Common Cuisine |

This recipe is decadently good, yet so simple I was able to make it on impulse, with no special trip to the grocery store. It is not a “diet” recipe by any stretch, but I can justify it on a Saturday morning when everyone will be working hard around the house burning energy all day. This also uses less sugar and butter than the original recipe.

Notice the only time consuming step is thawing frozen bread dough. Make it yourself from scratch early in the morning, for a little more love (and sugar) and a little less forethought. “From Scratch” instructions follow the recipe below.

This recipe got me thinking about making my own nutrient-boosted dough from scratch, and freezing it until I am ready to use it. Like many things I do in the kitchen, I don’t think it would be difficult. It just requires a little planning. I will post the results of any research I dig up!

Thawing time: overnight
Morning prep time: 75 minutes

ROLLS:
1 loaf frozen white bread dough
6 Tbsp butter (3/4 stick), softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

ICING:
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
dash salt

Set frozen bread loaf in a 13″ x 9″ baking dish. Spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray, cover loaf, and set in refrigerator. Allow to rise overnight. HINT: Set your butter out on the counter now, so it will be soft by morning.

75 minutes before breakfast time, stir together 6 Tbsp softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Remove loaf from refrigerator; save your piece of plastic wrap. Place loaf on a floured surface and roll to 12″ x 9″. Spread sugar mixture on dough, leaving 1″ empty along one long edge. Sprinkle raisins and nuts over sugar mixture. Then, starting along the other long edge, roll the dough into a 12″ log. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the last 1″, and pinch the edge onto the log.

Using dental floss or a sharp knife, carefully cut the log in half, then in half again. Cut each quarter into three equal parts. Set the twelve pieces on end into lightly greased muffin cups. Cover with the saved piece of sprayed plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375.

Bake in preheated oven 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool in muffin cups for a few moments while making the icing.

Melt 2 Tbsp butter and cream cheese together in microwave. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla and salt.

Remove rolls to a serving platter, and drizzle with the icing. Serve warm.

Makes 12.

OPTION: Place all rolls in a 13″x 9″ dish, and bake for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm, directly from the dish.

DOUGH FROM SCRATCH:
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 egg

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Proceed with rolling and spreading processes above.

• 2 cups quick or old fashioned oatmeal, uncooked
• 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt (necessary)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to temperature 375°F. Combine all ingredients, except applesauce and nuts, in a bowl. Mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup mixture. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of greased 13×9 inch baking pan. Bake 13-15 minutes. Cool. Spread applesauce over partially baked base and sprinkle with nuts. Sprinkle reserved 1 cup oatmeal mixture over filling. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into 2 inch squares.

Source: Chefs.com

• ½ package frozen dinner rolls
• ½ C sugar
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ C chopped pecans
• ½ C packed brown sugar
• ½ package cook ‘n’ serve butterscotch pudding mix
• 1 stick (½ cup) cold butter

Arrange dough balls in greased bundt pan or large baking dish.

Mix sugar, cinnamon, pecans, brown sugar and pudding mix in small bowl. Sprinkle over rolls.

Slice butter and arrange slices over rolls.

Cover with foil and a dishtowel and let rise overnight on the kitchen counter.

In morning, preheat oven to 350. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Invert onto plate, let stand for a few minutes, remove pan.

Makes 18 delicious, decadent, gooey servings.

This is a fun dish to make during Thanksgiving week, when everyone is looking for something besides turkey dinner.

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2″ pieces
• ¾ cup onions, chopped
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ginger
• 1 tsp grated orange rind
• ½ cup orange juice
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 3 Tbsp brown sugar (optional)

Layer chicken pieces in bottom of slow cooker. Top with (in order) onion, cranberries, salt, cinnamon, ginger, orange rind, and orange juice. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Remove chicken pieces to a platter.

Melt butter in saucepan. Pour sauce from chicken into pan, reserving ½ cup. Add sugar to saucepan, if using. Heat to boil. Combine reserved sauce with cornstarch until smooth; add to sauce. Return to boil. Boil and stir one minute, until thickened. Serve over chicken.

Serves 4.

• 7 crisp apples
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
• ½ cup walnut pieces
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp orange zest, or 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Core and slice apples using a peeler/corer/slicer tool, while leaving peel on. Or, core and peel 1″ of skin off around the top using an everyday corer/peeler tool. Place whole apples into pie dish. Stuff centers of apples with cranberries and walnuts.

In small saucepan, melt butter. Add orange juice, water, butter, brown sugar, orange zest, cornstarch, and cinnamon; whisk until smooth. Pour over apples. Bake 1 hour until apples are tender. Sprinkle cinnamon over top.

To serve, place apples in small bowls and spoon sauce over top. Top with ice cream if desired.

Serves 7.