try to make anything in the oven, unless your goal was broiling. The bottom element quit working. It was so sad. We went about a week without our oven. I think Jason got tired of wanting cake and not getting one cause I got home from work one Saturday and he announced that our landlord was coming over to check it out. I was so happy!
Our landlord came prepared to just change out the old element for a new one. But we soon discovered it wouldn't be that easy...one of the wires had completely broken off. So instead of getting a new part we ended up getting a brand new oven the very next day!

This is what our old oven looked like

This is the best picture I had of our old friend. Basic, old, ugly and boring.
(We were making little mug cakes in the microwave. I don't know if it was taking too long, or if Jason was just too excited.)

And this is what our new oven looks like

Can you guess what my favorite feature is?

Most would probably say the self clean...and you are probably right, it should be my favorite, but it's not. Nor is it the kitchen timer or the fact that it is all digital and buttons, instead of knobs. My favorite thing is the oven light.

I love to watch things bake through the little window. I think it is so fascinating to watch cake batter or bread dough. You know the saying "simple minds, simple pleasures"? That's me! Jason walked into the kitchen and found me sitting on the floor, eyes glued to my rolls that were baking. He told me we didn't need a TV anymore, now that we have this oven.

I got this bread recipe from my friend Megan years ago. Her mom made these for us a lot and I was always amazed at how fast and easy she could make a batch of rolls or bread sticks. So to celebrate and enjoy my oven window and light I made some rolls. Some tasty, lazy cinnamon rolls.

Start out by bringing your milk to a boil. Then add the butter and let it melt and add the water. (I usually take the milk off the hot burner then add the butter).

While your milk mixture is cooling, get all your dry ingredients in a bowl.

And mix it up good...I just stir it around with a fork

Pour the milk mixture into your dry ingredients and stir together.

I start out with three cups of flour and this is what I get. So I just add a bit of flour a little at a time and knead it into the dough right in the bowl. It works perfect, this way I don't have to flour my table or clean up a big flour mess. It all just stays in the bowl. I usually add about an additional cup of flour and get a good soft dough.

 At this point you want to let the dough rise about fifteen minutes, maybe a bit longer so it doubles in size.

While your dough is rising you want to prep for the next step, which is the cinnamon goodness.

In a bowl combine brown sugar, cinnamon and sugar. I also like to add just a dash of cloves and nutmeg.

Once your dough is doubled you are ready to shape it. (You will still be able to see and feel the little yeast granules, just an FYI, it's okay, you haven't done anything wrong. As long as it is rising you are good.)

Flatten it out, brush some melted butter on it and sprinkle some cinnamon sugar. (This amount ended up not giving me enough "cinnamon roll" feeling, so next time I will add more to each of my rolls)

Next just fold it up to make a ball. I made my rolls in muffin tins (I like the browned goodness on all sides of my rolls), you can just put them in a 9X13 pan or whatever makes you most happy.

I brushed the tops of mine with butter. But next time I will probably do some milk instead. Let the dough rise a second time for an additional fifteen minutes. Once they have double up again, put them in the oven to bake for twenty minutes.

These weren't desserty enough for me just like this, so I whipped up some cream cheese icing and that made it perfect! Also, I think next time I will put some white chocolate chips in with the cinnamon. Don't you feel like that pocket needs to be holding something?

Megan's Bread Recipe
1 c. Milk
1/2 c. Water
1/4 c. Butter
2 tbsp Yeast
3 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Salt
3-4 1/2 c. Flour

Boil milk. Remove from heat, add butter, let melt. Add water. In a bowl add dry ingredients, mix together. Add milk mixture to dry mixture. Knead for 5 minutes, adding flour bit by bit to make soft dough. Raise at least 15 minutes. Shape however you want. Raise another 15 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

(This recipe made 24 rolls)

Cinnamon & Sugar Filling
1/3 c. Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tbsp. Sugar
dash Nutmeg
dash Cloves

Cream Cheese Icing
3 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 c. Powdered Sugar
1-2 tbsp Milk

In a small mixing bowl combine cream cheese and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in enough milk to reach spreading consistency.