Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

I did it! I made the ever so enticing and delicious bread that I literally stumbled upon a few weeks ago. The recipe is SO easy, doesn't take very long, and is absolutely incredible. I didn't use a KitchenAid either, just mixed it all together with a spatula. It's a great recipe. 

I wish I had remembered to take pictures of the bread that I made, but I forgot. So I guess these will have to do.

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

Makes: one 9x5x3-inch loaf

For the Dough:

2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 ounces unsalted butter

1/3 cup whole milk

1/4 cup water

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

2 ounces unsalted butter, melted until browned

DIRECTIONS

In a large mixing bowl (I used just the bowl of my stand mixer) whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.  Set aside.

Whisk together eggs and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted.  Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract.  Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.

Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. I poured slowly and mixed continually to slowly integrate the warm milk mixture into the dry ingredients.  Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter.  The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together.  Keep stirring.  Add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes.  The mixture will be VERY STICKY. That’s just right.

Place the dough in a large, greased bowl. I used an empty ice cream bucket. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.  Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour.  *The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning.  If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling.  Set aside.  Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned.  Set aside.  Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch  loaf pan.  Set that aside too.

Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough.  Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes.  On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. Roll it as large as the dough will go. Spread the melted butter across your dough.Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture.  It might seem like a lot of sugar.  Seriously?  Just go for it.

Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips.  Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again.  You’ll have six stacks of six squares.  Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book.  Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.  Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown.  The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw.  A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.   Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board.  Then invert again onto a plate.

I think this bread is best served the day it’s made, but it can also be wrapped and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.

I also made a simple cream cheese frosting to go along with the bread. DELISH!

The Opportunity

There have been some thoughts mulling around in my head for awhile. When I was a little girl, I would often pray for things like faith, obedience, and courage. And a few days later when I didn't feel more full of faith, more obedient, or more courageous, I became disappointed thinking that the Lord didn't find me fit for those blessings. I wondered why I wasn't good enough to have more faith, obedience, and courage. However, I think my thoughts as a young nine year old girl were incorrect. 

Our Father in Heaven loves each of us more than we can realize. He finds each of us more than worthy to receive every blessing that He can bestow. However, I don't think that when we pray to Him, asking for a blessing, He will give it immediately. Lets take my simple prayers, for example. 

As a young girl, I wanted to have more courage. So I prayed for it. I expected it to come immediately and I would feel like I could conquer the world! However, what I think is that I missed the opportunities that Heavenly Father gave me to be courageous.

When we ask for a blessing, He does not bestow it immediately. He gives us an opportunity to exercise the attribute or quality that we desire. When we pray that we will have more faith, He will give us an opportunity, an experience, to exercise greater faith. To act in such a way so that our faith will grow. 

In the movie Evan Almighty with Steve Carell and Lauren Graham, she (Lauren Graham) prays that their family will grow closer together. She prays for this at the beginning of the movie, and then not too much later in the movie, Steve Carell is asked to build an ark. He grows an unstoppable beard, starts wearing ancient clothing despite his many attempts to wear a suit, and animals flock toward him. The world thinks he's crazy, and poor Steve Carell is under the scrutiny and criticism of the world as he starts building a giant ark in the neighboring lots to his house. His wife decides to take the family away from him, and go visit her mother for awhile, hoping that her husband will pass through this crazy "phase." 

While on the road, they stop at a restaurant for some food and Morgan Freeman, (in the movie he plays God) is their waiter. He sits and has a talk with Lauren and helps her to realize that all of this is a perfect time to help their family grow closer together, which is what she prayed for. It is at that time that she chooses to go back and support her husband. As a result, their family is as happy and united as Hollywood can make them.

While that example may be silly, I think there is truth disguised in there. If we pray for something, like courage or greater family unity, we cannot expect it to be delivered to us instantly. But what we can expect is an opportunity to bring family closer together and help from the Lord in doing so. He loves us. He will bless us with everything that He has if we will live righteously, and ask Him in faith. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was bored today and decided to bake! A recipe for chocolate chip cookies has been sitting on my computer for a while and I've been wanting to try it out. The recipe is simple and quick to put together.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (or 310 degrees F for convection bake). Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together and set aside. Mix the sugars and melted butter just until thoroughly mixed, then add egg, yolk, and vanilla. Mix until creamy. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just blended - don't over mix!

