Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

It's raining and freezing here today so I'm making the most comforting thing I can think of, homemade cinnamon rolls! I'm using this recipe if you get inspired to join me. The dough is really beautiful and easy to work with. I also think I'm going to drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze and I left out the nuts because I didn't have any.



Here's a process shot. Definitely not a diet dish! My two tips are: use real cinnamon, not Cassia cinnamon and use quilting thread to cut the rolls. It says to use a serrated knife, but that just squishes them. Hold one end of a piece of thread in each hand, slide it under the rolled up log, cross the pieces over one another, handing each piece to the opposite hand, then pull. The thread will cut and come out straight.

Edited to say: OMG these are the best ever!!! They taste just like Cinnabons used to taste in the 80's when they were still good. I didn't need the glaze because you just spoon the stuff on the bottom of the pan over the rolls. Sooooo good.

A Little Known Fact About Me

Here's something only a few people know about me - I enjoy making foods from scratch that don't really need to be made from scratch. It amuses me. And shows me how easy scratch really is. I also like the challenge of doing something i'm terrified of.

It started with frosting, cakes and artisanal breads and worked its way up through bagels, pasta sauce, and now, as of last night, it has arrived at lasagna noodles and creme brulee using an actual vanilla bean! My first vanilla bean - cost $4 by the way, and yes, it does make a difference.

As I made the noodles, I was scared but I channelled all the strength of my Italian foresisters as I cracked the eggs into the well of flour and started rotating them with my fingers to incorporate only the barest amount of flour. My first well broke and water and egg ran all over the table! I had to throw the whole mess away. The second try I made a wider well. As I kneaded the dough for 25 minutes, my two year old Giacinta (Gigi) jumped up to knead too! I knew her great great great grandmother Giacinta was smiling down on her. She had a great time pushing the dough around.

It's funny how sometimes women get really defensive when they hear that I make things from scratch - I don't do it to be "better than you", I do it for a hobby. You all know what I mean, i'm sure you get the same thing sometimes when women hear that you quilt. Like an "I could never do that" vibe. Well you know that they CAN do that, they just never have or they aren't interested in trying. To tell the truth, i'm really not that great at cooking - sometimes the recipes come out, sometimes they don't. In fact, those aren't my lasagna noodles at the top of the page, mine were full of holes and looked terrible. And I don't always cook from scratch, just sometimes. I've got a full time job, two kids and a quilting/fabric addiction to tend to!

This year, 2010 is going to be all about doing things I've filed away in my brain but haven't tried because they scare me. I'm going to face my fears and just DO IT this year. I'm almost 39 for Pete's sake!

Where is this penchant for making things from scratch that don't really need to be made from scratch going now, you may ask? Straight into the gooey, sticky arms of marshmallows. Yeah, you heard me right, marshmallows. Because I want to make this - Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with scratch marshmallows.

Aw, yeah baby. Bring it on.

Amazing Blueberry Streusel Muffins

I know it's a quilting blog, but I just had to share this recipe! Believe me, they taste about 1000% better than they look. They sit there, unassuming and boring looking but when you taste it - wow! It's like a blueberry cloud in your mouth. So light and moist and popping with blueberries, plus the crunch of the oatmeal topping.


Gigi thinks about trying one....I don't know, they look kind of boring.


Ok, I'll try one, but they're still hot!


She loved it and so will you.

Blueberry Streusel Muffins
Makes 18

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream (I didn't have any, so I used just under 1/2 cup of sour milk and 1 1/2 T. butter extra)
1/2 cup milk
1 t. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (or raspberries, or blackberries, or a combo!)

Heat oven to 400. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, then sour cream, milk and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add them to the mixer, don't overbeat, just until moistened. Gently fold in berries. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full.

Now to make the streusel for the top:
Wash the mixing bowl and paddle, replace. Put in 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup oats, 3 T. sugar, 1/4 t. cinnamon, 1/8 t. salt and 1 1/2 T. brown sugar. Combine. Then put in 3 T. butter and mix well to cut in. Sprinkle mixture over each muffin until it's all gone.

Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes before removing muffins to rack.
Eat while warm!!!