In the Kitchen

 I spent most of the day in the kitchen.

Well, I planned it that way, but it just took longer than I expected.

The plan was to  make a double batch of cinnamon rolls sometime today.  

Now I have to admit that these cinnamon rolls are pretty darn good, and I have made the recipe several times over the past 9 months or so.    I have the routine down well---measuring everything out before I start.  Pre-heating the oven so I can use it for the first rising on the dough.  Warming the milk to just the right temp so the yeast is not killed. 

On the last two-batch session, I tried something new.  Putting the rolls in groups of five in disposable square pans and then wrapping them in Saran Wrap and foil and freezing them.  The purpose behind it was to have cinnamon rolls ready to pop in the oven on Christmas Eve morning or Christmas morning and I wouldn't have to get up early on those mornings or risk not having them ready.  The frozen pans worked out so well  that it seemed like a great idea to go that route again.  We used two pans for Christmas Eve/morning.  Then we pulled out pans for the overnights of Cooper/Lynnlee, Landon, and Tessa/Owen. 

The plan for these pans of rolls was different though.  Two pans went north --- one to Jan and Don so they could heat them up some morning and have an easy breakfast.  Jan had total knee replacement surgery yesterday.  The second pan went to Tony and Beverly.  She had breast cancer surgery on Wednesday.  Once again....a quick breakfast for them (and Brandon, if he were home).  I sent along a container of cream cheese frosting and the instructions for baking from the freezer to the oven.

Another pan is in the freezer to take to the new condo when Karen and Clay move in .  It will be a frenzy of activity on move in day, so having a pan of cinnamon rolls ready to take out of the freezer, thaw, and pop in the oven seemed like a good idea.

The fourth pan in the freezer can be for Hilary and Blaine, if they stop here on their way home from visiting in Francesville...or I might send them home with Blaine tomorrow when he comes over to check on the goats and plow out the drive.

And finally the fifth pan.  No disposable on that one.  I used the new square pan I received for Christmas for those five cinnamon rolls.  It is in the refrigerator.  It can sit on the counter during the church service so the rolls can rise, then they can bake in the oven and be drizzled with the homemade cream cheese frosting I made this afternoon.

Did I ever say how much I love having a dishwasher?  Today was one of those times I was really happy to have one.  Clean up of the baking mess was fairly easy with rinsing bowls, scrapers, measuring cups and spoons and loading all of them into the baskets. A few things I hand washed and returned to their rightful spots.  Counters were cleaned off.  The mat for rolling out dough was washed off and is hanging on the shower curtain in the main floor bathroom to dry. Easy peasy.

 Next on the agenda was making the chicken noodle casserole that is Auntie Ann's recipe.  She borught that casserole to us when Megan was born and shared the recipe because we really liked it.  The girls like it too, so it was included in their family recipes cookbook that we gave then for shower gifts.  n That is in the oven now.  

No sewing for me today, which was part of today's plan as well.  Too much to do in the kitchen and I am happy with the results---I hope.  I don't know how the finished product of the cinnamon rolls will be, but they usually turn out delicious!  

 As for the chicken noodle casserole?  I smell it.  It will be good!