Рецепт A Sweeter New Year
Happy New Year
Everyone! It is 2020 and jokes about our
vision are bandied about. At the time I
am writing this article, it is still 2019.
Unease has not only hit our vast corner of Utah, but the entire United
States is facing chaos. Impeachment
looms on the horizon, maybe, for our current President, Donald Trump. Politicians in Washington, DC, are against
term limits, so it seems the ones making a mockery of our rights; well we are
kind of stuck with them for now. In our
county, taxes are going up, economic development is being kept at bay, and
everyone notices the underlying racial tension.
Took one of those silly
Facebook tests, one on focus for 2020.
The three words that I noticed immediately were: Happiness, Energy and
Powerful. Wow…wow! At a time when happiness is a minor
commodity, grabbing, and holding, onto it makes perfect sense. Energy, depression saps energy, and who is
not depressed over our current state of affairs!?! Again, grab, and hold, onto your inner
energy; make yourself shine with it!
Powerful, how can anyone feel empowered when every Tom, Dick and Harry
seems to want to own, and run, your life!?
Stand up straight and tall, and say, “No way! I refuse to give my power to anyone. I refuse to have anyone dominate me with
their power.” Seems easier to say than
do, but not if you believe in yourself, and you surround yourself with others
of a positive attitude. Personal
empowerment can be achieved by acknowledging a fear, then conquering it. Fear, indeed, is the mind killer. Once again, Happy New Year Everyone!
To start off the New Year,
I will entertain you with a recipe that I have, myself, feared. Cinnamon rolls are an exquisite example of
comfort food. The yeast smell from the
dough assails the nostrils. Cold winter
nights outside, but cuddly warm inside wrapped in flannel blankets while a fire
snap, crackles and pops in the fireplace.
Kneading the dough moves the arm and hand muscles, yet soothes them at
the same time. The soothing is due to a
satisfaction of accomplishment; the yeast lived, proofed, and rose the
dough. Rolling it out, brushing
sweetened, melted butter and then a savory scented layer of brown sugar and
cinnamon. Roll out the barrels…oops,
Octoberfest just popped into my mind.
Rolling the dough, cutting slices that are place into buttered pans, a
little more rising and then the baking begins.
Within minutes, the scent of yeasty, sweet bread is mixing with the
sweet brown sugar and savory cinnamon.
The scent wafts throughout the entire home, even the noses of the pets
are twitching, and they sigh in their sleep.
Picture it, the Happiness
of warm memories. The Energy which
accomplishment brings overall to mind and body.
The Powerful knowledge that a fear has been conquered. Yes, I did fear making cinnamon rolls from
scratch. I thought it would be
frustrating and difficult, and I feared the failure. Now I know better, and am so much happier for
it.
I do not know what this
New Year, of 2020 Vision, will bring to myself, friends, and family, to anyone
really. While I would love to see a
coming together of all, for the good of all, well, human nature is
unpredictable. Personally, I believe
that letting a small handful of individuals, make all the major decisions for a
community, is not a working concept any longer.
It is time that all groups concerned, put on their big boy/big girl
panties, and begin doing what is best for the majority. Perhaps others will finally understand this
message too, and greater, more positive changes, will develop.
Until then, make some
cinnamon rolls and share them; sit down together and have calm conversations. It is amazing, how something so small, can bring
people together.
Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients:
Dough:
2 packages active dry
yeast
1 cup warm water
(105-115F)
2/3 cup sugar plus 1 tsp
1 cup warm milk
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 tsp salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7 cups flour
Filling:
1 cup melted butter,
divided in half
2 cups brown sugar,
divided in half
3 ½ Tbsp. cinnamon
Glaze:
2/3 cup melted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
6 Tbsp. hot water
Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 packages (8 oz.) cream
cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
3 tsp vanilla
6 cups confectioner's
sugar
2 Tbsp. warm milk
Preparation:
For the Dough:
In a small bowl, mix
together yeast, warm water and one teaspoon sugar; set aside. Yeast will be
ready when bubbles begin forming.
In a large bowl, beat together
thoroughly 2/3 cup sugar, milk, butter, salt and eggs; mix yeast mixture. Add 4
cups of flour, beat until smooth; add in remaining flour one cup at a time,
until dough is slightly stiff, but still sticky. Turn out onto a well-floured
board; knead 5-10 minutes. Place in well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover
with a clean linen towel and let rise in warm place until doubled in size,
about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. When doubled, punch down dough and let rest 5 minutes;
roll out on floured board into a 15x20" rectangle.
For the Filling:
Spread dough with 1/2 cup
melted butter. Mix together 1-1/2 cups brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over
buttered dough. Roll up jellyroll style, pinching edge together to seal. Cut
into 16-18 slices.
Brush bottom and sides of a 13x9 inch baking pan and a 9 inch square or round pan (6 slices per pan) with remaining melted butter; sprinkle with remaining brown sugar. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in pans. Let rise in warm place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F;
25-30 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown. Allow rolls to cool slightly
before glazing or frosting.
For the Glaze:
In medium bowl, mix melted
butter, powdered sugar and vanilla; add hot water one tablespoon at a time
until glaze reaches desired thickness.
Add more water if necessary.
For the Frosting:
In a large bowl, beat
together all ingredients on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Makes 16-18 rolls.
Mary Cokenour