Cinnamon Rolls

One of our favorite treats around here are Cinnamon Rolls.  First of All clear your schedule, these take a while. It can be done over two days though. I love the recipe from Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond.  However, I like to change two things about it. First I like to cut the recipe in half if it is just for my family.   Then on her recipe she does a coffee flavored icing and I changed that over to a vanilla frosting.

So here is how I do it!

I start off with milk 2 cups, 1/2 cup of veggie oil, and 1/2 cup of sugar.  Throw all of that into a pan and scald that milk.  After that I go do a chore of some kind.  Fold laundry, work out or whatever.  I'm just letting the stuff sit in the pot and cool off.  If you want you can put it in a heat resistant bowl and throw it in your fridge but I don't like to make extra dishes so I just let it sit.  My pans hold heat pretty well so it can take up to an hour.  Once I can comfortably stick a (clean) finger in it I'll add the yeast.

I put in 2 1/4 tsp of yeast and then I go switch the laundry over or play dolls for a few minutes while it gets all bubbly!

Once it is nice and bubbly I put it in a nice big bowl and slowly Stir in 4 cups of all purpose flour.  I like to mix it till it looks like the picture above.  Then I cover it with a grocery bag to let it rise.  Yeah, I know I said a grocery bag. Most people say a towel but I like the seal I get with a grocery bag.  It doesn't get that hard surface and I think I get a better proof.

when you cover it with a bag make sure you leave a bubble on the top  like this. So you don't have dough stuck to it. Let that rise again for hour till it has doubled in size

Then you want to mix in 1/2 tsp. of Baking Powder, 1/2 tsp. of Baking Soda, 1/2 Tablespoon of Salt, and 1/2 cup of flour More.

If you are doing this over two day this is the point where you put the whole bowl covered in plastic wrap in the fridge check on it before you go to bed and punch down the dough if it is rising.  In the morning continue like nothing happened and like you woke up at 5 am to feed your family or friends cinnamon rolls. (I'll never tell on you!) 

Mix all of that together and then get to rolling!  I like to roll mine really thin that way I get lots and lots of beautiful circles in my rolls.

I like to melt one stick of butter and spread it on that dough.

Then Ree likes to use 2 cups of sugar in her rolls I use just under a cup with mine then I sprinkle cinnamon all over it and spread it around. So it looks like this all over the goodness!!!

Roll that bad boy up nice and tight. and I like to cut them in about 1/2 inch rolls. The next part is important spacing in your pan is key if they are too far apart they will spread out and lose their shape.  Too close and you will have a squished roll...

I like mine just like this close but not too close.  Let those rise for another half and hour or so covered and then put them in the oven 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.  My 19 month old is sitting on my lap right now saying "num num num num!!!"  She loves these.


In the mean time make the frosting.

I like to do 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1 tsp. of vanilla, 1/2 tsp of salt, yep salt.  Then I add in whole milk to make it the right consistency. I usually start with 1/4 of a cup then slowly add more till I get it runny put not too runny..

So that I can drizzle it over the top of a warm roll. I like putting pecans on mine.  My dad likes raisins mixed into the dough.  When I do that I only put 1/2 a cup of raisins in during the last addition of flour. Make them your own then enjoy!!! Recipe  insert is below.

Ellie Mae Davis Gobbles Them UP!!

Rainbow Frosting

I love to pipe frosting.  I think it is fun to make designs and decorations.  It is my favorite part of making a cake. The pretty part.

It also looks great on noses!

Over the last few weeks I have found one of my favorite techniques.  I like to call it my Rainbow or Ombre Frosting technique.  You can use as many colors as you can fit in the piping bag.  I like to use three or four. It works really well with just two as well like the picture above.  Here is a picture of three colors that I did on a Trolls birthday cake.  It was fun because I chose primary colors they did mix a little bit and add orange and green hues into the colors.

 

Now lets get into how I like to do it. 

 What you will need:

 frosting

large piping tip

piping bag

a large cup

I tried and tried to write out how to do this and I couldn't write it out to make sense so I had my friend make a sweet video how to do it!

I have also seen people put it in baggies and clip the ends off and put them in a piping bag I tried it that way and it kinda worked but if you bags aren't perfectly the same size and put in just right you get one color squirting out an the others don't put out as much frosting. Also this way if you run out you can put the piping bag right back in the cup and refill it.   That is why I do it this way.  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to message me. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Seriously, when you want chocolate chip cookies these are the cookies you want.  If you are trying to win someone over just bring them these.  When they hear the word cookie again they will automatically think of you.   These taste like they just came out of a fancy bakery.  They stay soft for DAYS but you know and I know, they won't last that long.  full recipe at the bottom of the page.  lets get started here is the line up!

I like to use my Kitchenaid but you can for sure just make them in a bowl with a spoon. 

Here we go first all the dry ingredients Flour, baking soda, salt, and corn starch.  Put them all in the bowl and whisk them together till they are all light and fluffy an mixed. 

Now into another bowl, or Kitchenaid add in the Soft Butter, sugars, vanilla, and eggs. Make sure you only use one egg yoke and one whole egg. Don't use two whole eggs! Mix those till they are super smooth.

Slowly add in your dry ingredients and then the chocolate chips.  For goodness sakes make sure you are using chocolate chips that taste like chocolate not plastic.  Your dough should look like this when it is mixed pretty dense.

Next I like to put mine in a Rubbermaid container and into the fridge for an hour. If you don't chill the dough your cookies will turn out flatter and not as chewy.   I have made big batches and frozen it and it turned out really well too.  

