cinnamon rolls

i got this sweet post from robyn and her grandaughter:

Staci,

I read the Outlander and thought it was good, not as good as a Discovery of Witches,( which I thought was 5 stars), but good.  3.5 Stars.

I am trying to get more involved and contribute, thanks for doing this, it is fun!!

Anni and I made Cinnamon Rolls and it was fun!!

Below is my recipe and photos.  We are enjoying your book club and really enjoy your blog, keep it up!!

Famous Roll Dough

(don't let the steps through you off-these are very, very good rolls)

Both Gary Crowton and Chris Brown had the dinner rolls & thought these were Grandma Jennings famous rolls!

That makes them extraordinary, and no kneading involved.

7 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. sugar

3 t. salt

Mix the above in a very large tupperware or rubbermaid container.

In a 2 cup container, warm the water to 110* (not too hot, not too cold)
1/2 c. warm water
5 t. yeast
1 t. sugar
Dissolve the yeast & sugar in the warm water and let it bubble until high & foamy
I usually set this on the stove to proof while I do the butter/water

while yeast is "proofing" melt in a saucepan on low heat

1 cup of butter (2 cubes)

1 cup of water.

when the butter melts then take off heat and add 1 cup of very cold water.

Cool to Lukewarm.

In a small bowl

whisk 4 eggs

Now pour the butter, water mixture that has cooled to lukewarm into the flour mixture, pour the eggs in and the yeast mixture.
Stir until it is all incorporated.  Put a lid on the container and put it in the refrigerator overnight.
This is a very sticky dough that you will not knead.
When you go to make rolls or cinnamon rolls you take half of the dough and put it onto a floured counter top, flour the roll dough.  Roll out into a rectangle for cinnamon rolls.
Melt 5 T. butter and pour onto the dough, spread it to all the edges.
Take 1 C. brown sugar add 1 t. cinnamon and mix it well, spread it over the butter.  Take 1/2 to 1 c. of pecans pieces or walnuts pieces and spread them over the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Roll up the dough, into a long roll.
Cut into 1 Inch pieces.
Put onto a greased baking sheet, spread them 3 across, they will rise and spread out a lot!!
Let rise in a warm place until almost double 30- 60 mins depends on room temp.  You can speed rise in a warm over 170* preheated then turn off oven and place rolls in for 15-20 mins.
Melt 2 T. butter and brush over the top of the rolls.
Bake at 350* for 15 mins.

You can also make dinner rolls with the other half of the dough.  Flour the counter, flour the dough and roll into a large circle and cut into long triangles, roll up and make crescent rolls.
Or you can make any shape you want, the dough is very soft, be sure to sprinkle flour on counter and on top of dough to help make it easier.  I usually take 1/2 the dough and sprinkle
flour on it and then cut it into 8 pieces.  I roll into a snake shape and then turn into a circle and tuck the end into the middle.  Then do it again with the other 1/4 of dough.  Then I make
cinnamon rolls with the other half.  The whole batch make about 32 rolls.

thanks robyn:)
bye...
more later...

heidi's tea

heidi from oregon was another of our giveaway winners. she won some of my favorite tea. blueberry bliss...

she sent pics!

and this message.....

Hi Staci,

I recieved my present last week - thank you again for choosing me! I've attached pictures for you. I haven't tried the tea yet - I've never had loose leaf tea before.. actually, I haven't had much tea in general, but a friend of mine told me she will help me try it out! I've included pictures for you - your beautiful package couldn't have arrived on a better day last week!

Thanks,
Heidi

  (i love her tea kettle in this pic)

                                 

thanks for the pictures heidi...

hope you all have a great day...

bye...

more later...

robyn's teapot

robyn was the grand prize winner of our giveaway and she recieved her package and sent us a picture. yay!!!

she also sent this message:

The sample herbal tea was delicious!!
Thanks!!
Robyn

she also mentioned that there is a teavana in san antonio, tx, where she lives and she is headed there for more tea!!

hope you all are enjoying the book...

it's supposed to rain here this weekend and i am going to be watching "singin' in the rain" so watch for the movie review or if you have nothing to do watch it too! gotta love gene kelly:)

make some kettle corn...at last count 4 of us got the whirley pop since cindy's recomendation and i have to tell you, they are the bomb. real kettle corn in 3 min.

they have them at bed bath and beyond.

so check it out:)

bye...

more later...

(this site has more whirley pop recipes)

makinzy's teapot

look who had a birthday...

makinzy was one of our winners in the giveaway.

she won a package of blueberry bliss tea.

she also got this beautiful teapot for her birthday and sent a picture. the meaning of the monkey is "quick witted and full with energy".

nice one kinz:)

looks gorgeous with your countertops...

I got nasty habits; I take tea at three. ~ Mick Jagger

bye...

more later...

p.s. if you were a winner and recieved your loot, send us a picture (or if you got you a great teapot, i would love to see it and what it signifies:)

earl grey white

white tea: (less then 1% of the caffeine of coffee)

white tea has the highest amount of antioxidents while having very little caffeine.

earl grey white is a modern turn on the world's most popular tea.

this lighter and brighter earl grey has uplifting apricot nuances and tartly orange flavor from elite bergamont.

all balanced with a smooth infusion of superior white tea.

white tea promotes detoxification and body hydration and may support healthy skin and complexion.

remember, tea counts as pure water consumption:)

goes great with the cookies i made and froze last month!

bye...

more later...

down came the rain

“He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave.”

― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

 The Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein (Goodreads Author)

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sesees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

“On the fifth day, which was a Sunday, it rained very hard. I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.”

― Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

(i understand that this book has a few swear words, so beware:)

for the month of april we will be celebrating the rain and our pets and i will highlight a few of my favorite teas and some of their benefits. our food theme for the month will be toast. tell us, if you want, your favorite way to have your toast. maybe send a picture.

tell us what you like most on a rainy day and if you want, send me a picture of your pet

and i will post it.

“A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.” — James Dickey

just so you know.....

bye....

more later.....

Sassenach

“Oh, aye, Sassenach. I am your master . . . and you're mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

i so loved this book. it was the perfect book for me to read during the long month of march.

i read the first one quickly and have been reading the second one (dragonfly in amber)

more slowly.

i woke up this morning to a  dark stormy sunday and lit my fireplace

(for possibly the last time this season) 

and finished the second book. 

this is definitetly

not a lighthearted read and i completely understand the reasons why the reviews are all over the map.

it has a high body count and some torture scenes that were brutal.

but if you can get past that you might be swept away

by the passion and intensity between claire and jamie.

i was. 

by the time claire almost literally rescues jamie's soul the reader is almost exhausted by the sheer emotion of it all.

their relationship develops, matures and is tested, but it never wavers.

although Dragonfly ends with more tears than anything else it is different. 

 it dosn't approach the sheer drama and passion of Outlander.

but for me,

i thought it was epic and reminded me of "braveheart" and "last of the mohicans" where the hero's word's are

"stay alive, no matter what occurs, i will find you" 

i loved that.

and i must admit, i did fall a little in love with jamie. i thought he was the more grownup of the two and i kept forgeting he was only 23.

but i did think that claire made a lot of things worse by being so outspoken. she was a "career woman" of the 1940's and that didn't really work for her in 18th century scotland.

she could be real brat.

i sometimes wanted her to shutup:)

but, overall, i really enjoyed this book. i will most certainly read the rest.

i give it 4.25 stars

and the average for the reviews that i recieved from everyone else was 3.75 stars...

“For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

thanks for a great march everyone...

bye..

more later...