Cinnamon Rolls

I think I will start with Cinnamon Rolls...yum! So a few days ago I had this urge to make something with the yeast I had picked up a the store. I remember making cinnamon rolls from scratch many years ago (before my 4 kids) and I figured they would love them. Surprisingly, they like them without the sweet glaze! I think they are delish either way. I have attached pictures of both. If you are feeling adventurous you can also pile all the cinnamon rolls into a greased bundt pan and make Monkey Bread!!!!

Here is the recipe:

Dough:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter (margarine) softened

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 pkg instant yeast

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 egg

Cinnamon filling:

1 cup light brown sugar (packed)

1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter (margarine) softened

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Milk- add until desired thickness

*If too thin add more powdered sugar, if too think add more milk.

Heat milk until just bubbling and remove from heat. Add in butter (margarine) and stir until melted. Let cool until about lukewarm.

In large bowl combine 2 1/4 cups flour, yeast, sugar, and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stir well after each addition. When dough starts to pull together, turn it out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.

Cover dough with damp cloth and let rest 10 minutes in warm place.

While dough is resting, in a small bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter (margarine).

Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with cinnamon filling mixture. Roll up dough jelly-roll style and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls (a clean piece of kitchen string works best). Place cut side up in desired dish (muffin tins, pie tins, bundt pans for monkey bread, or any deep baking dish works). Cover and let rise 30 minutes until doubled in size.

Bake in preheated 375 degrees oven for 20 minutes. Drizzle with icing if desired and serve warm...enjoy!

Here I go, entering the Blog world for the first time. I want to share some of the great ideas and recipes I often help friends and family with when they are looking for a good "go to " meal or just something different. I will add pictures when available and hope for some feedback from those who choose to read. I love to cook and hope to share recipes with people from far and near. This blog is dedicated to my father Dennis who I can still see stirring a pot of cioppino up in heaven.