Happy New Year to all! May 2014 be the best yet for you and yours; full of health, happiness and prosperity!
Last night in the neighborhood here in San Antonio was what I’ll call “Tag Along” fireworks. You see, our daughter’s house is located just outside the city limits on the very edge of the next county over … a rural one at that. Shooting fireworks is legal here and the locals have a passion for doing just that, it seems. I felt like all that was missing was a full orchestra playing “The Star Spangled Banner” in the background as the bombs burst in air and the “battlefield” was shrouded in spent gunpowder!
It was thus that we participated in a night of fireworks to usher in and welcome 2014.
I awoke this morning with a hankering for Cinnamon Rolls. In honor of the New Year, I’ve decided to fashion a new recipe for “Honey Wheat Apple Cinnamon Rolls” … and I want to take you along with me during the process. The first thing to do is to make the bread. People just seem to believe that making dough and good bread is a job for a machine or a professional! Really, it is easy to do.
I’ll add to the recipe below as the day goes along to complete it. After all, we’ll be making it up as we go! In the end, there’s going to be some great cinnamon rolls to enjoy!
And now to make the rolls.
- 2½ Cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Whole-Wheat Flour
- 1 Cup Milk or Half and Half
- 3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 3 Tablespoons Honey
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 1 Envelope Rapid Rise Yeast
- 1 Egg
- ½ Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Packed Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
- 1 Granny Smith or Other Apple Peeled and Cut into Small Pieces
- Ground Cinnamon, Shake on as Much as You Like!
- Put butter in a 2 cup measure and microwave on high for 40 seconds or until butter is just melted. Add the sugar, salt, milk and honey to the measure and stir. The butter is going to solidify, no worries. Return the measure to the microwave and heat on 100% for 30 seconds. The temperature should be a little warm, but not hot; the butter should be melting a little again. Make sure the temperature is below 120 degrees if you think the cup feels hot. Stir well.
- Measure the flour(s) into a large mixing bowl, add the yeast, and stir well. Make an indentation in the middle of the dry mixture for the liquid; pour it in. Put an egg in your measure and beat with a fork; add to liquid in the flour.
- Using a large spoon, stir, turn and poke mixture until the liquid is incorporated and the dough begins to form. Turn the dough out onto a clean counter; dust with a little flour if too sticky to handle; repeat dusting as necessary, but add as little additional flour as possible ... we want a soft dough. Knead for 4 minutes and form into a ball.
- Oil your bowl with cooking spray and place the dough in it. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then a hand towel and allow to rise for 50 minutes.
- Remove dough to countertop and knead for 1 minute. Flatten with your hands a bit, cover and let rest for 8 minutes. Use a rolling pin and roll and shape the dough into a 10" x 15" rectangle.
- Spread the softened butter over the rectangle's surface. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter evenly and arrange the apples over the sugar. Shake cinnamon over all, as much as you like, or about ¼ Teaspoon.
- Roll up the loaded dough along the long edge, pressing it as you go to keep the apples in place. Place the seam side down on the counter. Use a serrated knife to cross-cut the roll into 1" thick pieces and place in a cake pan coated with cooking spray cut side up. Cover and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven until browned,about 30 minutes. These are juicy as is, but we will add a glaze in the final installment later.
How to Knead. Kneading dough by hand is an age old practice that still produces fantastic bread. To knead, you will need a clean countertop work space, some extra flour at hand and some just made dough. After the dough has come together in your bowl, remove it to a clean work space and sprinkle a little flour on it. Using both hands, flatten the dough, then fold it over itself, push and roll it back together and continue these motions in the same order for the length of time required by your recipe. If the dough sticks to your hands, sprinkle on more flour and continue. Kneading is physical work, so lean into it.
More to come today … check back!
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