Orange Rolls

I wanted to make something that I've never made for my neighbors and friends this year. On Christmas morning my mom would always make orange rolls. Even though everything was typically homemade from here, these were never homemade. I didn't have a recipe for it, other than my dough recipe and regular cinnamon rolls. Anyway, I decided to make them to try them out and see if they would work as neighbor gifts this year.
I made one batch of dough which equaled out to be 18 rolls. I put them in those circle disposable pans to make it easy. I tried one right away to see how it tasted and put the other two in the freezer. I tried one that was in the freezer this morning and there was no difference! Yum! Can't wait to make them for Christmas.

I plan on making a cute little tag for them. I will post them as soon as I do.

you get the half eaten picture until I make another batch. I just couldn't wait :)


First make the dough:
 2 cups heated milk (heat in the microwave for 2 minutes)
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 -5 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

If you have a bread maker just put the ingredients in the bread maker in that order on the dough setting. This is what I do and I LOVE it.

 If not just use a mixer. Melt the butter in the milk. Pour milk into mixer. Add sugar and salt. Slowly add half of the flour. Add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Dough should be soft. Cover and let raise for about 45 minutes. (at least 10 if you don't have a lot of time)

Filling Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
orange juice concentrate, thawed


Frosting Ingredients:
1 square butter
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, thawed
splash of water
2 teaspoons orange zest

Roll the dough in a rectangle shape. You could also just roll the dough in a pan and use the pan to guide the shape and then cut the rolls. Spread the butter over the dough, covering it all. sprinkle the sugars over the butter. Drizzle a couple tablespoons of the orange juice concentrate over the sugars. Roll from the long side as tight as possible.
Cut into rolls, I usually do about 1.5 inches apart. Place in the greased baking dish you are using.
To cook right away let them raise for about an hour (or more if you have time). Then cook on 350 for 22 minutes. They should be light brown when done. Pipe icing over them while they are warm.

To make the frosting just mix all ingredients until they are nice and fluffy. Add water and/or powdered sugar as needed to get the taste you desire.

To Freeze:
After you place them in the baking dish cover with foil and then the lid. When you are ready to make them, take them out and let them sit out until they are room temperature (that takes about an hour to two hours) Then let them raise another hour. You could also take them out of the freezer the night before you want to serve them and put them in the fridge. Then you can let them raise about an hour and a half outside the fridge.
Once the rolls have doubled in size you will cook them on 350 for about 22 minutes.

And there you go! Easy homemade orange rolls.

Smoothie Tip

I got this tip from my little sister. Most mornings I make a smoothie with fruit and orange juice. I know there's a lot of sugar in OJ, but I didn't like the taste of anything else. My sister told me that she uses crystal light packets as her OJ. I tried the plain orange one and it turned out great! Could barely taste the difference, plus less sugar! My sister says she used Orange Sunrise. I haven't tried that, but I'm sure it's even better.

This one is probably one of the most frequent smoothies made here since I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Sometimes I don't add the spinach :)

Homemade Waffles

I have been trying to find a good waffle recipe without keeping the bisquick box on hand all the time. This recipe was perfect! The original post is HERE on injennieskitchen.com. I add frozen cut up strawberries and make extra to freeze them. When needed, I just take it out of the freezer, toast it, and top it with some hot syrup. Much better than Eggo or other frozen waffle products.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk
2 large eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 strawberries, chopped into small pieces

 

Add the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix together until blended. In a separate bowl, mix the mild, eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together until blended. Just enough that the flour is all mixed in. Sit for five minutes to let the baking powder activate. Add the strawberries.

Make sure your waffle iron is heated up and then pour enough batter to cover 2/3 of the surface. Heat until the steam has stopped coming out.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

I found this yummy recipe on Pinterest, which linked me HERE. This turned out so delicious!! 

Ingredients:

3 over-ripe bananas, smashed up

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1 1/2 cups flour

For the Swirl:

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbs cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Use a loaf pan and spray it with vegetable oil. In a mixer, or bowl using electric mixer, mix the bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together. Add the dry ingredients just until mixed. Don't over mix.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together for the swirl mix.
Then pour half of the bread mixture into the loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the swirl mixture over the bread mixture. Pour the remaining dough on top of the swirl mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mixture on the top of the bread mix.
Bake for 60-70 mins.

