Copycat Cinnabuns

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup plus 1 1/2 tsp milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/2 tsp yeast
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. For the rolls, place melted butter, water, instant pudding, 1 cup milk, egg, granulated sugar, salt, flour and yeast in bread machine following manufacturer's instructions. Set for dough cycle.
2. After completion of dough cycle, remove from machine and roll out to an approximate 17x10-inch rectangle
3. For the filling, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon mixture over top.
4. Roll tightly from long end, pinching edges closed when completely rolled. Slice rolled dough into 1/2 inch slices, or larger if a larger bun is preferred.
5. Place into greased cake pans or a cookie sheet. If using cake pans, use three 9-inch pans. Let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, until golden. Do not over bake.
6. For the frosting, combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, confectioners sugar 1 1/2 tsp milk and vanilla extract. Spread on very warm rolls.
I'm not a bread maker at all and these were fast and EASY and delicious!

Baked Potato Soup

4 large baking potatoes (about 2 3/4 pounds)
2/3 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
OR
1 cup of ham, cubed
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheese, add more or less to taste

Bake potatoes at 350 for 65-75 minutes or until tender. Cool completely. Peel and cube potatoes. In a stock pot, melt butter; stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Simmer, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream. Add potatoes and green onions. Garnish with bacon/ham and cheese. Heat till hot, do not boil. If too thick, add more milk

Olive Garden's Breadsticks

We has these at our super Saturday and they were delish. We are having these tonight with the Tomato Bisque soup, great for dipping!

1 1/3 C. H20
4 tsp. soft butter
4 C. Flour
2 TBS sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp yeast
Garlic powder

Mix everything together
roll into log cut into 16 pieces
roll into bread sticks
Cover and raise for 45 min
brush butter and sprinkle with salt
bake @ 400 for 15 min
Brush twice with butter and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder

Thanks Brittnee!!

Tomato Bisque Soup

We also had this soup at Super Saturday. If you like regular tomato soup, you will love this! The cream cheese give it such a good creamy flavor, plus it's fast and easy!

- 1 10oz can of Tomato soup
- 1 tomato soup can of water
- 3 oz Cream cheese

Soften cream cheese and blend so it dissolves easily and doesn't clump. Bring to boil and serve!

{ mmm good homemade chicken noodle soup }

This is for sure my families favorite soup. But I want to give a little background. I grew up cooking by taste, sight, and smell and so most of my recipes are "very flexible" or not a concrete recipe. This is very much one of those recipes. Don't let that scare you in fact I hope it empowers you to try it and change it as you will.

I can my own chicken stock by mixing chicken parts with water, onion, celery etc. then straining and pressure cooking. You can use any chicken broth homemade or store bought to accomplish this.

I feel a large stew pot, half full with chicken broth then I add some garlic, salt and pepper, a little sage, and more onion. If I have carrots I dice and get them boiling with the broth.

Meanwhile, I make the homemade noodles:
(This recipe is plenty for my family of seven in parenthesis is the original recipe)

6 cups of flour (1 1/2 for every batch)
4 eggs (1 egg)
4 egg yolks (1 egg yolk)
1 tsp. salt (1/4 tsp. salt)
Enough water to make a moderately stiff dough

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl ( HINT: water last) mix for 10 min after you get the water where you want it. After you mix roll dough out till thin ( HINT: your choice how thin you want to go but it seems to double after it is cooked) roll like a cinnamon roll or pumpkin roll and cut into strips ( HINT: I usually cut them 1/4 inch but if you like thin noodles go smaller)
Toss with plenty of flour and then fill your stew pot back up to half way get to boiling again and then put your noodles in (HINT: adding the flour with your noodles makes your soup "CREAMY" so if you don't like that add less flour and more water to your pot.)
Boil for 10 min and ENJOY!

Taco Soup

I got this yummy recipe from a good friend of mine and it's SO simple and fast that I have to share it. It also freezes really well.

Taco Soup:

1 lb. ground beef
2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans - drained
1 (15 oz) can black beans - drained
1 qt. tomato juice
1 (4-7 oz) can chopped green chilis
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 can sweet corn - drained
1 med. onion - chopped
1 c. pace picante or any chunky salsa (We use our homemade fresh salsa and it's delicious!)

Brown beef, drain. Combine all ingredients in large pot and bring to simmer for 5-10 minutes, just to heat through. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream and cheese! You can also put all ingredients in a crockpot on low heat until heated when you have guests.

Enjoy!!