Baking Bread

Creativity for me comes in many different ways. Such as baking bread. It is simple and yet so satisfying. I feel relaxed, happy and usually stress free (unless I'm baking for Thanksgiving and I want perfection, yikes!).

Christmas Baking - Night before Christmas

We baked some more goodies for Christmas eve and Christmas morning.

We made . . .



Challah bread (yeast bread)

and packaged it for neighbors and family.

We also made . . .

birthday cake for "JESUS"

and

Cheesecake with sour cream topping

and . . .

cake balls

and

more saltine toffee

and

molasses cookies with white glaze

Christmas Baking

This past week my daughters and I did lots and lots of baking.  We packaged and gave to teachers,
friends and co-workers. 

We made . . .

Fudge

Saltine Toffee

Candy Popcorn

Chocolate Mint Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Kisses Cookies

Sugar Cookie Bites

and Gingerbread Cookies

Cupcake cake pops

Cupcake pops for my daughter's 13th birthday.  To celebrate Cassandra's birthday at school, I sent cupcake pops wrapped in a baggie with chocolate kisses for each student.

So moist and delicious!  All the kids loved them.  Cakepops are very easy to make and are so delicious.  Check out  www.bakerella.com for the how-to and creative ideas.

Homemade cinnamon rolls

My daughter's have been asking me to make cinnamon rolls for the longest time.  I decided to use  Paula Deen's cinnamon roll recipe.  Super easy to make and delicious.  You will need the following ingredients:

Dough: 
1 package yeast (1/4 oz)
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup scalded milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

Filling: 
1/2 cup melted butter, plus more for pan
3/4 cup sugar
2 T ground cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans, optional

Glaze:
4 Tables butter (softened)
2 C powder sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 6 T hot water

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. 
In large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg.  Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth.  Add yeast mixture.  Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle.  Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes.  Place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size (about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs).
When doubled in size, punch down dough.  Roll out ona floured surface into a 15 by 9 inch rectangle.  Spread melted butter all over dough.  Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough.  (Sprinkle with raisins or nuts if desired).
Beginning at the 15 inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal.  Cut into 12 to 15 slices.
Coat the bottom of baking pan with butter and sprinkle with sugar.  Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes.  Bake for about 30 minutes or until nicely browned.
Meanwhile, mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.  Add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until glaze reaches desired consistency.  I like our glaze to be very thick, so I don't add too much water.  Spread over slightly cooled rolls.  You can also link to the www.foodnetwork.com and search for Paula's cinnamon recipe. 

Yummy, yummy, donuts!

It all started with this little machine - Babycakes cake pops.  On sale from Khols, $10.00 off plus 15% off coupon.  It was a great deal under $20.00. 

You fill the inside with batter - I used the enclosed vanilla cake recipe.  Fill to the top and voila!

Glazed, sprinkled and cinnamon sugar donut holes.  So delicious!  You can also add lollipop sticks and dip them into chocolate to make cake pops.  I will try that next time.  The mini donuts were delicious and much better for you since they were baked, LOL!