Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Here's the recipe I was talking about -



Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

makes 12

I have to admit, I’m rather proud of this recipe. After months and months of searching for the perfect cinnamon roll to suit my needs, I ended up combining a little of this, a little of that, and in one round, managed to mix together what is, for me, the perfect cinnamon roll. No raisins, a powdered sugar glaze rather than cream cheese frosting, and a dough that was a buttery beauty.
dough
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter1 (.25 ounce)
package active dry yeast1/2 cup white sugar
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs

filling
1 1/3 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup maple sugar (if you can’t get maple sugar, use 2 cups powdered sugar, and you could add some maple flavoring, if desired)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons (or more) whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add eggs and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, adding more flour as needed, about 5 minutes.
Cover the dough and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together filling ingredients.
Roll out dough into a 9×12 inch rectangle. Spread dough evenly with filling mixture. Roll up dough from the long end and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in a 9×12″ baking pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, remove cinnamon rolls from refrigerator and let sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to take the chill off. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until browned. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together glaze ingredients, adding more milk to thin glaze, if necessary. Remove rolls from oven, and pour glaze over hot cinnamon rolls. Serve warm.


I hope you try it and enjoy it!!

Weekend finds and Chanukah cookies...

Greetings - I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to blog. This is the first change that I've gotten in a while and hopefully during the holiday break I'll be able to blog more. It's been crazy around our house - Chanukah has come and gone, my Aunt came to visit, I've had at least three awful migraines and my Sister is getting her wisdom teeth out tomorrow.

During Chanukah, my Mom gave me two old movies that I've been watching nonstop (I think she might be regretting her present choice right about now!). I absolutely adore 42 Street and The Gay Divorcee!! 1930's movies of course! I also got Julie and Julia and it's made me want to do nothing but eat - never watch that movie when you're hungry or you'll end up gaining 15 pounds from just one meal.

A while ago I found this heavenly recipe for Overnight Cinnamon Rolls that will make your mouth water even before they've come out of the oven. I found it on an amazing web site called pinkofperfection.com and I think that every one who loves food, cats, crafting or pretty much anything girly and pink, should visit, and I hope you will.

SICK AGAIN!!!!

Greetings - When will it end? I've been sick three times in the last two months and I'm sick of it (no pun intended). This time it was just a respiratory thing but it still made me feel awful and it left me with a horrible cough. Luckily I'm feeling better now - on to the days of baking Chanukah cookies!!

I've now intered into the post-Nutcracker depression time and I can't wait for the show in the spring. It will be my first spring show and I'm equally nervous and excited. I've watched my sister go through many spring shows and I always looked forward to the day when I would be able to go on stage with all of those advanced dancers! And here it is! There's something about walking out onto a stage in full makeup and costume, with the lights shining on you, and the music playing that is so nerve racking and calming at the same time. Do I sound crazy?

I have to go now but I'll post more this week! Bonsoir!!

Greetings!
I'm sorry it has been so long since I posted anything. The Nutcracker has come and gone and I have a few free months before rehearsals start for the annual spring show. I'll be blogging like crazy until January or February!!

Now that it's December, I can officially start thinking about all the good holiday food! I can't wait for the latkes and applesauce, the cookies and cakes and all the other goodies.

Lately I've been in the mood for a new hat or vintage dress. I've been looking all around for the perfect holiday dress, but I haven't had any luck yet. Right now I'm obsessed with the fashions from the early 30's. The floor length dresses, the wide brimmed sun hats, the amazing Mary Jane styled shoes and bleach blond finger waves. I've had a hard time finding anything from the 30's on eBay - but I'm not giving up hope!!

I'll post more later - Au revoir!

vintage photos...

Tales of I Love Lucy and strep throat...

Greetings - I never thought that strep throat could make someone feel so crummy. I woke up yesterday morning with the worst sore throat and headache that I'm ever had in my life. Why did it have to happen now? I have two solid weeks of Nutcracker rehearsals and classes and I had to get sick now. One good thing about being sick is getting to lay in bed and watch unlimited episodes of I Love Lucy.

I've found an amazing new blog that I think everyone needs to see. Here's the link - http://glamourdaze.blogspot.com/

I've also found some really cool vintage photos and ads that I'll be posting throughout the week.

I'll post more later!

Top Hat!

Greetings - Man I've been busy - birthdays, parties, ballet, shopping and eating. It's also my favorite time during Nutcracker rehearsals (when we get our costumes)! Halloween was really fun also. My costume was successful and I actually trick - or - treated in high heels! And my feet put up with the pain for almost three hours ( my feet are used to point shoes, so high heels felt like nothing)!

