Amazing Overnight Cinnamon Rolls!

In the past on Christmas morning I have made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (the ones from the can). This year I really wanted to try and make some from scratch. I had a recipe all ready..... and on Christmas eve at about 9pm decided that I better start them. (It's a good idea to pay attention to the directions of recipes) As I was getting out the ingredients I realised that the dough needed to rise for 2 hrs! There was no way that I was going to wait that long at 9pm. So I got on the Internet (what we do without you!?). I found this recipe that said you only had to wait 10 min! This was perfect b/c I was making 2 batches. Well anyway here is the recipe (with my version of cream cheese frosting)

Wish this was my picture.... but I still can't use mine yet! :(

Dough

1 Cup milk

1/3 cup unsalted butter melted

1 package (.25ounces) active dry yeast

4 1/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3 eggs

In a small saucepan heat milk just until it boils. Remove from the heat and stir in butter until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, salt and whisk together. Add eggs to mixture and beat well. Add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time and mix well after each addition. When dough comes together you can turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, or you can change to the hook attachment on your mixer and knead it for 5 min. (I used my mixer... it saves your hands.)

Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and let set for 10 minutes.

While you are waiting mix up filling.

Roll out dough into a 9x12 inch rectangle.... sprinkle evenly with filling, roll up dough on the long side and pinch the seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal slices and place into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning remove them from the refrigerator and let sit on the counter for at least 30 min. to take the chill off. Preheat oven to 375.

Bake for 20 or until browned. Meanwhile mix together cream cheese frosting.

Remove rolls from oven and spread glaze on top. Serve warm.

Filling

1 1/3 Cups (packed) light brown sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons flour

7 tablespoons room temp butter

In a bowl mix together all ingredients with a fork until lightly crumbly.

Frosting

1 package room temp cream cheese

3 cups confectioners sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk (add more or less for desired thickness... remember it will melt a little on the hot rolls!)

Beat cream cheese until smooth.... add confectioners sugar and beat again until smooth. Add milk until desired thickness.

These are so yummy! They turned out just like I like them! Moist Ooey and Gooey! Mmmm.... can't wait to make them again!

I can't post without pictures!

So I have a couple of posts that I had planned on doing.... but our computer had some major issues and now Robert is reloading it.... so until I can't post pictures I will just have to wait!

I WON!

And I never win anything! I entered a giveaway on Liz Kartchers website http://www.elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/ I think it was maybe the 3rd one I had entered.

Here is was what I won.

I've been needing a new book for inspiration! Can't wait to get my package in the mail! Thanks Liz!

Pumpkin Patch!

We were so lucky that it stopped raining just long enough for us to make our family trip to the Pumpkin Patch. However it was so muddy that we decided to do everything but walk out in the Field! (it's just not the same though) But all in all it was a great day!

After the Pumpkin Patch we headed back to my brothers house for my Chicken Fiesta soup, cornbread, and Caramel apples.... this has been a tradition for the last 4 years!

Sorry about this last picture! not sure what happened I tried to fix it a million times!

Roberts 4th Birthday!

I know it's been a while since we celebrated.... but I have been so bad at posting so I'm trying to catch up.

Roberts 4th Birthday Party

Sept 12th

There were lots of goodies!

The Kids had a ton of fun playing in the FOUNTAIN!

I didn't think Robert would be so into it.... but he was drenched before I could change him into his swim shorts!

They had fun on the playground... (though I don't think much time was spent here..... the fountain was much more fun!)

They threw water balloons!

They wend fishing and caught buckets of goodies!

We sang Happy Birthday .... but mommy couldn't find the candle! (when we got home I found it in one of the bags!)

Then it was time for presents!

Thanks to everyone who came! We had such a great day with all of our family and friends!

This looks fun!

So I saw this Idea on one of my favorite blogs..... http://www.elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com

I think before Halloween I will make these with the little man and my niece and nephew!

Buddy Walk 2009

Here are just a few pictures of this years Buddy Walk..... little Robert walked all but the last 30 feet or so!

I will post more when I get them!

Sneak Peak at what I'm working on!

I'm finally doing a project that I started planning for little Roberts Room a LONG time ago .... here is what I have so far.

I know the picture isn't that great.... sorry! Anyway I drew these 2 things a while ago and had a plan to put them on a canvas for his room.... but I wasn't sure if I was going to paint it or use paper. Well I decided to use paper and cut out all the pieces. What do you think should the body of the Robot be a different pattern? I can't decide. Anyway... I'm not done yet I have a few more things to do before these make it to the 16x16 canvas that I have for them.

Snickiedoodies!

Snickerdoodles are one of my very favorite cookies! I just finished baking some today!

I had made some for my dad and Roberts dad for Fathers day, but Roberts dad wasn't feeling well on Fathers day so we didn't get to see him. I decided to make him a fresh bunch!

This recipe is my favorite so far

1/2 Cup butter (unsalted)

1/2 Cup Shortening

1 1/2 Cup sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 Cups Flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Beat butter, shortening and sugar together until fluffy

Add eggs and beat again until smooth

Sift flour, cream of tartar, salt and soda together

Add flour to butter mixture and stir together until smooth dough forms.

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Roll dough into balls.... I like to use the small ice cream scoop ( the bigger cookies are 2 of the small scoops)

line baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper

Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet

Bake at 350 for 8-10 min or until the edges are just golden brown and cookies are puffy. (add a couple more minutes if you make them double the size

Let them cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling

These are so yummy!

Strawberries!

Today little Robert, Grandma, and I went strawberry picking! I was shocked at how well he stayed with us..... he just walked up and down the rows looking at everything. He even stopped and picked his own RED strawberry ( I was kind of surprised that he knew to pick the red one) and shoved the whole thing (stem and all) in his mouth.

After we did some picking we let him play for a while. He is getting so big. I can't believe he can climb up the ladder all by himself now. I still have to stay close by though...... he doesn't realise how close he gets his little butt to the edge!

On the way home he passed out in the car. He was awake (kind of) when I brought him in the house..... but fell right back to sleep!

First Time Out

Lately little Robert has be opening the back screen and trying to walk outside. He's also been doing a number of other things that aren't okay. In the past we've tried time out but it didn't work. He had no clue what we were doing and didn't care that he was sitting in some random corner. The other day he started to open the screen and I told him no no. Of course he looked at me and proceeded to open it. I walked over, took him by the hand and sat him down in the corner. Right off the bat he started crying. I walked away..... he stayed there but was still crying. After about 1 minute he decided he was going to get up. I told him no and to sit down, and again the crying started. We've done this about 4 times and he cries each time, but for the most part stays in the corner. Not sure how well it is working yet.... but we will continue to try it for a while. Hopefully it works!

These are from the his 1st real time out!