Cinnamon Rolls

I was sitting at lunch on Wednesday with some of my co-workers, I was getting off work early that day and saying that I was going to go out and play with the kiddos at the park once I got home... it was70 degrees, sunny just a light breeze, absolutely beautiful out.  Then Scott, the killjoy starts with, "better enjoy it now before the snow comes this weekend."
"Shut up!"
"Really" he keeps on, "we are supposed to get a snow and rain all weekend"
"Would you please stop talking?!?" I reiterated.
 He just wouldn't stop.

What I am saying is today didn't come as a complete surprise for me, but I didn't expect THIS on the first day of spring!  Come on 4 inches!  how is that possible?

Knowing I needed a comforting breakfast I got the first step of this going last night. Since the entire process takes about 3 hours I couldn't leave it all until today.  Really it was easy to do the ingredients:

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp dry Active Yeast
1 TBS Butter melted
1 tsp Salt
3 1/2 cups Flour

for later
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 sticks of Butter (softened)
2 TBS Cinnamon

Take the warm water (105 - 115 degrees) and add 1/4 cup sugar then the two teaspoons of yeast.  Let it activate (get all foamy and funny looking) about 5-6 minutes.  To that add the butter and salt then the flour one cup at a time, stirring as you go.  You have to figure out how much of that last 1/2 cup will need go in, you want the dough to be firm but not dry.  Once you have this ready cover it in plastic wrap and put your dough in a warm place for an hour or so to rise.  I know I will lose some street cred here but I watched Desperate Housewives while the dough went through it's first rise.  Once Susan, Bree and Gabby got themselves out of trouble I put the covered dough in the fridge for the night and went to bed.  Oh, also I pulled two sticks of butter and set them on the counter to temper until morning.

Most days I get up... Ok that isn't exactly the right way to say it... most days my alarm goes off (the first time) at 4:15 am so today when I slept in until 6:30 I rolled out of bed thinking of the luxury of weekends, I got up, took the dough out of the fridge and made my coffee.  This is where it gets cool, mix the two sticks of butter, two Tablespoons of Cinnamon and the remaining 1 1/2 cup sugar together until well blended.   Roll the dough out into a 15 by 10 inch rectangle and spread the cinnamon sugar butter goo all over it like you see below.   Some of us like walnuts at our house some are revolted by them.  Miss Lu was kind enough to sprinkle chopped nuts on about 1/3 of our dough.

Now it is time to roll it up, take the long side and roll it around the gooey butter cinnamon stuff.  Once it is rolled up into a log cut it into 12 equalish pieces and put them into a 9 x 12 inch baking pan that has been well buttered.  If you decide that you like nuts sprinkle them along as much of the pan as you like.  When all the rolls are in there cover and set aside for about 1/2 an hour while you pre heat the oven to 325.  Once the half hour is up pop these guys into the oven... these took about 45 minutes to cook once I pulled them out the requests for frosting started coming in so I mads some real quick with (as if the rolls them selves weren't bad enough) powdered sugar, heavy cream and butter.  Yeah I am feeling a little fat now, thanks for asking.

Oh here they are when they came out of the oven, they should be lightly browned on top.  Take the pan and flop it over onto the serving platter that you are going to use.  Frosting is optional, but to be honest I am glad I was talked into it.

So was it any good?   Take the word of my harshest critic... here is Miss Lu's plate.