Cinnamon Rolls

Quick Buttermilk Sweet Dough:

Ingredients:

2 packages active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

2 eggs

5-6 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

Filling:

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

2-3 teaspoons cinnamon

Raisins or Nuts if desired

Methods:

Dough:

In a large mixer bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add buttermilk, eggs, 2.5 cups of the flour, the butter, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 2 minutes medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.  Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. (Dough should remain soft and slightly sticky.)

Turn dough onto well-floured board; knead 5 minutes or about 200 turns.  Shape dough immediately (no need to let rise) into desired shape/amount. (for rolls, roll dough out into a relatively large rectangle.)

Rolls:

Cover dough with butter.  Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together and top dough.

Begin rolling dough on the longer side of the rectangle. Use thumbs to work across the dough rolling slowly until about an inch from the other side.  Crimp together and set on the seam.  Cut dough roll in half, then cut each into thirds, then half the thirds - resulting in a dozen.  

Cover and let rise for an hour or until doubled in size. Preheat oven to 375.
Bake until golden brown and delicious - about 20 minutes. 

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2-3 cups (or so) of powdered sugar
1/4-1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix with a hand mixer until desired consistency - adding milk to thin or powdered sugar to thicken.

English Muffin Bread

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons cornmeal
2 tablespoons of butter
6 cups bread flour
2 (0.25 oz) packs of active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Methods:
Warm the milk and water in a small saucepan (125-150 degrees).
Use butter to grease 2 loaf pans; sprinkle cornmeal inside, toss extra.
In a large bowl whisk together 3 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and soda.
Stir in warm milk and mix well. Stir in remaining 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time, until a stuff batter is formed.
Split in to two portions and place in pans. Cover and let rise for about 45 mins.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Bake until golden brown, about 25 mins. Remove from pans and cool.

Best enjoyed toasted with a generous amount of butter and a cup of coffee to wash it all down.

Quick Pizza Crust

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup olive oil

Methods:
Preheat oven to 425.
Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together.
Add milk and oil, and stir until mixture comes together in a ball.
Knead dough 10+ times on lightly floured surface. Let rest, then roll out to desired diameter and thickness.
Bake until light brown on top.
Add topping and continue baking until cheese is melted and delicious.