All About Ashlena

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Cinnamon Rolls

Friday Faculty Treats: A chance to impress teachers using tasty treats.


I decided to make cinnamon rolls as my form of persuasion.  Now let me tell you...I have never made cinnamon rolls before so why in the heck did I choose to make them I honestly don't know, but I will report that they turned out great.  I found the recipe on Rachel's Ramblings, but the recipe is below.  




Ingredients: 

Dough:


1 C milk (whole would be awesome, I used 2% and it was great)

1/4 C butter
3 1/2 C all-purpose flour, divided 
1/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 envelope instant yeast, or 2 1/4 tsp
1 egg

Filling:


1/2 C sugar

1/2 C brown sugar
3 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 C butter complete softened (not melted)

Cream Cheese Icing:


1/2 butter, softened

1/4 cream cheese
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp milk (if needed)

Directions:


Combine milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute, then remove and stir. Continue heating in 20 second intervals, pausing after each to stir, until the butter is melted and the milk is warm to the touch but not hot. If needed, let the milk mixture sit for a few minutes until it is warm but not hot.
In another bowl add 3 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Stir by hand to combine. Add the egg and milk mixture, and beat on medium-low speed until combined. Add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated. When the dough begins to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, you have added enough flour (I used all 3 1/2 cups). Continue beating for 5 minutes on medium-low speed. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make your filling by mixing together sugars and cinnamon in a bowl until combined
.

When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured work surface. Then use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 14 x 9 inches in size.  Use a knife or pastry spatula (or fingers) to spread the softened 1/2 cup of butter out evenly over the entire surface of the dough. Then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.  (Using all the mixture is key it is delicious!)

tightly roll up the dough. And then give the final seam a little pinch so that it seals. Use a piece of dental floss to "cut" off the two ends of the roll (just a centimeter or so) so that they are even. (I just used a sharp knife and it worked great!)

Place each of the cut cinnamon rolls into a greased pie plate or 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Then cover again with a damp towel, and leave the dish in a warm place to rise for 25 minutes. 

While the dough is rising, make the icing.

When the rolls have risen, uncover the dish. Then place on the center rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. Remove and let cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes. Drizzle with your icing.
Icing Directions:
Either in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, or a mixing bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until combined. Then beat in powdered sugar until combined. If the icing is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin.


Now I served these the next day. Pop them in the micro for 10 seconds, pour yourself a glass of milk and you are golden.

Wishing you the best!

How I Became Mrs. Johnson: Part 1

Journal writing...not my strong suit. For now this is going to have to count as my journal entry.  I have never recorded how I met my husband from the beginning.  If you would like to please join me for this bumpy ride as I share how I met my number one squeeze.

Our First Encounter:

Ashlena: We have to rewind all the way back to May of 2011.  This summer I decided to live in a random house an old sorority house in fact for the summer.  I didn't know any of the girls in the house.  By the end of the summer I had met so many good friends, including my best friend McKinsey Crabb.  Housing was already arranged for the next school year so we just remained good friends, but in the end decided to live together for the next school year (Fall 2012).  By the time we moved in together Kinsey had met a young man in the summer named Zach.  By the end of October they were falling in love.  Around this same time I found myself once again single and NOT wanting to mingle.  I became pretty comfortable playing third wheel with Kinsey and Zach.  On October 29th, 2012 Zach's younger brother Brandon came home from his mission.  Up to this point everyone was joking about Brandon and I going on a date when he got home.  I didn't think much of the joke and assumed that I would never really spend time with him.  On November 1st McKinsey had a bad cold and like any good boyfriend would Zach was taking care of her.  Poor Brandon was still in a little bit of an awkward missionary mode and was just following Zach around.  Now when I heard Brandon was coming over I felt really awkward.  I just feel awkward when I don't need to.  Well he was standing down in the kitchen.  I walked down the stairs and tried to carry on a quick conversation.  I was busy and was trying to get out of this awkward situation as fast as I could.  He was so great at making conversation with me.  I remember leaving feeling flushed...  

Brandon: The first time I heard the name Ashlena was on my way home from the airport.  Now remember I hadn't seen my family for two years, I was already overwhelmed.  Zach had written me and told me that he was bringing his girlfriend to the airport.  As we were all driving home in the same car McKinsey mentioned that she had a roommate who wasn't dating anyone that she wanted to set me up with.  I didn't think anything of it.  After being home for a day I realized that sitting around was boring so I hung around with Zach.  His girlfriend McKinsey was sick so we kept visiting her.  On one of these visits I met Ashlena.  Let me tell you for the short amount of time we were talking she was busy.  I don't even remember what was said I just remember thinking wow she is just too busy.  Also I thought she was super old.



Yep, that is exactly what I wanted my future husband to think I was old and too busy for him.




 Part 2 Coming Soon: The Basketball Game (Be Excited)


My Reasons to Blog...




I blog to remember.
I blog to record.

I blog to rejoice in the little things of life.