Cinnamon Rolls

4 1/2 teaspoons of yeast or 2 packages
1/2 cup warm water 105 degrees
1/2 cup milk (scalded then cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 egg
1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
4 1/2 to 5 cups all purpose flour

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.  Wait 5-10 minutes to make sure the yeast is active.  Stir in milk, sugar, salt, eggs, butter and 2 1/2 cups of the flour.  Beat until smooth.   After adding enough remaining flour till dough is easy to handle, transfer to counter to knead by hand. Knead for 5 minutes. Place in a bowl (tablespoon of oil on the bottom of bowl) Then turn greased side up.  Cover and let raise for 1 1/2 hours.  Punch down dough.  

At this point I divided the dough in half and made cinnamon rolls and fried buns.  Or you can make the whole batch of dough into cinnamon rolls.  

For the cinnamon rolls, let rise an hour then use a rolling pin to flatten.  Add some melted butter on the dough then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Roll up and cut and place in greased pan.  Let rise for about 30 minutes, then bake for 20 minutes or so at 375 degrees.  Make icing of powered sugar (a cup or more), a little bit of vanilla and a little bit of milk till you get the consistency you want. (Add the milk a tablespoon at a time)  Stir and pour on when the cinnamon rolls come out of the oven.  

Cinnamon rolls or fried buns?  They are both so good.  :)

Carol

Dave's Granola

Above granola was made with sliced almonds, sweetened
coconut & craisins

3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup chopped pecans (or sliced almonds)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
      (or sweetened coconut if preferred)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup assorted dried fruit
1 egg white (makes it crispy)


Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Add egg white and toss thoroughly.
Stir honey and oil in saucepan over  medium-low heat until smooth.  Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; toss.  Spread on prepared sheet.
Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes.  Place sheet on rack. Stir granola; cool. Mix in fruit.

~Carol~

Easter Egg Bread

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-1/4 teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
4 to 5 hard boiled eggs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine 1 cup flour, sugar,salt and yeast in a large bowl. Mix well.

Put milk and butter in a small saucepan and heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.

Add liquid mixture to flour mixture, stirring constantly. Beat in eggs and 1/2 cup of flour. Add remaining flour 1 cup at a time. Put dough on floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic.


Lightly oil a large bowl, place dough in bowl and turn to coat all surfaces with oil. Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

Divide dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long rope about 36 inches long and 1-1/2 inches thick. Use ropes to form a loosely braided ring, with spaces to insert eggs. Slide eggs between braids of dough. Cover loosely with a towel and let raise again about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. When dough has doubled in size, brush with melted butter and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let sit for 10 minutes, then transfer to a  rack to cool. 

This rich egg bread tasted awesome! Why wait till Easter to make this bread.  Omit the hard boiled eggs and just make the bread anytime!  :)

~Carol~ 

**I used this recipe for my 2021 New Years Pretzel and it was delicious.  This recipe is definitely up there as a favorite. :)

GRANOLA BARS

• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or sliced almonds)
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Toss above ingredients together on cookie sheet and put in oven on 350 for 10-12 minutes or until toasted. Transfer to a bowl.

Reduce oven to 300

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• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Put above ingredients in sauce pan on stove and bring to boil and stir for a minute.

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Pour over oatmeal and toss in

• 1 1/2 cups of dried fruit. I used all cranberries.

Can be a combination of 1/2 cup cranberry, 1/2 cup apricot, 1/2 cup dates etc.

• I also added 1 cup chocolate chips to make it chocolate flavor . :) (optional, but It was a great addition :)

Toss all together and put in a parchment paper lined 8 x 12 baking dish. Press down.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or till brown.

Cool 2-3 hours before cutting.

This is a really tasty granola recipe that I concocted after researching other recipes.  The combination of the sweet cranberries and chocolate made it extra special.  :)

~Carol~