Mmmmmm.......

These were some cinnamon rolls that I made on one of the numerous snow days my kids have had recently. The kids loved them even though I totally messed the recipe while talking with my husband. This is a super simple recipe, and is not the yeast using variety. One day, I will get my nerve up and make these beauties over at La Mia Cucina. My jaw about dropped when I saw the cinnamon rolls made by Foodbeam. They are both Daring Bakers, of which cool blogger club I am vying to be a part of.

Here is the recipe for anyone interested:

2 Cups Sifted All Purpose Flour

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder

1 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

3/4 Cup Buttermilk

8 Tbsp. Butter, softened

3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

Grease your preferred baking sheet, these can really be baked on anything, I prefer a pie plate as above to hold the rolls together.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl (I have also been known to use 2 cups of a pre-made biscuit mix, i. e. Bisquick). Stir in vegetable oil, then add buttermilk and stir until blended.

Knead out the dough on a floured surface and smooth into an approximately 15x8 rectangle.

Spread the softened butter over the dough. Then combing sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle over the butter. I also at this step make almost a paste out of the butter/cinnamon sugar.

Roll up the rectangle as in a jelly roll. Cut the roll into 1 1/2 inch slices and arrange cut side up in your greased pan. Bake about 15 to 20 minutes.

While the rolls are baking I also whip up a quick version of cream cheese icing, usually halved for the amount of cinnamon rolls I need to cover. I also add milk to the icing until I get a nice spreading consistency, and then the icing melts on the rolls when they are warm.

*Yes, these are "quick" cinnamon rolls, but they still take a good 45 minutes and make a mess in the kitchen. Definitely a weekend or snow day type of breakfast. I always get the kids to chow these for two reasons:

1. They have a big appetite by the time they are done baking!

2. They are delicious!

Enjoy!

Michele

Cool Mom Stuff

Yes, more cool stuff. This time it is more of a mom thing, but it goes right along with parties. These are homemade birthday party hats for kids. I found them at Cool Mom Picks. There are lots of homemade goodies on the Cool Mom Picks site. The hats were picked from Notes, Inc., which is a cool site to check out too!

Any day now I should have my daughter's sixth birthday party photos. Her birthday got mixed up because apparently some of the girls didn't open their invitations that were put in their backpacks. It was also lousy weather, which I have to feel for my daughter since I have a birthday coming up and always had pretty bad weather for anything super fun on my birthday.

I am still baking way too much for my family of six to devour, so will have posts coming on that too. Isn't that all there is to do when school is cancelled practically every day (school administrators please hear my cry!). Even my cake decorating class was cancelled for the second week in a row. At least my instructor is willing to let us come in when we can to learn. It seems almost easier to teach myself everything at this point. So far, I haven't learned too much. I guess it is worth the few tricks and tips I get though. Any comments on self teaching?

Love At It's Finest

I found this Wilton Cupcake Pan at Sur La Table. I have not seen it at my local crafts supply stores, and what is not to love? I am sure any kid or kid at heart (well, me for sure anyways) would love to have this baked up for them!

Spring Pleasures-Coming Soon!

This cake is my inspiration for the day. I am sure this cake is pretty familiar for many of you. It is from Martha, of course. It reminds me of spring, and reminds me that fresh flowers would really breathe some life into my house. So far the week has been rough, and the weather here is not helping at all. We have almost four feet of snow now and are in the thick of winter. I am so craving some fresh air and flowers. I have to confess to keeping fake plants around all year. Green grasses and ivy just help me feel much better when I can't even see the grass in my yard. I don't have a greenthumb for indoor plants (as my husband will tell you)although I will try from time to time.

Not that I have not been in the kitchen though! Tuesday was a snow day for the kids, so we all naturally spent much of the day in the kitchen. If I ever get to sit at this computer for more than two minutes at a time, I will start posting my own stuff.

Sweet, heavenly buttercream!

Ahhh, sweet, sweet buttercream! I found this picture at cafefernando. This picture represents peace, quiet and beauty in my very busy, don't-stop-til-their-all-in-bed day. For some reason making buttercream, to me, is very cathartic. I love watching the raw ingredients transform into a voluminous cloud of whipped beauty.

After a long day there is nothing more relaxing than whipping up a fresh batch of buttercream. What I really adore about making buttercream is the relatively quick gratification in taking sugar and butter, cooking it and then whipping to perfection juxtaposed with the lifetime process of raising four children. I exhale with pure contentment at the completion of a heavenly creation.

Rose Petals Cakery

Being newer to cake decorating since 2007, I searched the internet for help. CakeCentral to the

rescue! The members on this site are always ready to help with any questions you may have about cake making. I just saw the cookies and candies above today. They are from Rose Petals Cakery in Naperville, Illinois. All of her cakes and cookies are adorable!

Fat Daddy's Cupcakes

How delicious do these look? I want one right now. Nicole, of Fat Daddy Bake Shop, came up with this ingenious packaging of a cupcake. Your very own special package of deliciousness! Her cupcakes-in-a-jar are here on Etsy.

THE Most Gorgeous Cake Stands

How could I not share these? These are the most adorable cake stands out there right now.

My birthday is right around the corner..... They are made by Potluck Studios and you can get them here, at Feather Your Nest.

What's This All About?

Well, cakefriends, my blog is all about cake and everything that goes with it. No, not just milk! I will be sharing great cake ideas, foodie products, inspiring cooks, and just neat stuff. I love to bake and am working on my recipes as we blog. So look forward to many more posts!

I LOVE CAKE!

Here I am, finally! I decided to blog about my cake journey so everyone could share my joy! I love the beauty of cakes and how they can really change someone's day. Think about it: smooth buttercream icing melting in your mouth. Delicate moist cake to finish a meal. Cakes give an event a theme and say exactly what the event is about. From birthdays to weddings a cake takes an event to the next level. Yup, I love cake!