Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I found this grace somewhere a while ago without attribution. It was so special I thought I would share it with you. Many thanks to its creator.
"As we make ready to eat this food, we remember with gratitude, the many people, tools, animals and plants, air and water, sky and earth, turned in the wheel of living and dying, whose joyful exertion, provides our sustenance this day.
May we with the Blessing of this food, join our hearts, to the one heart of the world, in awareness and love, and may we together with everyone, realize the path of awakening and never stop making efforts for the benefit of others."
This is truly an amazing grace!
Blessings upon you my friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

P u m p k i n C i n n a m o n R o l l s w i t h C a r a m e l I c i n g
Oh my goodness- Elizabeth and I made these together over the weekend. The moist centers melt in your mouth. The crispy edges, coated with caramel are heavenly. I think these will be our Christmas morning delights.
M a k e s a dozen good sized rolls

Ingredients for the D o u g h :
1 / 3 c u p m i l k o r s o y m i l k
2 T b u t t e r or Pastor Chuck’s Apple Butter
1/2 c u p c a n n e d p u m p k i n o r m a s h e d c o o k e d p u m p k i n
1 T light brown s u g a r
1 T molasses
1/2 t s a l t
1 l a r g e e g g , b e a t e n
1 T or 1 p a c k a g e a c t i v e d r y y e a s t dissolved in 2 T. warm water
1 t cinnamon
¼ t nutmeg
2 c u p s u n b l e a c h e d a l l - p u r p o s e f l o u r -I like King Arthur flour

Ingredients f o r the F i l l i n g :
1 / 2 c u p b r o w n s u g a r , p a c k e d
2 t c i n n a m o n
½ t nutmeg
3 T m e l t e d b u t t e r - Kate’s is wonderful

Ingredients fo r the I c i n g :
1/2 c u p b u t t e r
1 c u p b r o w n s u g a r , p a c k e d
4 T m i l k or heavy cream
4 t pure v a n i l l a e x t r a c t
d a s h o f s a l t
1 1/2 c u ps s i f t e d p o w d e r e d s u g a r

P r e p a r e the dough : I n a s m a l l s a u c e p a n , h e a t m i l k a n d 2 T b u t t e r j u s t u n t i l w a r m, s t i r r i n g c o n s t a n t l y . The b u t t e r should just be m e l t e d .
I n l a r g e b o w l , c o m b i n e p u m p k i n , s u g a r, molasses a n d s a l t . A d d the warm m i l k m i x t u r e a n d b e a t u n t i l all ingredients are incorporated . B e a t i n e g g a n d y e a s t . I n a s e p a r a t e m i x i n g b o w l , c o m b i n e f l o u r and spices. A d d h a l f o f the f l o u r m i x t u r e t o p u m p k i n batter . B e a t o n l o w s p e e d f o r 5 m i n u t e s , s c r a p i n g s i d e s o f b o w l f r e q u e n t l y . A d d the r e m a i n i n g f l o u r a n d m i x t h o r o u g h l y ( this d o u g h w i l l b e v e r y s o f t ) . T u r n i n t o l i g h t l y g r e a s e d b o w l , t h e n g r e a s e s u r f a c e o f d o u g h l i g h t l y with the melted butter . C o v e r a n d l e t r i s e i n a w a r m p l a c e u n t i l d o u b l e d in bulk, a b o u t 1 h o u r .
P u n c h d o u g h d o w n . T u r n o n t o f l o u r e d s u r f a c e . K n e a d a f e w t u r n s t o f o r m a s m o o t h d o u g h , s p r i n k l i n g w i t h e n o u g h a d d i t i o n a l f l o u r t o m a k e d o u g h e a s y t o h a n d l e . Li g h t l y f l o u r your board again and r o l l the d o u g h i n t o a 10x1 2 - i n c h r e c t a n g l e .
I n a s m a l l b o w l , c o m b i n e b r o w n s u g a r , c i n n a m o n and nutmeg . B r u s h the s u r f a c e o f the d o u g h w i t h m e l t e d b u t t e r . S p r i n k l e w i t h the b r o w n s u g a r m i x t u r e . B e g i n n i n g w i t h one l o n g s i d e o f the d o u g h , r o l l it u p j e l l y - r o l l s t y l e . P i n c h the s e a m t o s e a l . W i t h a s h a r p s e r r a t e d k n i f e , g e n t l y c u t the r o l l i n t o t w e l v e 1 - i n c h s l i c e s . P l a c e r o l l s c u t - s i d e - u p i n a g r e a s e d 9 - i n c h - s q u a r e b a k i n g p a n . ( A t t h i s p o i n t t h e r o l l s c a n b e c o v e r e d a n d r e f r i g e r a t e d o v e r n i g h t i f n e c e s s a r y ) .

C o v e r a n d l e t r i s e u n t i l n e a r l y d o u b l e d , 3 0 t o 4 5 m i n u t e s .

P r e h e a t o v e n t o 3 5 0 F . B a k e r o l l s a b o u t 2 0 m i n u t e s , o r u n t i l g o l d e n . R e m o v e f r o m p a n t o parchment p a p e r - l i n e d cooling r a c k . C o o l 1 0 t o 1 5 m i n u t e s .

W h i l e the r o l l s a r e c o o l i n g , p r e p a r e i c i n g : I n s m a l l s a u c e p a n , h e a t the b u t t e r u n t i l m e l t e d . S t i r i n b r o w n s u g a r a n d m i l k or cream . C o o k o v e r m e d i u m - l o w h e a t f o r 5 m i n u t es, stirring constantly . T r a n s f e r t o a s m a l l m i x i n g b o w l a n d c o o l 5 minutes . S t i r i n v a n i l l a , s a l t a n d p o w d e r e d s u g a r . B e a t w i t h a n e l e c t r i c m i x e r u n t i l w e l l b l e n d e d . I f n e c e s s a r y , a d d m o r e p o w d e r e d s u g a r f o r d e s i r e d c o n s i s t e n c y .

D r i z z l e i c i n g o v e r w a r m r o l l s .
Mmmm Delicious!