Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I had the itch to make cinnamon rolls last week and 9:00 one evening I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and got to work! This was my first time working with dough so it was quite the learning experience. For the first time it seemed like a lot of work, but I think it would be easier the second time around. I'll have to make these again, they were so delicious!

Clone of a Cinnabon
By: Marsha Fernandez

"Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter, softened

                   

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving. "

It hit me halfway through I should be taking pictures!

I used a reviewers notes to make this recipe without the bread machine. I dissolved one package of active yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. I then mixed in the sugar, margarine, salt, and eggs. Added the flour and mixed well. I kneaded the dough into a large ball, dusted lightly with flour. I put the dough in a bowl, covered it and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. I then picked up with step two.

I only cut 4 rolls and placed them in the pan, covered it and put it in the refrigerator overnight. I wrapped the rest of the roll and froze for another time.

The next morning I removed the rolls and let them sit for an hour before baking. I baked them at 350 degrees for 20 minutes because a reviewer mentioned the tops burn easily. They were perfectly done inside and I was impressed with the size!

Happy Baking!

Shabby Chic Sofa Table

I found this fabulous table at a flea market a few months ago and finally have finished it up! I am so excited with the finished result especially since I experimented with a few new techniques for the first time.

BEFORE

AFTER

The original black paint was very chippy which usually I love, but I imagined this table grey. I decided to strip the base of the table to remove some of the paint so I could get a smooth finish. Afterward, I sanded it using 220 sandpaper. First, I painted two coats of 1-2-3 Zinsser Primer. After the primer dried, I painted one coat of a lighter grey and then used a dark brown glaze to finish it.

The glaze I used is Valspar Translucent Mixing Glaze found at Lowes mixed with Raw Umber craft paint. I worked in small sections applying the glaze with a brush. After wiping the majority of the glaze off with a rag, I used a dry brush to soften it. I love how it accented all of the details.

I was planning to stain the top so I used the palm sander to remove the paint. Although, as I began sanding I realized I liked the variation between the light wood and the black paint. I came up with the great idea to try a white/grey wash to finish the look.

I mixed a light grey paint with the Valspar Glaze using a 1:4 ratio. I brushed the glaze on and then took a dry brush to remove some of the paint and give it texture. The wood began to reveal itself even more when the mixture dried. It really exposed a lot of it's imperfections which I love!

I sealed the whole table with two coats of Minwax Polyurethane Spray in Clear Satin finish.

After using the palm sander.

Hope this inspires you to try some different techniques!
I really enjoyed trying something new. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.



Sweet and Salty

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Today I had to share my new favorite thing to do this fall. I have truly enjoyed the cooler days and have been craving coffee to warm me up. I swung by Starbucks three times last week and have fallen in love with one of their specialty drinks. It is called the Salted Caramel Mocha. Of course, while researching to make sure I had the name right, I stumbled upon the calories of this drink and will try to cut back to only once every two weeks! Yikes. It really does relax me to have a warm drink in my hand so I might have to find a lighter version! Another wonderful sweet and salty snack I have been munching on is a candy corn and salted peanuts mix. Do you have any sweet and salty addictions?! Maybe healthier ones?!

I took this picture last winter on my first outing with my new camera! I had to capture the day with my Starbucks coffee in hand. I try not to forget that photography is about capturing the moment and the experience as well as a pretty picture.

I have a few furniture makeovers coming soon so stay tuned.

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Lost In Pinterest

Happy Wednesday! We are halfway through the week already! Time has been flying... especially when I'm on Pinterest and realize three days have gone by! I have been so addicted lately. I can't keep from drooling over all of the Christmas decorating ideas and DIY projects.

I will go against my pull towards Christmas and try to stay in fall mode for a few more weeks. This is some of the fall decorating I have done around the house.

Thank you all for stopping by! I loved reading all of the comments on my quote box. It gave me such a motivational boost!