I will post pictures of our Christmas soon. I am actually giving myself time today to work on scrapbooks! Hallelujah! So, until then, here is a terrific recipe for my baker friends.
I made these Christmas morning and got wonderful reviews. I thought I would go ahead and post in case you wanted to tackle this over the holidays. Be prepared...it takes time but so much fun (at least for me it was). I wish I had taken a picture because they were so big and pretty! :)
5-6 cups all-purpose flour (sifted once)
1 yellow cake mix
2 (1/4 oz each) pkg quick rise yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Frosting:
6 tbsp butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp milk
In a mixing bowl, combine 4 cups flour, dry cake mix, yeast and warm water until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each portion into a 14in x 10 in rectangle. Brush with butter; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (the more the better). Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with long side. Cut each roll into 12 slices; place cut side down in two greased 13 x 9 in baking pans. Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 20 minutes.
Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 20 minutes.
For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Add enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Frost warm rolls. I used all of it and everyone loved it but it was way too sweet for me. On mine, I would not have put as much frosting. Just depends on how sweet you want them.
Makes 2 dozen. I packaged them and froze them as well.
December 26, 2009
December 23, 2009
"A Tasty Surprise!"
Just bear with me for a second....
I get annoyed when people use facebook, blogs, etc...just to brag or push an agenda but I'm about to make a big exception and do some bragging myself. I'm just so darn proud of my idea. My good ideas don't come too often these days so I'm super excited about this one.
Last year, Ava got a book called "You Can Do It Sam" and we have read it numerous times throughout the year. Here it is...
In it, Sam and his Mommy bake Christmas cakes and deliver them to their friends on Christmas Eve. They are bagged in red bags and his Mommy drives him to the houses and makes him go by himself to put them on their front door steps. At first he is scared but then is confident that he can do it by himself.
You know where I'm going with this now.
I purchased a book for everyone and Ava and I baked cakes and cookies together, packed them in red bags (complete with the "A Tasty Surprise" white tag) and set out today to deliver them to friends and neighbors. When she would do it, she would come back clapping and say, "I did it Mommy!" It was so precious and such a special memory. I've been really trying to focus on teachable moments with Ava and doing activities with her that centers around that. I didn't intend for this to be such an incredible teachable moment but it quickly became one. I didn't know how much she understood the point until she started making up a song (she does this constantly) and sang, "Christmas is about you and me, Daddy, Sister and doing things for others. Christmas is about Jesus's birthday...." I'm really hoping she remembers that even if we can't do much, it is important to show love to friends and family and to celebrate Jesus's birthday. I was able to explain the gifts of the Three Wise Men in a way that she could understand as we prepared our "Tasty Surprise."
If you received our Tasty Surprise, I hope you enjoyed it and can use the book for some sweet cuddle time with your children. Is there anything better than that??? If you didn't, check your front porch. :)
I get annoyed when people use facebook, blogs, etc...just to brag or push an agenda but I'm about to make a big exception and do some bragging myself. I'm just so darn proud of my idea. My good ideas don't come too often these days so I'm super excited about this one.
Last year, Ava got a book called "You Can Do It Sam" and we have read it numerous times throughout the year. Here it is...
In it, Sam and his Mommy bake Christmas cakes and deliver them to their friends on Christmas Eve. They are bagged in red bags and his Mommy drives him to the houses and makes him go by himself to put them on their front door steps. At first he is scared but then is confident that he can do it by himself.
You know where I'm going with this now.
I purchased a book for everyone and Ava and I baked cakes and cookies together, packed them in red bags (complete with the "A Tasty Surprise" white tag) and set out today to deliver them to friends and neighbors. When she would do it, she would come back clapping and say, "I did it Mommy!" It was so precious and such a special memory. I've been really trying to focus on teachable moments with Ava and doing activities with her that centers around that. I didn't intend for this to be such an incredible teachable moment but it quickly became one. I didn't know how much she understood the point until she started making up a song (she does this constantly) and sang, "Christmas is about you and me, Daddy, Sister and doing things for others. Christmas is about Jesus's birthday...." I'm really hoping she remembers that even if we can't do much, it is important to show love to friends and family and to celebrate Jesus's birthday. I was able to explain the gifts of the Three Wise Men in a way that she could understand as we prepared our "Tasty Surprise."
