Tag: baking

Sticky Cinnamon Rolls

On By greg@kandflivingIn Photo Gallery, Recipes, Uncategorized1 Comment

Holidays were made for indulgences.  Let’s face it, I ate a significant portion of the 65 lbs of ham and turkey I made for Thanksgiving a few days ago.  So why not go the extra mile for my family in town this morning by making some homemade cinnamon rolls?!  Calorie counting will commence promptly on Monday, but I will continue to enjoy the rest of this weekend.  You’ll love the recipe below because it’s easy and also offers a twist with the addition of apricot honey butter (from my home town) and chopped pecans.  Go ahead, make some for yourself and make any weekend morning special.

IMG_0334.JPG

STICKY CINNAMON ROLLS

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Warm jar of honey butter in microwave for 30 seconds.  Remove and pour contents into bottom of a 9″ round non-stick pan.  For this recipe I used apricot pecan honey butter from a candle and honey company in Medina, OH called A.I. Root.  However, you an also find the same flavor combination here or at your local retailer.
  • Roll out pizza or bread dough to a 12-inch x 12-inch square.
  • In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon.  Spread in a thin even layer over the pizza dough going completely to the edges.
  • Roll dough from one side tightly until you have a long tube.
  • Cut rolled dough into six pieces and then place sideways into pan of honey butter.  Arrange five on the outside and one in the middle.  Press down slightly so that all edges are touching.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes until top is golden brown and middles are no longer gooey.
  • Remove from oven and top with a heat-safe platter.  Turn baking pan upside down to turn out finished rolls.  Scrape any excess honey butter and pecans onto the top of the cinnamon rolls.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then serve immediately.

This super-sweet decadent treat is perfect for weekend company or for a brunch event.  It would be easy to triple this recipe and make them in a 13×9 pan as well.  You can also substitute any kind of honey butter here, but I’ll tell you that the apricot gives a wonderful fruity hint to any otherwise really sweet dish.  Either way, I think you’ll make these again and again when you feel the need to indulge.  Dig in and enjoy!

Cornbread For A Crowd

On By greg@kandflivingIn Photo Gallery, Recipes, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Summer and southern cooking always make me crave a warm piece of cornbread slathered in butter.  And when you’re like our extended family, you need a lot of it to satisfy a big group.  So while I love the small batch cooked in cast iron for crispy edges, I came up  with this recipe that feeds a crowd and can be made in a 13 x 9 cake pan.  You can achieve a pretty close crispy texture and moist middle this way too.  Give it a try for your next big Sunday supper or for your Labor Day picnic!

CORNBREAD FOR A CROWD

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbs Salted Butter
  • 2 Cups White Cornmeal
  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Baking Powder
  • 2 Tbs Sugar
  • 2 Tsp Salt
  • 2 Cups Buttermilk
  • 1/2 Cup Canola Oil
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions

  • Place a 13 x 9 dark metal cake pan into oven and preheat to 425 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Beat eggs in a small bowl and add buttermilk and oil.  Mix thoroughly.
  • Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until combined evenly.  Do not overmix!
  • When oven reaches temp, pull out shelf with pan on and drop in butter.  Swirl pan until completed melted.  This will only take a few seconds and pan should be completely greased with frothy melted butter – this will give you a crispy exterior!
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Edges will be brown and top will be a toasty golden color.
  • Serve hot or allow to cool and cover loosely with foil for serving later.
  • Cut into squares and have plenty of butter on hand!

IMG_2062

You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven on a southern plantation when you try this cornbread!  It keeps well for several days so leftovers are NOT a problem. (not that there will be any)  Care to spruce it up?  Try adding a cup of fresh corn to the batter.  Feeling southwestern?  Add a can of diced green chiles (drained) and 1 1/2 cups of freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese.  Now that’s a bowl of chili’s best friend!  Any way you like it, dig in and enjoy…

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

On By greg@kandflivingIn Photo Gallery, Recipes, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Looking for a little something sweet and satisfying to go with your morning coffee?  Try this take on a run-of-the-mill zucchini bread recipe.  With sour cream for moistness and semi-sweet chocolate chips this sweet bread is perfect for breakfast, dessert or your upcoming 4th of July picnics!

CHOCOLATE CHIP ZUCCHINI BREAD

Ingredients

  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
  • 2 Tsp Vanilla
  • 3/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
  • 2 Cups Grated Zucchini
  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tsp Ground Mace
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, beat eggs until frothy.  Add sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is creamy.
  • Add vanilla, oil and sour cream.  Mix thoroughly.
  • Drain grated zucchini in a colander and stir into mixture until evenly distributed.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, mace and salt.
  • Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix until well combined.  Do not over-mix.
  • Fold in chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
  • Pour mixture into a buttered and floured bundt pan or 2 loaf pans.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out to a wire rack to cool completely.

IMG_1700

This is a very simple recipe that can be made with variations.  Try substituting 1 cup chopped walnuts for the chocolate chips or a half cup drained crushed pineapple and a half cup raisins for the chocolate chips.  I’d love to hear what combinations you come up with and how they turn out.  Dig in and enjoy!!

Blueberry Buttermilk Mega Muffins

On By greg@kandflivingIn Photo Gallery, Recipes, UncategorizedLeave a comment

You’ll feel like you’re having a “vacation brunch” when you bake my favorite blueberry muffins!  Chock-full of sweet blueberries these dense tangy muffins are best when made in huge muffin tins.  This recipe yields just 6 muffins, but it’s tough to eat a whole one yourself.  Make them for your next weekend guests or for a lazy weekend morning on the patio with your iced coffee!

IMG_1629

BLUEBERRY BUTTERMILK MEGA MUFFINS

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Stick Melted Butter
  • 2 Eggs, Beaten
  • 1 1/4 Cups Buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 Cups Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 1/2 Tbs Large Crystal Sugar

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Stem and rinse blueberries and dry thoroughly on paper towels.  Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, sift together the first 4 dry ingredients.
  • Add beaten eggs and buttermilk to dry ingredients and mix just enough to combine.
  • Stir in melted butter until mixture is smooth.  It will be a thick batter vs. loose like cake batter.
  • Reserve 20-25 blueberries.  Gently fold remaining blue berries into batter until just evenly combined.
  • Spoon batter into large muffin tins (6 to a tray) that have been sprayed with cooking spray.
  • Use remaining blueberries to top muffins and then sprinkle evenly with crystal sugar.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Allow finished muffins to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

FullSizeRender

My mom made these muffins for me years ago and they are some of my favorites!  I’ve tweaked the recipe since to get just the right density and amount of fruit to hold them together.  I love them with blueberries, but they are excellent with mixed berries as well.  Try some variations and let me know what you think!