Return to Hellish Kitchens

Those who know me well know that I'm not fond of cooking. I like to bake, but it has to be something yummy and easy.

Recently, while perusing http://www.allrecipes.com/ (I looooove that site!) for something breakfasty to make for my hubby's early-morning Bible study group, I came across this recipe for a "Clone of Cinnabon" cinnamon buns.

I read the ingredients and decided that it was definitely something I could do -- especially since it used my bread machine -- so it fit my simple criteria of being simple and yummy.

A-W-E-S-O-M-E is what we thought after we sampled the finished product. In fact, we loved them so much, I keep making them, and, of course, we keep eating them. *wink-grin*

So without further ado...

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes Ready In: 3 Hours
Servings: 12 (you can go here to change the serving size and ingredient proportions)

Ingredients:
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.

Friday Funnies

Thanksgiving...

A time of reflection...a time of gratitude...a time of remembrance...

Nags Head, September 2009

We have so much for which to be THANKFUL!! Most especially for each of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday

This happened naturally...it was too funny to resist.

Baby Bites

Random snippets and thoughts from my "mommy" journal:

• I have a baby whose cheeks smell like spiced cookies.


• My daughter, Emily, 12, just informed me that she's going to be an "orca-ologist" and design clothes for orcas........... Hmm...I wonder what the "demand" will be.


• I am watching my happy baby smash rice crispies with his juice cup.... I wonder how it is that people mellow with each child, especially since I would never have been so amused with the first one doing that....


• I just discovered the liquefied Kit-Kat the baby was driving, holding, squeezing, and loving at my parents' house yesterday....and, funny enough, it's solid again and nearly back to its normal shape. Makes me want to contact Hershey's and congratulate them on a clever product...or not. Hmm... Wonder what makes it do that...


• I am laughing at my baby who discovered that his finger fits perfectly in his nostril....as long he doesn't discover that Cheerios fit in there, too........


• I just watched Ethan make it "rain" rice crispies on a very grateful poochie with no "umbrella" except his tongue.


• I love how my 13-month-old cheers for himself when he does the right thing. Although, it seems a little egotistical when he stops himself from doing a naughty thing over and over just to cheer for himself.


• I just heard my 12-year-old tell my 13-month-old that he looked "all tough and manly" with his PJs unbuttoned at the top. I guess that's the look the baby was going for.

No Bones About It

We went on a school fieldtrip to the Academy of Natural Sciences down in Philadelphia. It was a fun (but cold) day! (Stuart also blogged about it here.)

Enjoy a few pics from our fun!

Friday Funnies

"Ode to Joy" by Beaker.........

Do the Big Boy Hairdo

The time has come for all small boys to have...

...a big boy 'do!

And so I present: Ethan Samuel in his "BEFORE" and "AFTER" shots.

Wordless Wednesday

Momentary Silliness

My son briefly thought that Yo-Yo Ma was the man who invented yo-yos.

...

He's laughing hysterically at himself now that he remembers he's the famous cello player that he saw on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" awhile back.

On Rudeness and Children

I hate rude kids.

I'm not talking about bullies or kids that act bratty naturally.

I'm talking about kids who can't look me in the eye, shake my hand, or say "Hello, Mrs. Foote."

Okay. Let me rephrase that. Maybe it's not rude kids I don't like, but the rudeness kids display?

Better?

And lest you nod your head in agreement, ask yourself, "Can my kids do this?"

I know my little darlings have on occasion.

I'm discouraged, to say the least, when I enter an area with children and greet them -- by name, if I know them -- and have them look away. No correction from Mom and Dad. Sometimes, their parents giggle in embarrassment. Sometimes they make excuses.

But our primary goal as parents is to raise our kids to be adults. Adults who can function in our world. If we live with a moral compass -- i.e. God -- our focus is to raise them into adults who know and love God, too.

God ISN'T rude. God is friendly. God is kind.

But how will our little people ever make it as an adult -- in interviewing for a job or applying for a grant or scholarship, in auditioning for a part -- if we don't force them out of their "shyness?"

My parents would never have stood for unfriendliness from us. We would have heard about it all the way home from wherever we were and then all the way into the house and up to our rooms. It just wasn't done. If someone addressed you, you looked them in the eye and, if appropriate, shook hands and said, "Hello."

Never would we have dreamt of looking away. [Insert horror music and hushing sound.]

Take a good look at your family. Encourage your kids to be friendly and polite.

And we'll definitely do the same.

Having a Ball

Well, the soccer season ended yesterday...after two final games...and so our little "star" will hang his cleats (preferably outside) until the next season.

His team didn't win any games...but they definitely grew and improved as a team.

So next Spring... Bring it on!

Saturday Sweetheart

14 months today!!

Friday Funnies

'Nuf said. *wink-grin* Have a funny Friday!

Game of the Century

Our son's U9 soccer coach -- deciding the team needed a morale-boosting win -- set up a competition between the moms and boys.

Hmm...

We aren't sure if he thought we'd be pushovers and let them win...

But after some fierce competition and some even fiercer "trash talking," the boys prevailed 3 to 2. It was an awesome victory for them.

And I'm not sure about the other moms, but I'm still hurting.

*grin*

* * *

As a few asides:

I was our team's top scorer -- scoring both goals when Edward was goalie...oops. And I also was our team's top "fouler." (It's been a long time since I played soccer in gym class.) Bigger oops.

And I've never seeen a professional game where if a team member from one side knocks down a team member from the other side, they pick them up and brush them off and give them a hug to make sure they're okay.

Worded Wednesday

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

~Laurence Binyon

Autumnal 10-on-10

Moving Moment

Thanks to Jadie over at The World of Emilia for this beautiful video and song:

Saturday Sweetheart

Friday Funnies

I have always loved the Muppets, and this video cemented my complete admiration for the talent of this group. Enjoy! And have a funny Friday!

On Being a Mommy...

I heard a young mother in Starbuck's laughing hysterically at her 17-month-old making piggy noises. She said she thought her baby was a genius...and then she giggled and blushed, embarrassed that she might be acting a little silly and proud.

But I think that's what EVERY baby should be to his/her mommy and daddy: A one-of-a-kind-wholeheartedly-loved-and-cherished genius.

Wordless Wednesday

Good to the last bite?

What's the Sense?

Once upon a time... Wham! Bang! Bippity-boppity-boo!!

There are three kids living in my household.

Wow! How'd that happen?

Well, my hubby will tell you the story sometime if you care to listen, but...

Ahem...

I've been thinking a lot about parenting recently. Most especially about first-time parenting.

It's funny the things you think you know before you have kids -- many of them very true -- but then when put into play, you realize that not all kids are created "equal" (or the same)...and sometimes the same situation calls for a different solution, depending on who is involved.

Of course, that's just common sense, which isn't always so common with three very different children. What worked for one won't necessarily work for the another and vice-versa.

All par for the course...and part of the learning process...for the parents, of course.

Sweet Sunday

A Happy Birthday "shout-out" to my mom!

And a video of an awesome Sunday song. Enjoy the words especially, and have a sweet Sunday!