Baking on a Winter’s Day

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:22:35

Cinnamon Rolls with Pecans and Raisins

I love to bake bread and in the cold of winter it warms the house and gives off that wonderful yeasty smell that is so irresistable.

Cinnamon rolls are fun to make. They are made with a soft white bread recipe and divided and rolled out. I spread on the soft butter and then add brown sugar, cinnamon , golden raisins, and chopped pecans.

Roll the whole into a cylinder shape and slice off pieces. I crowd the slices in round metal cake pans and let them rise for another hour.  The top left photo of a ring is done by slicing almost through the dough and placing it to bake on a round pizza pan. Shape into a ring and work the ends together. You can leave the center empty or add a slice from another roll.

When the rolls have risen nice and puffy, I put them in the 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Oh boy, do they smell good! They whole house smells of sweetness and is warmed up.

When they are browned on top I turn them out on to plates and then flip each over. Cool and then spread with a confectioner’s sugar, butter and cream icing.

Find my recipe below:

The dough is made by dissoling 4 and 1/4 teaspoon dry yeast in 2 and 1/2 cup warm water. Add 3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar, one egg, 1/4 cup oil or melted butter. Add 2 cups whole wheat flour and 4 cups of white flour and one tablespoon of salt. Mix and knead for at least four minutes.

[To rise well bread must have an oil, a liquid, salt, a sugar, and the yeast or levening. You may sustitute another sugar, like honey, or another oil, like butter, but if you omit any of these your bread will fail.]

The dough should be placed in a large bowl and covered with a dish towel until it rises to twice the size. Next punch down the dough. Turn it out on a floured surface and knead some more. Divide into loaves or roll out for cinnamon rolls.  This recipe will  make 1 loaf and two pans of rolls.

Soften butter and spread on the dough. Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon with 3/4 cup raisins and 1 cup chopped pecans. Roll the dough up and cut in slices. Place in the pan you will bake in. Allow to rise again.

Bake at 375 degrees for twenty minutes. Turn out within five minutes. Frost with a mixture of 2 cups powdered sugar, cut with 3 tablespoons butter. Add cream to desired consistency. Spread on warm rolls.

Mama was a baker. She made wonderful orange rolls when we were kids. They were my favorite. (Once she baked them during a blizzard!) I learned to bake from her. In my Life with Mama book you can read how she refused me an Easy Bake Oven which I wanted for Christmas when I was a child. Instead gave me a cookbook, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, cake pans, and cookie sheets. She sewed an apron and put me to work cooking up a storm. Real food! Not easy bake. I have loved baking ever since. (Also read about the blizzard and the man whose life Mama saved.)

Life with Mama (http://bit.ly/2LIFEMAMA)

What’s Good About Home (http://bit.ly/2MYHOME)

Heart of Spring (http://bit.ly/TeachSprg1)