Hot Kitchen Monday

Typically I wouldn't be spending my hot Monday in the kitchen, but today I am.  Gary has student loan interviews for the next two days in Topeka, so I always prepare the meals for those two days.  Since he doesn't have many repeat helpers, they're going to have the same menu for both days.  They'll be enjoying sloppy joes (not the tomato kind, the cream of mushroom soup kind), baked beans, potato chips and dessert (probably a peanut butter sheet cake) of some kind.  It all has to be made so they can heat it in the microwave, so my choices are a little limited.  Prior to doing the cooking, though, I have to shop for all the supplies.  I'm so not looking forward to that.  It's hot.  I'm not a hot weather person.  Darn it.  But I'll survive...maybe!

Umm...no pictures.

So in my most recent post, I indicated that I would be adding pictures of the cinnamon rolls I made today.  Ummm...no.  Have you ever had one of those days when you should have just stayed in bed?  Today was my day.  Everything I have tried to do today has resulted in a mess...everything.  Even pouring myself a glass of tea became a problem when part of the lid came off and landed in my cup.  It's not my day. 

So the cinnamon rolls did get made.  But, since it has clearly not been my day, they turned out somewhat different than usual.  The dough was less than cooperative today - surprise, surprise - and we ended up with two pans of actual cinnamon rolls and four pans of some sort of cinnamon roll loaf concoction.  As soon as I removed the loaf-like pans from the oven I cut them into pieces then frosted them with that amazing coffee/maple frosting.  It covers a multitude of sins.  Some days I think I should bathe in it.  Actually, I felt like I bathed in butter, cinnamon and sugar today, but I digress...  They turned out looking surprisingly good and tasting even better.  While I guess it all turned out okay, it was sure a LONG trip to the finished product.  And there was about 4 times as much post-cooking cleaning that had to be done.

So supper tonight is going to be easy and fool-proof (I hope).  I don't want to tempt fate with any grand plans.  I'm going to fly under the radar tonight.  But maybe tomorrow...

Cinnamon Roll Day!

Since I'm home and announced early in the week that I would be making cinnamon rolls at some point this week (and subsequently had requests for pans of them), I am making cinnamon rolls today.  I'm using the recipe from http://thepioneerwoman.com/ that makes an enormous amount of rolls (think 7 round pans), so I'll have plenty to give away and freeze for later days.  The idea of having pans of frozen cinnamon rolls ready to thaw and bake is enough to get me to make the entire recipe.  I love having things in the freezer waiting for me to have one of those I-have-no-idea-what-to-make-for-breakfast days.  And let's face it, cinnamon rolls make for good bribe material.  A gooey, sugar & cinnamon-dripping, fabulous frosting-covered swirl of dough...does it get any better?

Pictures to come...

Scotcheroos

One of the girls' favorite sweet snacks is a quick and easy one called Scotcheroos.  They're on the rainy afternoon menu today before tomorrow's cinnamon roll baking spree.  Think ooey, gooey, peanut buttery, chocolate goodness...  Hungry yet?

Scotcheroos

Bottom Layer:
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups (give or take - it's just the way I cook) crisp rice cereal

Top Layer:
1/2 package of chocolate chips
1/2 package of butterscotch chips

For the bottom layer, combine corn syrup and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter then add rice cereal.  Spread into a greased 9x13 pan. 

For the top layer, combing chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave for one minute and stir until completely melted.  Spread over the bottom layer.  Cool, cut and enjoy!

Defeating the Purpose?

So now that I'm home again for what I hope to be a long time, I want to make exercise a priority again.  I'm looking forward to some yoga, to be completely honest.  However, now that I'm home again for what I hope to be a long time, I can't wait to spend time in the kitchen.  Do you see my problem?   Oh well...  This week I'm making Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls.  They are absolutely, without a doubt, to die for.  I'll even bump up my game a little and use Vietnamese cinnamon in them.  This recipe makes an obscene amount of cinnamon rolls, but I'll freeze a couple pans and give a few pans away.  And, let's face it, a cinnamon roll with a glass of milk is a great high-calorie, bone-healing meal for the little pipsqueak, and I'm sure her sisters won't turn it down either! :)  I'll let you know how they turn out... 

Sweet Potatoes...Dessert?

If, in looking at this blog and the lack of recent posts, you were under the impression that I only cook when I blog about it, you're wrong.  I cook.  Daily.  It's probably due to that fact that I can't seem to find the time to blog about the cooking.  I'll attempt to do better.  There are LOTS of cooking days in the weeks ahead, so I'm going to make it a priority to take some foody pictures and go from there. 

My assignment for the Thanksgiving meal was Aunt Mary Etta's sweet potatoes and rolls.  We tried to find the recipe online for the sweet potatoes last year but ended up having to call AME.  Now we know how to do it.  Well, we sort of know how to do it.  I think, just so I have it written down somewhere, I'll put it here.  So here goes... 

1 can Eagle Brand
1 cup (I think...  Every year it's a trial/error thing.) brown sugar
4 Tbls. (Again, I'm not sure on this.  I think that was roughly what I used.) real butter

Cook the above ingredients on low heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Pour over cooked (but not falling apart) chunked sweet potatoes.  Top with marshmallows & bake to brown the marshmallows.

According to AME, you'll know when it's there.  Sure.  It also takes a lifetime.  But it is absolutely the most sinful excuse for vegetables on the planet.  I like them warmed up post-Thanksgiving dinner for dessert.  Pathetic, I know.  I didn't bother to take a picture of those, surprise, surprise. 

I did, however, take a picture of the mammoth cream cheese braid I made last Friday.  I used butterhorn dough and made half of it into stromboli and half of it into this cream cheese braid.  We slathered a little almond-flavored glaze over the top of it and sighed as we ate it.  Here's the pic: 

Makes me hungry even now! :)

Can't Wait!

I like the part of summer that leaves me at home with healthy girls and a complete lack of any schedule except on those days when they have piano lessons.  I don't like that it's so hot outside that I can't enjoy heating up the house inside with my cooking.  I'm ready for fall, at least the part of it that allows me too cook.  I'm ready for cool weather.  I'm ready for homemade muffins in the mornings.  I'm ready for vegetable soup with Hope's favorite big, fat noodles.  I'm ready for cinnamon rolls and broccoli/ham/swiss braids.  I'm ready to make cookies and cupcakes.  I'm ready for chili and cornbread.  The list goes on and on.  Until I can get the weather to cooperate, however, I'm going to be stuck planning all those fun meals.  Therein lies Sunday's fun.

We've decided to make a last ditch effort to enjoy the summer Sunday by going to KC for some fun.  The girls are looking forward to some shopping, swimming, and a trip to the Cheesecake Factory (I am looking forward to that one too!).  I, on the other hand, am ridiculously excited about a trip to Penzey's Spices.  I know.   What a dork.  I plan to pick up some Vietnamese cinnamon (If you've never tried it, you really need to do so.  It makes AMAZING cinnamon rolls.)  and some whole nutmeg for my grinder.  I'm sure it will be a short trip, because I can't imagine that anyone else in the house will be all that excited about a store full of spices.  It'll be enough, though.  I'm such a cheap date...