Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

I'm feeling pretty good about myself right now! You see, I've created my very own first recipe!

Now, really, in this day and age, you don't come up with a new idea. You find something that sounds good on pinterest. You try it out and it may or may not be all you hoped and dreamed it would be. But by tweaking things and changing them, they eventually become your own. No one else wrote it for me. I created it myself.

I LOVE to bake! I love cakes and cookies and breads and basically anything that goes in the oven. I like creating yummy aromas that permeate the house. I like the comfort that baked goods bring to people. And, of course, I love putting yummy things in my tummy!

As soon as the leaves began to change, I was ready for soups and stews and fresh baked breads. This is not going to go well with my diet plan!

But I've also been turning over a new leaf.... I've added pumpkin to my ingredient list.

Truth be told ... I'm not a fan of pumpkin pie. Never have been. I think it's a texture thing.

However, pumpkin flavored cakes and now cinnamon rolls are starting to find their way into my tastebuds.

So I started out with a fabulous dough....

Rolled it out added sugar and cinnamon inside....

Cut them into their cute little rolls (with dental floss, of course!)....

Baked them up and added a superb cream cheese icing and life became wonderful!

Okay, so it was already wonderful but this just put "the icing on the cake," if you will!

Recipe:
1 1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup of sugar
2 T dry yeast
1/4 cup oil

1 egg
1/2 T salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp ginger
3/4 cup pumpkin
4 1/2 - 5 cups bread flour

4 T melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 T cinnamon

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 T milk

1. Mix first 4 ingredients together and let sit until yeast bubbles, about 10 minutes.
2. Add egg, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and pumpkin and mix well.
3. Add flour a 1/4 cup at a time until dough comes together. Then dump out onto a floured surface, adding a little flour as needed to keep from becoming sticky.
4. Cover with a clean cloth and let sit for about 10 minutes.
5. Pour some oil on your counter. Divide dough in half and roll or press out to about a 16" by 12" rectangle.
6. Spread 2 T of melted butter on dough. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 T cinnamon and 1/4 cup white sugar. Roll up tight. Divide into 12 rolls and place in a 9x13 greased pan.
7. Repeat with other half of dough.
8. Let rise for 15 minutes.
9. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Icing - mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add vanilla. Add milk a little at a time to desired consistency.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins!!

It's Muffin Time! 

{And no, I don't mean the muffin top I've been sporting for a while!}

Muffins are such a great breakfast because you can eat them on the go and fill them with your favorite ingredients! 

Anyone stuck in a breakfast rut? How many times have you made/had cereal or oatmeal? Let's spice it up with these moist, delicious muffins!

These Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins are my fave. My kids like to munch them for snacks, breakfast, and any time they can! I don't really know the nutritional value, but with oats and applesauce, what really could be that bad?!

Want to know how to make them??

Gather your ingredients: 

Start with butter (or margarine) and brown sugar and blend together.

Then add your egg and incorporate that. Next, in a separate bowl, mix together your flour {I used half whole wheat and half all-purpose and we couldn't tell a difference!}, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add a little of the flour mixture at a time, alternating with the applesauce so that the flour doesn't fly everywhere! {Trust me!}

Next, stir in your rolled oats and chocolate chips {cause everything is better with a little chocolate} or raisins or blueberries or whatever suits your fancy!

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until done.

That's it! Pair with a piece of fruit and you are done! How simple is that?! Not to mention, really yummy! 

Now get out of the breakfast rut and make some muffins!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins Full Recipe: (adapted from All Recipes.com)

1/2 cup of butter or margarine (1 stick)

3/4 cup of brown sugar (I only used 1/2 a cup to cut out some of the sweet, especially since you use applesauce)

1 egg

1 cup of flour (I used half whole wheat and half all-purpose, but use what makes you happy)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup applesauce

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips {I'm a semi-sweet girl, but feel free to add dark or milk or even white!} or use raisins or berries ... it's really versatile!

*In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Alternately add flour mixture and applesauce to your butter and sugar mixture. Stir in rolled oats and chocolate chips. 

*Spoon into a greased or lined muffin tin. {I usually like to make mini-muffins} Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. {If you use mini-muffins, decrease your time to about 10-12 minutes}

Conquering Public Places

I confess ... three children is quite the zoo sometimes - especially when they are 5 years, 2 years, and 5 months old! Yet a friend commented, "you make 3 look so easy!". And our pediatrician has even asked, "How do you do it?" Here's the true story...

When number 3 was born, we didn't go many places. Not just because I had a new baby, but because there were three of them and one of me! I was out numbered, out handed {ya know, only having two hands} and pretty much just scared. I have refused invitations to birthday parties, knowing I would have to go alone.  I have grocery shopped at 10pm just so I wouldn't have to take the kids. I passed on fun summer outings for fear that one of the walking children might run from me and then I would have to chase after them, leaving a baby behind, or worse, running with a baby in tow. Oh the nightmares I have concocted!!

But after a couple of months of hiding, I decided I was not doing myself or my children any good. They do need to learn how to behave in public. I do need to get out of the house every once in a while to be my best self. So how do I make it happen??

>Start Small ... To start, we went to Target where they have the giant shopping carts. I strapped the big ones in the seats and placed the baby carrier in the cart. The whole way through we talked about what you can and cannot touch in the store. We also discussed why it's important to stay close to mommy at all times.

>Be Prepared ... I never leave home without snacks, pens and paper, maybe some stickers or other "happy makers". A small diversion could mean dodging a huge meltdown! If you are out to eat or have to wait in a waiting room, try some of these games. So fun!

>Plan, Plan, Plan ... don't leave home without a plan. Where are you going? How long will you be gone? Discuss this with your children so they also know the plan.

>Know Your Limits ... And when I say your limits, I mean yours and your children's. If you know they can handle the park, but you want to pick up a loaf of bread before heading home, consider your options. For me, I would get the bread before the park since my kiddos will play til they are exhausted. 

>Allow for Flexibility ... Even if you have planned and considered your children's capabilities, it might not always go as planned. So allow yourself some room to bend. If I plan to get bread first and the kids start to fuss as we pull into the parking lot, it might be better to go to the park first. Then try for bread later. {or tomorrow, which ever works!}

So when the doctor asks, "How do you do it?", I respond with, "One day at a time." ... Going with the flow and allowing your kids to be kids, while still trying to teach them.

 I might have a zoo at times. And that's okay with me! That's my confession, Mama!