Happy Wednesday

Had to stay late at work tonight, unpaid.  Helping a guy pick out a bunch of glasses under his insurance policy.  He was cool and the last patient, but still an hour...  Nothing to be done about it tho, knew this would happen when I started working there again.  

Went to Canale's for supper, couldn't be arsed to cook anything between the extra time at the office and the monthly reminder that being a female is a fate worse than death.  Had to restock on the FHP - pretty sad when an extra super tampon and overnight pad only last four hours.  No wonder I am super lethargic and very pale.  So now have a fully belly, a beer infront of me, cupboard full of absorbent liners, and my best girl on the other end of the line.  For being miserable and hormonal, I'm pretty damn happy.

I need to do so many things, but can't seem to get to any of them.  I need to purchase some new bra's (the two from Sears are wearing out), do my taxes, write more Noreen, write back to my grandma, balance the checkbook, and find a matched set of teddy bears.  Openly avoiding the taxes and  checkbook, avoiding the bra issue until I get a pay check.  It's not a night for Noreen.  Grandma can wait.  Teddy bears I have to see & hold before I'll buy.  Hell, it's 11pm, too late to start any projects anyway.  That extra hour makes a big difference.

Need my shoulders rubbed.

Cinnamon Buns

So yummy, and quite simple to make.  Perfect for the busy person with a short attention span.

Cinnamon Buns Recipe

3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated (white) sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 packages dry yeast
1 cup very warm milk (120F to 130F)
1/3 cup butter, softened (do not use vegetable oil spreads)
1 large egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 chopped pecans (if desired)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon

1.  Mix 2 cups of the flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the salt and yeast in large bowl.  Add warm milk, 1/3 cup butter and the egg.  Beat for a bit, maybe a minute, scraping the bowl often.  Beat harder (har har har) for another few minutes. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle.  If it sticks to your fingers, add a bit more flour.  Should be tacky, but not gluey.

2.  Turn dough onto lightly greased floured surface.  Knead about five minutes or until smooth and elastic.  Place in large greased bowl and turned greased side up.  Cover with damp kitchen cloth and let rise in warm place for an hour and a half until it's doubled.  Dough is ready if you poke it and the dent remains.

3.  Punch down dough.  Flatten with your hands or a rolling pin into a big rectangle on a floured surface.  Spread with 2 tablespoons butter.  Mix optional pecans, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the cinnamon.  Sprinkle it evenly over the butter.  Make more cinnamon mix if you're kinky like that.  Roll rectangle up tightly, on the long side for smaller buns, on the short side for fatter (fewer) buns.  Pinch edges of the dough into the roll to seal.  Won't be pretty like at the store, but it works.  Stretch and shape until even or fuck it and move on.  Cut roll into as many slices as you want.  Place slightly apart in baking pan or sheet.  Cover with damn kitchen towel and let rise about 30 minutes again or until doubled.

4.  Heat oven to 350F

5.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until brown.  Immediately take from baking sheet and drizzle with carmel or vanilla glaze (below).


Vanilla Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Mix it all together until smooth and drizzible.  Add more milk or sugar as needed.

Carmel Glaze:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter

In small saucepan, slowly heat milk and butter over med-low.  Add brown sugar and mix, melting slowly until liquidy.  Add powdered sugar, mixing constantly.  Boil down until of correct consistancy, scraping bottom so it doesn't brown or burn.