Cinnamon Rooooooolls!

For some reason, the baking bug has bitten me. Earlier in the week, I made bread (which was delicious)...

and I had a leftover packet of yeast.

There's a "that's what she said" joke in here somewhere....

So, I was inspired this morning to make cinnamon rolls.
I love bread making. There is something really therapeutic about kneading the dough, the smell of the yeast, and the patience it takes to allow it to rise. Allow me to take you through the process.

Gather ingredients
 

Just fyi, I used the cinnamon roll recipe out of the Betty Crocker cookbook.  I got this book at my wedding shower, over 11 years ago. Good recipes never expire.

 

I mixed the dry ingredients, and then added the wet.  Formed a dough, and that is when the fun begins. Time to knead!

About five or ten minutes is all you "knead" to feel right as rain, connected with the universe, and centered in your spirit. (Besides, any more than that, and you get tough.... dough that is.)

 

Once you are done kneading the dough, you must let it rise. This is one of those moments when you must take your hands off, and allow God to work His magic. I cannot force the dough to rise anymore than I can will a sunset. It will do what it does in its own time.

The art of letting go as taught in a bread ball.

And all I can do is wait.

Being the good little control freak that I am, I still chose to buy "rapid rise" yeast, and I set an alarm so I can count down the minutes.

 

Once the dough has risen, then I rolled it out into the shape of a crude rectangle. 

 

It kept telling bad taste jokes.... get it? "Crude Rectangle?"

 

Then to spread out the butter.  Lots and lots of delicious butter....

 

Then to sprinkle the filling. It consists of brown sugar and cinnamon.



Time to roll that baby up! Once it is rolled, pinch the edges together tight, so it doesn't come unraveled in the oven.

Then cut it in to half inch slices.

Put 'em in a pan, and let them rise again... and wait... again....
In the meantime, make your glaze, and preheat the oven. (Yay! Something to do!)

After another FOURTY FIVE MINUTES, they are finished. 

And lemme tell ya... OH MY.