For my birthday (Nov. 1) my mom gave me a set of four Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies! I've been watching them all the time and I can't thank her enough! My sister isn't too pleased though. My first TV obsession was I Love Lucy, then Seinfeld and now FA and GR movies. My latest music obsession is Nelly McKay (Normal As Blueberry Pie : A tribute to Doris Day). She has the perfect CD out now and it was also a birthday present! Most of the songs are actually from the 40's or 50's. Another present was The Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts!

My sister gave me an awesome book of photos taken by artist and blogger Scott Schuman. He takes pictures of random people on the streets of New York, London, Paris and Milan and other fashionable places. It's a must have for anyone interested in fashion photography.

I'll post more later - Bonsoir!

Sick days...

Greetings - Sorry I haven't been able to post anything in the last few days but I've been sick with an awful cold. I was so freaked out for a while that it might be flu, but I didn't have any of the symptoms. I'm better now but I'm still coughing and blowing my nose. I better stop with the nose blowing pretty soon because I'm running out of Kleenex!

Well Halloween is in a few days and I'm getting pretty excited about my costume this year. My sister just got me a Police badge so my accessorizing is complete! I'm going to have a magnifying glass, a badge and a clip board. I hope people can tell that I'm a detective.

I've been watching all of the Martha Stewart Halloween shows and I'm trying to decide which craft project I'll do this year! I make it a goal to do at least one MS craft during Halloween.

I'll post more tomorrow after ballet!

Why is it so cold?

Greetings readers - Wow! When I woke up this morning, it was 40 degrees! It was a shock! I thought that yesterday was cold, but it was nothing compared to today.

Well, my Halloween costume is finally done - jewelry and everything! And I have plans for my birthday! October and November are quickly starting to fill up. Well, I have another day full to the brim with rehearsals. 1:00 - 6:30 - or something like that. It's been one of these years where time just flies by. It feels like it should be May or June, but not October! I worried that if I blink, it'll be December and The Nutcracker will be over!


I'll post more later - I need to go and get some breakfast.

Ohhh busy days...

Greetings - Well the busy days are upon me now! School all day, then ballet all night, and then rehearsals all weekend. It also doesn't help that the fall weather is here and I've been having asthma problems. I love the fall but, I'm sorry to say, it doesn't agree with my lungs. Gosh I would love to be in Paris right now. I wouldn't even mind being there just for a day - at least I would have a break from my everyday lifestyle. Tomorrow I'll pretend that I'm there and set out a picnic on my front yard with a blanket and a basket, and then settle down with a good book.....ahhhhhh...... it sounds heavenly!

Nutcracker rehearsals have gotten CRAZY! I have class from 5-6:30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Wens. and Fri. I have rehearsal from 6:30-8. And then on Saturday I have it all day!

Last night after I turned out my light, my cat Jack jumped up on my bed and got on my lap (stay tuned - the plot thickens!!) When I turned over onto my stomach, he got onto my back and sat down! He stayed there ALL NIGHT!! And when I woke up he did it again! He's a sticky cat!

I'll hopefully post more tomorrow (if I have time!)! Bonsoir!

Picking up the pieces...

Greetings - I've been working on this story all day and I hope you enjoy it.

A Metaphor for Life

Life is hard - that's a fact. But it doesn't have to get out of control. Think of your life as a jumble of ripped up pieces of yarn; if you tie them together then life is already getting better. But if you start knitting them into a scarf or a bag then you can make those ripped up pieces into something useful and creative. Now think of that every time you have an argument with someone or you get criticized for something. Remember the scarf that was once pieces of ripped up yard. Make it a metaphor for your life. Pick up the pieces and turn the anger and frustration into something beautiful.

I Love Vintage Clothes!!!!

Greetings - Well today I decided to take hundreds of pictures of my vintage hats, jewelry, clothes and hatboxes. It'll probably crash my computer if I try to post them! In case you don't know by now, I love everything and anything that's vintage! You name it, I love it. Right now I'm bidding on a pair of alligator skin shoes (peep-toes!) from the 1940's. They're gorgeous! They have 3 1/2 inch heels and an ankle strap. If I win the bid then I won't take them off from the moment they arrive!


My most recent obsession is vintage shoes (you might have already guessed it. It's rare to find size 8 1/2 shoes from the 30's or 40's (either women back then had tiny feet, or I have huge feet. Either way, they're really hard to find.). I'm going to make it my goal to have at least 5 pairs of vintage shoes in my closet AT ALL TIMES!