Breakfast Potatoes

For Christmas morning I made some yummy potatoes! I thought I made the recipe up, but sadly my mother informed me that I did not. They sure were yummy. (No picture yet cause we ate them all up)

Ingredients:
5-6 potatoes peeled and diced
Garlic salt
Italian Seasoning
1 green pepper diced
1/2 onion diced
Butter

Directions:
Heat butter in a hot skillet. Combine all other ingredients in a bowl and mix well. When butter is melted, add the mixture. Heat on low to medium heat. Heat for about 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add butter, or EVOO as needed.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

 

First, make the dough

Dough:
2 cups heated milk (heat in the microwave for 2 minutes)
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 -5 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

If you have a bread maker just put the ingredients in the bread maker in that order on the dough setting.
 If not just use a mixer. Melt the butter in the milk. Pour milk into mixer. Add sugar and salt. Slowly add half of the flour. Add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Dough should be soft. Cover and let raise for about 45 minutes. (at least 10 if you don't have a lot of time)

Cinnamon Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
pinch of salt

Roll the dough into a rectangle shape. Then spread the dough with melted butter.

Sprinkle brown sugar, sugar, salt and cinnamon over the butter.

Roll the dough up using the longest end as your starting point.

Cut diagonally into strips (You can use string to make a perfect cut.. I didn't)
Place the cinnamon rolls in a 9x13 pan that has been greased.

Let rise until doubled in size.

Bake at 350 for 18-25 minutes. (My oven takes longer than most and I cooked it for 23 minutes)

Cover with frosting while warm.

I just made my own frosting and it turned out good. I used a little bit of orange extract (but they didn't taste like orange rolls. (Those will be next)
1 stick butter, softened
2-3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons orange extract
splash of milk
pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together until well blended.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

This tastes great, you wouldn't be able to tell they are whole wheat. This is a great starter recipe that can be played around with.



Ingredients:1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon oil

 

Directions:

Preheat griddle.

In medium bowl, stir or sift dry ingredients together; beat egg, buttermilk, brown sugar and oil together. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened; batter should be slightly lumpy.

Pour ¼ cup batter for each cake onto a well-seasoned hot griddle. Flip the pancake when bubbles appear on surface; turn only once.

Weight Watchers Points= 3 points per pancake 1/4 cup sugar free syrup = 1 point

My Grandma’s Banana Bread

Ingredients:

5 large bananas

4 well beaten eggs

1 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Beat bananas until liquid. Add eggs and mix thoroughly; set aside. Cream together shortening and sugar, then add banana and egg mixture and beat thoroughly. Add flour that has been sifted with baking soda and salt, and then fold in nuts. Bake in well greased loaf pans at 300 degrees for 2 hours, or until done.

Breakfast Bake

Ingredients:

I cup diced cooked ham

10.5 oz of hash browns

I cup green bell pepper chopped

1 tablespoon dried onion

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup Bisquick mix

½ teaspoon pepper

3 cups milk

4 eggs

Directions:

In a greased baking sheet mix ham, potatoes, bell pepper, onion and 1 cup of the cheese.

In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, pepper, milk and eggs with whish until blended.

Pour over potato mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover; refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but no more than 24.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover and bake 30 to 35 minutes until light golden brown.

Strawberry Crepe Rollups

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups fat free milk

4 large eggs beaten

¾ tsp vanilla extract

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

_2/3 cup strawberry jam

3 cups chopped fresh strawberries

2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Directions:

In large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and vanilla.

Combine the flour, sugar and salt; add to milk mixture and mix well

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour

Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray

Heat skillet over medium heat

Pour about 2 tablespoons batter into center of skillet

Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom

Cook until top appears dry, turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer

Remove to plate, repeat with additional batter

Spread each crepe with about 2 teaspoons of jam

Top with 2 tablespoons strawberries

Roll up; sprinkle with powdered sugar