If you received our Tasty Surprise, I hope you enjoyed it and can use the book for some sweet cuddle time with your children. Is there anything better than that??? If you didn't, check your front porch. :)
December 22, 2009
Christmas fun!
This Christmas season has been absolutely wonderful. Ava is soaking every bit of it in and is all about Santa this year. We have been to visit him several times, taken him pictures she makes for him and last time, she told him that she wished she was his elf. Of course the girls have been dressed from head to toe in Christmas gear, including a jingle bell necklace that Ava loves. Her wish list is a mile long! I can't wait to see her expression Christmas morning. Nora is really into her toys now too so I hope she will enjoy her gifts as well. She won't tear the paper though. She just wants to eat it! :)
Last night, we put together a gingerbread house. this was a first for us. I did the icing and Ava put the candies on where she wanted them. She had to have hot cocoa too. Almost all of her Christmas books have lines about hot cocoa so needless to say, we have had a lot of it over the last few weeks. So...the hot cocoa combined with the candy she kept sneaking and the icing she would lick off of the knife made for a very hyper 3 year old! She wouldn't stop talking so I finally called Nana/Papa, handed Ava the phone, and left the room! Two more calls to Nana/Papa and two calls to Melanie/Bubba later, it was 9:45pm, and I finally got her to stop talking!
We all went a few weeks ago to Paint that Pottery and made a cookie plate for Santa. We are very happy with how it turned out.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Last night, we put together a gingerbread house. this was a first for us. I did the icing and Ava put the candies on where she wanted them. She had to have hot cocoa too. Almost all of her Christmas books have lines about hot cocoa so needless to say, we have had a lot of it over the last few weeks. So...the hot cocoa combined with the candy she kept sneaking and the icing she would lick off of the knife made for a very hyper 3 year old! She wouldn't stop talking so I finally called Nana/Papa, handed Ava the phone, and left the room! Two more calls to Nana/Papa and two calls to Melanie/Bubba later, it was 9:45pm, and I finally got her to stop talking!
We all went a few weeks ago to Paint that Pottery and made a cookie plate for Santa. We are very happy with how it turned out.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
December 19, 2009
December 18, 2009
Orange Blossoms
I'm so sorry I haven't posted any pictures or updates. I will post a slideshow at some point. We have been so busy with Kevin traveling a lot back and forth to Houston, Christmas activities & crafts, Sunday School party, dance, Kindermusik...you name it. Nora has a mouth full of teeth and gets into EVERYTHING! Ava never moved around too much and didn't get into cords or cabinets. Nora...not so much. She chews on cords, pulls everything down and has gotten fast when it comes to crawling. Since she moves around so much, she has more bumps and bruises. Last week (when Kevin was out of town of course), Ava was very sick. It was the worst sickness she has had to date. Nora is sick as well but not as bad.
We are leaving today to go to Baton Rouge for Christmas with Kevin's parents and brother. Hopefully, I can post some pictures while I am there but until then...I'll leave you with a YUMMY recipe (courtesy of my Aunt Janna) that is perfect for taking a treat somewhere. Ya'll know how much I love to bake so I made them to take to LA. It is so easy!
ORANGE BLOSSOMS
1 yellow box cake mix
1 box instant lemon pudding/pie filling
4 eggs
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup oil
Mix it all together and fill mini muffin pan 1/2 full. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. In my oven, it was perfect at 12 minutes. It will make 96 mini cakes! But don't worry, they will go fast. After each batch, spoon some glaze on the top of them.
GLAZE
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp oil (I put less and it was fine)
1/3 cup orange juice (I used sunny D b/c it was what I had)
We are leaving today to go to Baton Rouge for Christmas with Kevin's parents and brother. Hopefully, I can post some pictures while I am there but until then...I'll leave you with a YUMMY recipe (courtesy of my Aunt Janna) that is perfect for taking a treat somewhere. Ya'll know how much I love to bake so I made them to take to LA. It is so easy!
ORANGE BLOSSOMS
1 yellow box cake mix
1 box instant lemon pudding/pie filling
4 eggs
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup oil
Mix it all together and fill mini muffin pan 1/2 full. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. In my oven, it was perfect at 12 minutes. It will make 96 mini cakes! But don't worry, they will go fast. After each batch, spoon some glaze on the top of them.
GLAZE
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp oil (I put less and it was fine)
1/3 cup orange juice (I used sunny D b/c it was what I had)