3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

cooking

Day 312: Cinnamon Rolls

by

Normally I like the Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in a tube, you know the ones found in the dairy case. Homemade cinnamon rolls can be too sticky and sweet for me, I like the bread texture.

image

Now I have found a better substitute, Rhodes cinnamon rolls. We had them in church and they were fantastic. It you remember to take them out the night before you can fix them in the morning, otherwise the “fast” ride method in the oven works in just 1 1/2 hours. Delicious!!!

If you love Cinnamon Rolls you can even get cinnamon bun flavored lip gloss. That way you can enjoy the taste all day long whenever you like. I do know a few people who might actually buy this. In fact it would be a good Christmas stocking gift for my boys.

Pillsbury Lip Balm: Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Roll Recipes

Cinnamon Roll And Sticky Bun Recipes To Make Mornings Sweeter

There’s a lot to love about breakfast. Between the French toast, the bacon and the many ways with eggs, it’s no wonder that we want to eat breakfast for each and every meal. And we haven’t even gotten to the best of the morning pastries: cinnamon rolls …

Lazy Cook’s Cinnamon Rolls

Active Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Makes: 8 rolls. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature; 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar; 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon; All-purpose flour, for work surface; 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed …

Super soft cinnamon rolls recipe

She said, “Mom, you know what the secret is to them being so soft and moist? The addition of heavy whipping cream during baking process.” So give it a try for your self and let me know how you like our new cinnamon rolls recipe with the trick by our …

Multigrain Cinnamon Rolls Recipe | Taste of Home

This simple and easy-to-work with recipe is sure to become a family favorite. And the wholesome cinnamon rolls will fill your kitchen with a wonderful, warm aroma. —Judy Eddy, Baldwin City, Kansas.

Cinnamon Rolls « bakerella.com

I love cinnamon rolls and this weekend these were the perfect comfort food. Or comfort dessert that is. Dough swirled with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Yes, yes. yes. These are basic cinnamon rolls … basic yum … with …

Ninety Minute Cinnamon Rolls Recipe – Allrecipes.com

Make soft and sweet homemade cinnamon rolls the quick and easy way with this recipe that uses quick rising dough to make the perfect kid-friendly treat.

Day 311: Prepping For Thanksgiving

by

How to Prepare for Thanksgiving Dinner

How to make a bacon and butter basted turkey for thanksgivingOne of my joys during the year is planning Thanksgiving dinner. My kids love eating my moist delicious turkey wrapped in bacon. You can find the recipe here.

I start shopping for Thanksgiving several weeks before the holiday. Why? Because shopping for Thanksgiving can be expensive. The biggest turkeys are gone first and who wants a 12 lb turkey? My perfect sized turkey is about 18-20 lbs.

What else is on my list as I’m preparing Thanksgiving dinner?

Here is my shopping list for Thanksgiving. This is mainly for my kids who someday will need to fix Thanksgiving for their families.

  • 18-20 lb Fresh Turkey
  • 1 lb of bacon
  • Two pounds of butter (need one lb just for the turkey)
  • Vanilla
  • 18 eggs
  • 2 prepared pie crusts
  • 2 tubes crescent rolls
  • 5 lbs of potatoes
  • 1 can of cranberry jelly
  • 3 boxes StoveTop Stuffing
  • 3 lbs apples
  • 3 lbs onions
  • 1 package of dried cranberries
  • Mushrooms
  • 3 cans of green beans
  • Cream of Mushroom soup
  • FRENCH’S Crispy Fried Onions.
  • Spices
    • Sage
    • Thyme
    • Lawrys Seasoning Salt
    • Grinder Pepper

When Is Thanksgiving?

It never fails. Every year I still get the question Mom? When is Thanksgiving?” Thanksgiving is ALWAYS the third Thursday of November kids. Look at your calendar. Now let me get back to planning thanksgiving dinner so you can feed your belly.

preparing thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving Holiday Decorations

As I’m planning Thanksgiving I set the table the day before. It saves time and stress on Thanksgiving Day to relax and visit with family. I break out my China and good silverware.

 

Yes, I set a traditional Thanksgiving table. I put in all the leaves and gather chairs from all over the house. My family is small compared to friends with extended families.  Since our nuclear family is small, usually 6-8 people, we can all gather in the dinning room.

All the food goes on the table, the Turkey taking center stage and dishes getting passed. We don’t eat buffet style on Thanksgiving. I get a new tablecloth and napkins every Thanksgiving and it’s not easy to find a 72″ table cloth.

I’ve learned a few secrets to setting a large dining table. Use TWO Table cloths overlapping each other.

Use two ta

 

Day 287/365: The Best Caramel Apple Dip in the World

by

The Worlds Best Caramel Apple Dip

Found this Caramel Apple Dip recipe several years ago, and it’s the best I’ve every had. I should know,  I’m a caramel apple addict. Every year I lose my index card and have to dig for it again, but it always turns up in a drawer, or my recipe box, in the wrong section.