Once all the ingredients are combined, add the chocolate chips. The recipe calls for chocolate chunks. I didn't have any, so I just used chips and they work great. But I think the chocolate chunks would add a texture and shape to the cookies. And if you are not a big semisweet chocolate fan, like Derek, use milk chocolate. 2 cups for this recipe is a lot. But, in my opinion, the more chocolate the merrier!

Next, drop the dough onto your cookie sheet. I use the medium sized ice cream scoop from Pampered Chef. It is the perfect size for cookies, and it has a squeeze handle which makes for a very easy, clean process. 

I use the rectangle stone from Pampered Chef for all of my baking. I LOVE IT. 

The recipe tells you to bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes depending upon the size of the cookie. The first time around I baked the cookies for 14 minutes. I took them out even though they didn't look completely done because when using stoneware, the cookies continue to bake after you take them out. 

Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes, and then move them to a cooling rack. For the next two batches I only put the cookies in for ten minutes. But, if you're using a regular cookie sheet and not a stone, 13-14 minutes will be great.

Once the cookies have cooled on the cooling rack, enjoy them with a nice glass of milk!

So. We Meet Again...

Audrey Hepburn

Random

I just had to share this... it made me laugh!

HOW TO TICK PEOPLE OFF Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors." Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO." If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up." Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think." Practice making fax and modem noises. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc" them to your boss. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy." Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way." Staple pages in the middle of the page. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register. TYPE IN UPPERCASE. type only in lowercase. dont use any punctuation either Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times. "DO YOU HEAR THAT?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now." As much as possible, skip rather than walk. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat. Ask people what gender they are. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down. Sing along at the opera. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles.

The Secret Garden

I just finished reading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I absolutely loved it! It embodies every child's love for mystery and secrets, and it makes every little girl wish she lived in a 600 year old mansion with hundreds of unexplored rooms and a forbidden garden. 

My favorite thing about it was that the underlying theme was how thoughts, good thoughts can change everything. This is a quote from the book that I thought was the best.

"One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts--just mere thoughts--are as powerful as electric batteries--as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in, you may never get over it as long as you live."

A Missing Piece

I have always loved to read. In Kindergarten I could read at the level of a 5th grader. My nose was always in a book. So often that my mom practically had to force me out of the house in the summertime to play outside. I read all the Chronicles of Narnia, Nancy Drew, The Boxcar Children, Amelia Bedelia, all the R.L. Stine books in my house, Anne of Green Gables, The Babysitter's Club, The American Girl books, and all of the Harry Potter books. In my later childhood I read Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Black Beauty. However, there are a few iconic novels that I missed out on. 

So I went to the public library, got myself a card, and checked out two books that I have always wanted to read. While there are many I want to read, I am starting with these two books:

I have seen the movie for both of these books, but as an avid reader, I am always of the opinion that a book is better than a movie.

Neglectful

I have realized something about myself: I am a neglectful friend. My life has been rich with many wonderful friends, but I am neglectful. And it makes me upset. I have good intentions and I miss my friends all the time. But somehow things come up and life gets in the way of me ever getting up the courage to make a needed phone call. 

According to dictionary.com, the synonyms for the word friend are: comrade, chum, crony, confidant, backer, advocate. That's everything a friend is! They are your friend; someone you can tell secrets to. Someone who will stand up for you whenever you need them to. And someone who will vouch for you whenever anything regarding you is in question. I would do all this for my friends. But I don't know if they know it. 

Like I said, I have been blessed to have many wonderful friends throughout my life.
But there has always been one group of girls who have stuck with me from the time we were just little girls trying to act grown up.

Natasha - You are seriously one of the sweetest girls I know. No matter how long it has been since we've seen each other or talked, I am always greeted with a smile and a hug. You are smart, sweet, and beautiful. It's just not fair. You have always been able to make the people around you happy. You're fabulous.

Katelyn - From our sixth grade science inventions to somehow surviving our sophomore world history class, you have always been able to make me laugh. Your laugh is contagious and I'm pretty sure that everyone that knows you, loves you. You're one of those girls who would do anything for a friend whenever they needed you to. You have always been so happy, I can't remember you not smiling.

Rachel - You are one of the most genuine people I've met. You are you and there's no changing it. I loved having almost every single class together our senior year, and being in ASB with you. I just think you're amazing. And that's because you are.

Michelle - You have been there for me since we were in kindergarten. I can remember all the sleepovers where we would stay up way too late talking about boys. We would ride your horses, play with your crutches (sounds weird, haha) and get treated to a pancake breakfast in the morning. You have always been there to listen to me and give advice. You're fantastic.

