Cinnamon Roll Recipe

TOP SECRET

CINNABON® CINNAMON ROLLS

from Mandy Oyama

ROLLS (I've altered this from how I received it from Mandy.  This is in order of how I put it in my bread machine).

1 c. warm milk (105 to 110*)                                

1/3 c. margarine, melted

2 eggs

4 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

½ c. sugar  

1- ¼ ounce pkg. active dry yeast

FILLING

1 c. packed brown sugar                                    

2 ½ Tbsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. margarine

ICING

8 Tbsp. (1 cube) margarine, softened    

¼ c. (2 ounces) cream cheese   

½ tsp. vanilla extract         

1 ½ c. powdered sugar                                      

1/8 tsp salt

1. For rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.

2. Add sugar, margarine, salt, eggs, and flour, and mix well.

3. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put in a bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.

4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough flat until it is approximately 21 inches long and 16 inches wide. It should be about ¼ inch thick.

5. Preheat oven to 400*

6. For filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread the softened     margarine evenly over the surface of the flattened dough. Then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over that.

7. Working carefully from the top (long side), roll the dough down to the bottom edge.

8. Cut the rolled dough into 1 ¾ inch slices and place 6 at a time, evenly spaced, in a lightly greased baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light brown on top.

9. While the rolls bake, combine the icing ingredients. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.

10. When rolls come out of the oven, coat each one generously with icing.

MAKES 12 ROLLS

*You can use a bread machine to make it easier. Add the “ROLLS” ingredients to the bread machine and select the dough option. Then you will need to begin at #4 when it is done. *

Enjoy!!!

7-Year-Old Makes Dinner

Yesterday afternoon, after the elementary-aged boys got home from school, I sat at the table in despair about what to make for dinner.  This is a common occurrence at our house.  We had three soccer games last night and Mutual.  It was a bit crazy.  With needing to help boys with homework and be out the door in a half hour to go to the first game, I knew there wasn't going to be time to make something of nutritional value for dinner.

I asked Inmate #5 to get the crockpot out.  I then directed him to get out the chicken from the freezer and a jar of salsa from the pantry.  He sprayed the crockpot, threw in the chicken and poured the salsa on top.  He then turned the crockpot on high, and we let it go.

In between games two and three, we dropped by the house and grabbed out some tortillas, cheese, sour cream and refried beans.  We warmed the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds and spread some beans on them.  We shreded the chicken and grabbed some out (it had been cooking for just a bit more than three hours at this point), and put it on top of the beans.  We then put some cheese and some sour cream on it and rolled it up.  It was so yummy, and so easy.  Not only that, but Inmate #5 had bragging rights for "making" dinner.

A Fluke?

Is there really such a thing as a fluke?  I'm not sure if I believe in coincidence.  Actually, I'm pretty sure I don't.  A recent turn of events in my life has me thinking that yet again, flukes and coincidences don't just happen.

My mother was a fastidious genealogist.  It was her love, after my dad and us kids, of course.

A few years back, I saw that she had my grandmother's (her mother's) year of death written as 1933 in one place and 1934 in another.  BAFFLING!  Yet, I did nothing to solve the problem.  I just looked it up her records and left it alone.

The other day, I received a message from one of her cousins stating the error and asking which was correct.  I honestly didn't know, so I got into looking for the answer.

I contacted a gentleman in Spokane Valley, Washington.  I think I've shared about the historical museum there and the interest they have in my mom's pictures.  Well, this man is my contact with the museum.  I emailed him and asked if he would go to the cemetery and take a photo of my grandmother's grave.  He wrote back the next day stating that he and one of the grounds keepers at the cemetery had walked the grounds near the site that day, and it was gone.  This is the photo he took:

L-15 section

I was told that her site is near the road and that she is buried next to her parents, so I'm assuming that the four in front are her family.

It is this grandmother that I'm referring to.

I have checked grave site transcription records and found my grandmother listed, so I'm assuming that some kind of marker was there between 2001 and now.  I have a hard time believing that my grandfather would leave her grave only marked with a temporary marker.  She died in 1934.  It was the great depression.  She had been sick for awhile, and that illness was expensive to treat--they sold family land to be able to cover the cost.  It's just such a mystery, but I need to make it right.

I spoke with a man at the cemetery today.  He is going out this morning to probe for a temporary marker that may have sunk down.  I should be getting a call in a couple hours.  I also have a man locally who is ready to help me find a new marker for a good price.

Not sure why it's so strongly in my mind.  It just has to be taken care of.  I have always felt close to this grandmother.  Sometimes I wonder if she watches out for me.  Now, it's my turn to watch out for her.

Pondering on Names

Well, I think I've decided that since this is the "Madhouse," and since Z frequently answers the phone at our house, "Hesses Madhouse" (did you know that is where the blog's name came from?), I might need to stick with that kind of theme for our names.

When Z answers the phone like that (it's either that or more often "Chico's Bar and Grill"), if the person calling asks for me, he then responds with, "Yes, the Chief Inmate is here.  Just a moment...."  With the Bar and Grill scenario, he'll say, "Hey WO-man stop cookin' them thar burritos and talk to this woman (or man if such is the case)."  Too many people have really thought I was making dinner at that point and apologized for interrupting my work.  HaHa!  Even at 9am or 9pm.  What can I say?  I'm a busy burrito baking momma.

So, I think Z will be known as "the warden" from here on out.  Might just have to go with inmate #1 down to #7, and of course, I don't refer to myself in third person, but you never know with the way my sanity is sinking--that day may come; in such a case, I will be the chief inmate.

Bringing Things Back Into Control

Just wanted to share a little conversation I had with B this morning.  I think it may have been inspired, and I might be onto something.  I'm reading Alma 42 this morning, and it fits right in with what happened between B, A and me before they left for school.

Here's what happened...
B, while the boys were trying to get out the door, did something mean to A.  Not an unusual occurence in our home (it actually happens a lot more frequently than I'd like to admit--it makes me crazy!)....A came to me to tell me what B did. 

I called B to me, and instead of the usual lecture, asked him some questions.  First, I said, "B, did it make your heart feel all good and happy inside for doing that to your brother?" 

Response, head bowed, "No." 

Me, "Then why did you do it?  I'm sure you know from past experience that it's not going to make you feel good.  Do you like that feeling?" 

Response, "No." 

So, I guess it did get a little lecture-y, but I followed up with, "B, that feeling is Heavenly Father's way of teaching you that your spirit is now dirty.  It's His way of reminding you that He wants you to come home to him someday, and as long as you have that on your spirit, you can't come back.  So, how are you going to get rid of that?  What can you do?  You need to train yourself to be sensitive to those feelings and do whatever you can to get rid of those bad feelings quickly." 

B then, very sincerely, apologized to A, but still looked sheepish.  I said, "Maybe that wasn't enough....Looks like you're still feeling it a bit."  B walked over to A, put his arms around him and hugged him for a good while.

It was a sweet moment between these brothers.  It made me happy to be their mom.  Yay for little whisperings.  Tender mercy.