Cinnamon Rolls

I made cinnamon rolls this weekend with a copycat Cinnabon recipe. I thought they turned out nicely and were toped with a light whipped cream cheese frosting.



1 C. whole milk
1/2 C. butter, melted
1/4 oz. yeast
1/4 C. warm water
1 egg (room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C. sugar
41/2 C. flour
1/2 C. butter, softened
1 C. brown sugar, packed
5 Tbsp. cinnamon
4 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
1/2 C. butter, room temp.
1 3/4 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat milk and butter and cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Combine with milk mixture, egg, and vanilla. Add salt, sugar and flour. Knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise until double. Punch down and roll out to a thin dough, 15x24 inches. Spread dough with softened butter;mix brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over butter. Starting at the far edge, roll up dough tightly. Seal edges and cut dough into 1 1/2 inch slices. Place rolls with room to rise in greased baking pans. When double, bake at 350 until slightly golden. Remove from oven and frost. Beat cream cheese, butter, powedered sugar and vanilla till smooth and airy.

(This is before they were frosted. I love our gas stove and oven.)

Today I made

CORN CHOWDER!
It turned out well. For the first time I burned my hand cooking and it hurts really bad but the chowder turned out cheesy and chunky- just the way I like it.




CORN AND POTATO CHOWDER
2 c. diced potatoes
1 c. sliced carrots
1 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped green onion (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 c. water
2 c. corn
1 1/2 c. milk
(I actually substituted all the cream & milk for 1 cup of Half & Half)
1/2 c. evaporated milk or cream
1 c. diced pasteurized cheese
Simmer potatoes, carrots, celery, green onion, salt, pepper and water, covered, 15 minutes. Add corn and simmer another 5 minutes. Add milk, cream and cheese; stir until cheese melts and soup is heated. Do not boil.
Note: I usually double or triple recipe.

Hot Cocoa

Fall is here and temperature is dropping. I am from California but have lived in Hawaii the last 4 years. Jake has lived in Hawaii the last 5 years, so the weather change is going to be difficult. Although tropical weather is nice I have missed wearing sweaters and sipping hot cocoa. I called my mother in law and found out her amazing hot chocolate recipe and want to share it with you all. It is very simple and delicious.

Home Made Hot Chocolate Recipe
This recipe makes a perfect 2 mugs full of hot cocoa.

Chocolate Syrup:
Place the following ingredients in a sauce pan/any regular pot.
1 tablespoon cocoa
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water (should look like a dark thick syrup)
Let Mixture get bubbly then stir in 2 1/2 cups of milk.
This recipe may vary depending on how sweet, chocolaty or how many people are drinking.