My sister went to the Winston Churchill war rooms in London and she got me a replica of a book from the 40's called Make Do and Mend. It's so amazing! It shows you how to patch clothing, fix knitted sweaters if they have a hole in them and other ways to fix clothes.

I'll post some pictures later!!

More pictures!

Greetings - I would blog about my life, but nothing exciting has happened (besides the return of my Sister - but I'm sure she wouldn't want me to post details of her trip!) So here are some pictures of my four lovable, crazy cats!

Left to right - Jack, Moe, Lulu and William.

Vintage pictures I love!

Greetings - here are some vintage pictures that I love, and wanted to share with y'all.

Greetings

Greetings - Well it's defiantly fall! I actually wore a sweater today - amazing! I still went and read by the pool though. It was funny. I was in a sweater and jeans and my mom came in my room and said "Hey! You wanna go to the pool?" Welcome to Florida.

Today I had extreme energy - I went for two walk/runs, I kept jumping up from the computer unable to sit still and having adrenaline rushes. I've been working on my Halloween costume and I've finally decided to be a detective from the 1940's. I even have the trench coat!

I finished reading "My Life In France" by Julia Child and I loved it! I recommend that everyone read - food lover or not!

I'll post more later!

Stories and Pictures

Greetings - Sorry I haven't written in a while. I'm, once again, really really busy with rehearsals. My sister is home from from Spain so I've been listening to her stories and looking at her pictures! She got home last night at about 7 (which felt like 1 in the morning to her) and then she got up at 6:30 this morning to go to work! I can't believe that she actually went! It seems like a year since we dropped her off at the airport. It's hard to believe that it's only been three weeks! I'll post some of her pictures soon. At every meal in Spain, they were served fresh olives and wine!

Well, when I woke up this morning it was about 59 degrees. It's officially fall! Tomorrow will be a month until my birthday and I already feel a year older. I'm planning to visit France when I graduate from high school, so I'll already planning where in France I'll visit. It'll be an all girl trip which will be wonderful!!!! I can't wait to go!

I'll write more tomorrow! Bonsoir!

Chocolate!

Greetings - Well here I am, eating a dark chocolate Snickers bar, waiting for the new Ken Burn's documentary to start. There's not a better way to fill your spare time, than with blogging and eating. Today I played volleyball at out neighborhood pool. And my Mom and I cleaned up my sister's room for her return home. I can't believe that she comes home in 2 days - the three weeks have flown past. We're all curious as to see whether she has any tattoos and or piercings!

I hate it when there are 2 season premieres on one night that you want to see. Especially when they're at the same time!

I have to go because one of the two is about to start - I'll post some more later!

Amazing vintage pictures and ads!

I love all of these photos! Expect me to post more of them!!!

Follow The Fleet!

Greetings - I'm watching the best Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers movie EVER - Follow The Fleet ( note the title of this post!). There's something about their movies that are just so darn good, and if you've never seen one then shame on you!! I'm obsessed with all of the costumes (the men's and the women's) and it desperately makes me feel like I was born in the wrong decade. Am I the only one who feels like that? Sometimes I'll dress like I'm from the forties and walk around dusting the house in a vintage apron and hostess pajamas! And if you don't believe me, ask my mom (or any neighbors who happen to see me!). I'll post more later!

Bonsoir!

Busy night

Greetings - Today my mom and I were going to head down to the coast to have lunch at our favorite restaurant. When we got down there, there was a big sign on the door that said "CLOSED" even though they're web site said that they were open for lunch. 3 hours of driving for nothing - oh well. At least it was a pretty drive.

I probably won't get around to posting anything later tonight because I have 11/2 hours of ballet class and 11/2 hours of rehearsal. Ballet, ballet, ballet. It's a good thing I love dancing!

When I woke up this morning it felt cold out side - I looked at the thermometer and it was 87 degrees! Welcome to my world.

If I'm not entirely exhausted when I come home from ballet I might post some more, but until then - Au revoir!

Greetings - Sorry I haven't posted anything in the last couple of days. It's been a really hectic week for me. My ballet company is doing the nutcracker, so I've been tied down with rehearsals, classes and not to mention school! My sister comes home from Barcelona next Tuesday, so we're enjoying the last few days of quiet.

Well, fall is a upon us and so are the various allergies. This morning I woke up feeling like someone had filled my lungs with teddy bear stuffing. Ahhh, what a...lovely...feeling.

My Grandfather (who we all call Pop) is about to have his 90th birthday! And just a couple of weeks ago he quit his job at the golf course (he didn't get paid with money - he got paid in free golf games!). He's the kind of grandfather who can be on a bed at the hospital after having a heart attack and get up and do an Irish jig the next day while in his hospital gown (which believe it or not he actually did about 2 or 3 years ago). It seems like every time we think that he's as funny as he can get, he somehow ups the level.