So I’m posting it here for posterity, then I can always do a search where ever I am. Yes, the recipe is at the bottom and I did eat all the apples on the plate and the 1/2 cup of dip in the bowl. Yes, I’m a pig, oink, oink, smile.

Caramel Apple Dip
Caramel Apple Dip

The fastest way I’ve found to slice apples is obviously with a STURDY heavy duty apple slicer, don’t get the cheap variety, but the ones with big handles for lots of leverage. If you’re slicing lots of apples, say for a Fall Harvest Party or a Halloween get together then you will want to treat them so they won’t turn brown.

How to Keep Sliced Apples From Turning Brown

Amco Dial-A-Slice Adjustable Apple Corer and Slicer

You can soak your apples in a bowl of water mixed with either citric acid and water  (found in canning supplies) pineapple juice, lemon juice, or a salt water bath. The choice is yours. Here are a few suggestions

  • Honey and Water: 2 TBSP per cup of water
  • Salt Water: 1/8 teaspoon per sup of water
  • Lemon Juice and Water: 1 Tablespoon per cup of water
  • Fruitfresh: 1 teaspoon per cup water
Caramel Apple Dip recipe
Caramel Apple Dip recipe

Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

Here’s the recipe as I found it in Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious magazine 2006

Ingredients & Directions

  • 1 package (14 oz) caramels
  • 20 large marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted (mmm butter)
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (full octane cream, mmmm)
  • Apple slices
  1. Place caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute.
  2. Add marshmallows (which in my opinion don’t count as sugar) ;
  3. Microwave for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted, stirring occasionally.
  4. Whisk in butter and cream until combined.
  5. Serve with apple slices. Refrigerate leftovers.

Yield 2 1/2 cups

I have made this every year and every year it is a hit. The last time was for a football and harvest moon party and I made a double batch and kept the dip warm in a small slow cooker. Seriously, there were kids filling cups of caramel to and scooping it out like candy. I’m the same way, my husband asks me, “Having some apples with your dip”, yup, this apple dip it THAT good!

Oster TSP100 Serving Platter with Center Warming PotHamilton Beach 33416 Party Crock Set, Red

Apple Recipes for Fall

My neighbor has apples and I’m looking for good apple recipes I can fix and freeze, or even can. Something besides applesauce, maybe even a good apple pie filling recipe. If you have one please share. In the mean time I’m going to be scouring Pinterest and some recipe books.

Apples Cookbook: 101 Recipes with ApplesThe Apple Cookbook, 3rd Edition: 125 Freshly Picked Recipes

These Are the Best Apple Recipes For Fall

Just as blockbusters leave movie theaters to make way for award-season films, so too must our summer produce pack up and leave stores. But fear not, because for each and every peach, plum and berry recipe we must bid goodbye for another season, …

Sweet and savory apple recipes for fall

It’s officially apple season. If you’re inundated with the fruit of fall, here are some sweet and savory recipes that can put your apples — and your stomach — to work. Click on the link in the slides for each recipe. Dutch apple pie. If you’re a fan …

5 irresistible apple recipes to bake this autumn

To get you in the mood for fall 2015, we’ve assembled some of our favorite apple recipes from the PennLive files. Apple Pound Cake. Ingredients: 4 medium-size tart apples; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour …

The Apple Recipes That You’ve Been Waiting For All Year

We’ve found 26 apple recipes to make sure you take advantage of fall’s greatest gift. And they’ll also help make sure you’re spending time in the kitchen, because there’s no better place to be in the fall than cozied up next to a warm oven with the …

14 Apple Recipes To Make With Your Orchard Haul This Fall

Labor day has come and gone, meaning it’s only a matter of time before warm days cool to sweater weather, and leaves begin turning. Autumn’s arrival brings a new batch of outdoor activities, and with orchards reopening to the public, apple picking …

Autumn appeal: Recipes for the bounty of apple season

I’ve reached into The Journal recipe archives for some easy ideas from the women who were helping run local orchards back in 1986. Because when it comes to apple recipes, local growers have some of the best. Other recipes come from 2006 and 2011.

Day 258-261/365: Memories of Summer

by

As winter approaches, it’s nice to think about the lazy days of summer. Did I say lazy? Baseball games, softball games, go carting at Joes Carting in Council Bluffs, and a few barbeques thrown in between. I tried to fill the last few days I had with my son before he left for boot camp in the U.S. Marine Corps.

David playing American Legion baseball. Short on catchers so he filled in for a few innings
David playing American Legion baseball. Short on catchers that night, he filled in for a few innings. Didn't do too bad either.
Joe's Carting, Council Bluffs IA
Joe's Carting, Council Bluffs IA
Races continue after Joe's carting. Jennifer won in the virtual world too.
Races continue after Joe's carting. Jennifer won in the virtual world too.
Ribs on the Grill
Ribs on the Grill. Can't you just taste them??