Paige - You, my dear, are stuck with me. You're my cousin! I can remember all the times we would play together as little kids, and I would be big and mean and bossy and make you upset. Then we would yell at each other, "I don't wanna be your cousin anymore!" It was my fault 99.9999% of the time. You are an incredibly smart and fun person. Our cousin-ship is something I love. 

These five girls have been my friends for so long, and I feel awful that I have been so neglectful. I feel like a jerk when I think about how rarely it is that I call and talk with you to catch up. But! Things will change! I don't want to let these friendships that have been years in the making go to waste because we all have our own lives now. I'm making a goal to not be neglectful anymore. 

I am so grateful for the friends I have been blessed with in my life. Relationships are one of the most important things that we can develop, and they deserve all the time and attention it takes to keep them healthy, or at least existent! To you five girls, I miss you all and wish we lived closer so that this could be a face-to-face reconciliation. But considering that it's 1:00 am and I don't want to call you and disturb you, this will have to suffice. But, be expecting a call from me soon. Because I will no longer be neglectful!

Our "Culinary" Experiments

Since school has been out, Derek and I have been experimenting more with baking! I have always loved to bake, and it's something that just makes me happy. However, it is not good for my current goal of being healthier. But I love it! 

On Sunday night, we had a roast from the crock pot for dinner, and decided to try out a crock pot dessert! Derek had been eyeing a recipe called "Brownie Bottoms" for a while and we just so happened to have all the ingredients. 

This is a typical Derek photo. But I love it.

They turned out really well! However, I would suggest that you use milk chocolate chips (like in the recipe) and not semi-sweet. While I am a dark chocolate fan, these definitely need the truly sweet taste. And they're probably best when served with vanilla ice cream. We just didn't have any on hand.

Last night we brought our friends Jessica and Tanner some dinner, because just last week Jessica had a baby! She's a beautiful little girl, and we are so excited for them. So we decided to make them some Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas. While I was putting the chicken into the skillet and talking to my mom, Derek decided to snap a photo. 

While these enchiladas are not an experiment because I've made them many times before, they're one of our favorites!

Just today I decided to try a recipe for some Chicken BLT wraps. They sounded delicious... and they don't look too bad... but they turned out kinda gross. I give the recipe a big thumbs down. But, I now know exactly how much is too much filling for a six inch tortilla.

After dinner Derek very sweetly cleaned up the fridge for us. I love my husband.

And then I tried out a new pudding-pie recipe. Super simple and easy, but I love pudding. It was delicious!

FHE with the Carsons!

Tonight Derek and I went over to Abbie and Adam's for a combined Family Home Evening. I think one of my favorite things about going over to their house is walking in and seeing Jace's face light up with a smile and say, "Gee!" That is his word for Derek. Gee... with a hard "g" sound. It's so cute! I love how much he loves his Uncle Derek.

I sat down on the couch next to Abbie and we started chatting. Little Hallie looked so cute in a pink, pink, pink outfit. I love little baby girls in pink. And the best part, also Abbie's favorite part of the outfit, were the ruffles on the bum of her pants. Thanks to cousin Riley for that one! 

I gave the lesson for Family Home Evening. Using Elder Paul V. Johnson's talk, "More Than Conquerors Through Him That Loved Us" I talked about trials, how they are a part of everyone's life, but if we can handle our afflictions properly and see that we will learn and grow so much, then we can "more than conquer" our afflictions. (To read my blog post on this talk from the most recent General Conference, click here. To read Elder Johnson's full talk, click here.)

Afterward, Jace got ready for bed and we had family prayer with him. It is so cute how much he loves to give hugs. He will go around to each person and give them a hug before he goes to bed. It's really sweet. After Jace was successfully down for the night, we got on to our activity! Abbie and Adam had a really fun idea! Each spouse would draw a picture of the other and write them a sweet note on the back of it. Here are our finished portraits of each other:

Don't judge! Neither of us are artists, but it was a really fun activity! I love the picture Derek drew, it's fantastic!

Abbie made Mayonnaise Spice Cake for dessert, a family favorite. Sooo yummy.

We had a really good time, and we always love going over to Abbie and Adam's. Tomorrow night, the boys are planning on taking over our apartment while I go over to hang out with Abbie. And guess what they're going to do: play video games. Am I surprised? Not one bit.