Summer 2009 Magazine Cover

I thought it was time that I post a preview of the cover for this summer's issue! Isn't it pretty? :)

Cinnamon Rolls

We were in need of some bread this morning, so I decided to make a sweet dough so I could also make cinnamon rolls. I took some pictures while I was at it :)


In a small pan melt together 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup milk. Heat until butter is melted and mixture is warm. In the Bosch mixer with the dough hook:

4 1/2 cups warm water

warmed milk mixture

3/4 cup honey or maple syrup (I prefer maple syrup, and not pancake syrup)

2 eggs

3 Tbsp. dough enhancer

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

3 cups freshly ground hard wheat flour

2 1/2 Tbsp. Saf yeast (instant yeast)

Mix for 1 minute until well combined. Cover and let sponge for 35 minutes, jog down as it rises to the top. Add:

2 1/2 Tbsp. sea salt

enough flour to clean the sides of the bowl

Add flour one cup at a time until the dough is cleaning the sides of the bowl. Don't over add flour, the dough should be soft and tacky, but not gooey.



Yes, today was a good baking day! While I was letting the dough sit for a minute, it completely rose out of the top! There is no way to get out of letting the children give it a few pokes.

Now this is enough dough to make at least 2-3 loaves of bread (and sweet breads are extra yummy just with butter and honey!), plus 1 and half pans of cinnamon rolls.



On an oiled counter top, roll out a large portion of dough into a large rectangle about 1/2" thick.

Brush well with melted butter and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Brush again to distribute the cinnamon.

Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Roll lengthwise, making the roll fairly tight.

With a long piece of dental floss, slide the floss underneath the roll, cross the threads, pull and cut.

Place rolls in a greased baking dish. Leave a little space between each so they may rise without becoming too crowded!

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until brown and done.

~Glaze~

In a small bowl whisk together until smooth:

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp. half&half

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Tbsp. melted butter

I added 1/2 cup of coconut milk powder, but that is optional. Coconut milk powder is usually found in specialty baking stores. Enjoy!

Many blessings, ~*~Jessica~*~

Faith

This was an excellent reading from Elisabeth Elliot. It takes care of putting faith in objects around us which tends to destroy our looking up toward the creator when things don't go our way. I like the absolutes much better. Be encouraged, Theresa

Realities
"Faith...the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 KJV).
What realities can we be sure of? There is a popular notion about prayer which assumes that the thing asked for ought to be the object of faith--"Lord, give me this or that," wherefore "this" and "that" become the realities. No. The Bible states the absolutes that we can be certain of: the character of God, his love, his will that we be conformed to his Son's likeness, his sovereign control of all the universe. When faith latches on to those realities which we do not see with our eyes, it can never be confounded. If it makes the thing asked for its object, faith itself will dissolve if the Lord's answer is no, or not yet, or wait.
"In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Let me never be put to confusion" (Ps 71:1 AV).
Elisabeth Elliot