Last night my mom and I went to see the one-night-only HD version of The Wizard of Oz! And I didn't even get creeped out by the flying monkeys or the talking apple trees - amazing! The Wizard of Oz is one of those movies that you could watch 100 times and see something that you hadn't noticed before every time you watch it. And did you know that the tornado was made out of a nylon stocking? Weird.

I'm gonna go and eat some lunch now - I'll post more later! There's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's no place like home........................................

Jantzen swimsuit ad

Dear Followers - I have an obsession with vintage ads (you may have noticed by now) and I will be posting a lot of pictures!

How cool is this?

Greetings readers - I just found this picture on google images. Isn't google amazing?

Giving a cat a bath is not fun for you or the cat!

Greetings everyone - Last night I gave one of our four cats a bath. It was very interesting. Need I say more? He was thrashing around and splashing water EVERYWHERE! And keep in mind that this is a cat who likes water. By the time I finished giving him a bath I needed one - and the bathroom needed to dry off. William (the thrasher) is a white, fluffy, 18 pounder. Lulu is a chic, black cat who is the Queen of our house ( and Queen of the neighborhood cats). Jack is black, he like guys who drive big trucks and carry tool boxes (he's in love with our next door neighbor who happens to be allergic to cats) He also loves to eat tofu, butter beans, green beans and mashed potatoes. And Moe's black and white and was dumped on our front porch when he was about 2 weeks old. We're not sure if his mom deposited him here (we have coyotes who like to roam in our neighborhood) or if someone put him there. Either way, my mom was surprised when I screamed from the front porch " Mommy! There's a kitten on our porch!!!!).

Last night after ballet my Mom took me out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. How come every time I wear shoes that can't get wet it starts pouring rain as soon as I walk out the door? I was going to wear my beautiful shoes that I got in Paris - thank god I had flip flops in the car. Oh well, I'll wear them tomorrow when I go to see a movie.

Greetings from Barcelona!

Here's what my sister sees when she looks out of her window in Barcelona (it's the famous Gaudi cathedral La Sagrada Familia).

Greetings from Barcelona!

Dear Readers - I just got a call from my sister who is traveling in Barcelona! From her apartment balcony she can see the famous Gaudi cathedral ( La Sagrada Famila)! I can't wait to see her pictures! She was in London for ten days before traveling to Spain, and I wish desperately I was there. She sent us an email from London that had quite possibly the worst opening sentence you write to your family when you're 4,000 miles away from home ( "now don't freak out or anything but......). You can fill in the blanks. I was thinking it could be a tattoo or a nose ring but no, she had what she thought was the flu. We're not sure if it was the flu, but even so, that's not what you want to hear. She's all better now, but all 3 of her traveling buddies have been sick. The London weather doesn't agree with her asthma. As soon as she sends pics I'll post them. She said that everyone in Spain wears these awesome gaucho-like pants (she's gonna buy a pair!) and when you order something at a restaurant they bring you a plate full of bread covered with tomato sauce complimented with lots of different kinds of olives. My mouth was watering when she told me. She's trying to think of a way to sneak some back for my mom, my dad and me! I'll write some more after I get back from my ballet class - Adios!

9/20/09

Day 1 of my blogging life is going great so far. Today I spent 2 and a half hours in Target with my Mom trying to match shower curtains with towels, washcloths, rugs and accessories. It might have been frustrating to anyone else, but it was fun for me! Call me crazy, but I love to do any activity that might possibly involve color coding and Martha Stewart towels. I am a big fan of Martha Stewart. I watch her show every day and I find myself saying things like "wow, Martha would be proud..." and "hmm, I wonder what Martha would do..." The one thing that I want for my birthday if the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia of Crafts! So as you can see, picking out towels for a bathroom placed me in Martha heaven!

My first post!

Dear followers (if there are any) - I'm so excited to have my own blog. Don't expect me to post every day because this is my busiest time of year. When I do post it will probably be about vintage clothes, my cats, fashion, Paris, my life as a dancer and a homeschooler and the color pink! Yes, I admit it, I LOVE PINK! Every color pink from rosy hues to light pink blush colors. Just about everything in my room is pink including my walls, my door, my clothes, lamp shades, sheets and furniture. I was inspired to create a blog when I read Julie Powell's book "Julie and Julia". I thought that it was the perfect thing to do because I LOVE writing! So wish me luck on this journey, and I hope I shall entertain you with stories about life with cats and life in general!