Turn your oven on to 325 degrees F. Cook them for 10 minutes making sure they get a slight golden brown to them. I like to spray my cookie sheets with non stick but these have so much butter in them it isn't completely necessary.  DON'T OVER COOK THESE your heart will hurt.  They will cook a little bit longer when you take them out of the oven.  Make sure these are completely cool before eating they are so good once they are all the way cooled!!   Enjoy! 

Here is a recipe you can print!!

Now Working With Walmart!!! 4 toys on clearance

I wanted to do a quick Walmart post since today is my first day with them!!!

I Jumped on their clearance section and found these awesome little toy steals!!

For all those little train lovers! These little Mystery packs are on sale for just $1.20.  My kids love these little packs they get so excited.




For all of those Frozen lovers, p.s. new movie coming out in November! They Have these dolls on sale for only $19.87!! It is normally $55.12 That is $36 off!!! Killer deal!



You will rock your kids next birthday if you get them this!!! These Motorcycles are normally $79.97 They are on sale for only $44.99!!!




Lego kids! The Lego Classic Creative Bricks are on sale for $13.59 normally $19.99



The link below will link you to more clearance items directly on their site if there is something particular you are looking for! Let me know if you find a great deal.

Looking for the perfect swimsuit?

 

Blog update!!!!! Sorry if you missed it but this post is now out dated.  While is has links to super cute swimsuits ALL of the prices have been raised since I initially posted them a few weeks ago! Make sure you are following my facebook page and blog to get a scoop on all the deals I find that are up to date!

My girls just love the water! We love everything from the sprinklers, splash pads, beach time, and the pool. which means we need a great swimsuit or three... each year! I went through and found the best Amazon deals on swimsuits.  Since each size is often a different price on Amazon I organized it by age.  Just scroll down to your child's size. 

I am going off of the prices I found today May 23rd, 2017. Prices are subject to change I am only an affiliate so I have no control over stock or pricing.  Let me know if you find one you love! 

2T:

3T

4T

5T

5-6

7-8 

9-10

The Perfect Mother's Day Present

Here are a list of Mother's Day present ideas that won't break the bank! They are all Amazon Prime so they have beautiful 2-day free shipping.

First of all great books for the kids to give to Grandma and Mom. These books are super cute! They will be perfect to read over and over with grandma.

 Let's talk about Jewelry, that mom and grandma will actually wear! These bar necklaces are great for everyday.  They come from one baby bear up to six! They are Handmade by a small business too! They were selling out fast.


My Grandma used to sing this to me all the time... it reminded me of her.



I have a special spot for Ree Drummond.  I love her collections this one is new and AWESOME! Because I agree Butter does make everything Better...  If you like these check them out at Walmart they are usually cheaper there but they run of of stock so you can get them on Amazon too.
I would happily take home leftovers in these!


I have a few of these in my house and I love them! Amazon has wicked good deals on them too.  Willow Tree figurines are awesome.

Want more Ideas? Don't worry I'm going through all the great ideas I can find!  Come check back in a day or two...

This post is a little different for me.  I usually post about crafts, recipes, and sales but I wanted to
write about something that has been bothering me for a while so here we go.

Ladies, you are important and beautiful.

Today I was flipping through Facebook and I stopped on a makeup tutorial.  It was a young girl talking about all the imperfections on her face.  She was pointing out these microscopic little pink spots that were around her nose and how her eyebrows weren't full enough and the whole time I was thinking; this girl is already pretty, she could walk outside the way she started and be killin it.  Then I thought of my three daughters and I thought if they knew how amazingly pretty and perfect they are to me, they would never put themselves down.  But, alas, I know this world, I know all the images, conversations, and ridicule they will endure.  Therefore, I am writing this.

A few weeks ago I was driving with my daughters when my five year old said I wish I was.. and she named one of her friends.  I sat there for a moment and then asked her why she wanted to be that person.  She said it was because she had heard me talk to this child's mother about how great that child was. It hit me like a ton of bricks, that my five year old thought that I like this other child more than her because I was praising her friend.  She is already comparing and listening to what we are saying and it is effecting her.  I made it clear to her that she is wonderful, smart, beautiful, and talented.  Everyone has special talents and features that make them unique; we need those unique things to make our lives, and our world, more beautiful.

Here is something I would like to change in the world.  Why is it that because someone is physically beautiful it makes us less beautiful? Why is it that we feel like because someone has an amazing talent it devalues our talents? News flash, it doesn't! Just because Sarah has amazing blonde hair (just throwing names out there) doesn't mean my red/orange hair isn't great.  Just because Jessie can play the violin doesn't mean your paintings aren't enjoyed.

I was looking at the magazine covers in the checkout line and I saw that Julia Roberts was named "Most beautiful Woman 2017" on the cover of People Magazine.  I am not saying she isn't stunning and wonderful, I'm saying that her being stunning and wonderful in no way makes you, me, that old lady that sits in her rocking chair on her porch four doors down, any less beautiful and wonderful.

Next time you feel unattractive or feel like putting yourself down, don't go look in a mirror.  Grab a notebook, I'm talking the pen and pencil kind, and write down the last good thing you did.  That is what we need to focus on.  What good did I personally put into the world today?  If you can't think of something to write down, write down something you can go do, and do it.  That is what gives us a glow, that is what beauty should be, personal development and growth. 

I have my insecurities about myself and I have had major breakdowns as an adult about some of my physical attributes.  Those don't need to be the center of our lives.  We need to forget a little bit more about the outside of ourselves and focus more on what we can do to be kind, help others, remember that we are not the center of the world but a part of the world.  We have a great purpose here in this life, and that is to help others and make it back to our Father in Heaven and to help those around us make it back.

Go, be truly BEAUTIFUL. 


Need a notebook? This one has a great cover.