Saturday, February 5, 2011

Jailhouse Cinnamon Rolls

So named because my father made a rendition of these after a man he met as prosecutor for the district attorney in Amarillo in the late 60’s. Apparently, there was man in the community who was a talented cook, but hopeless alcoholic. He would periodically get arrested, and whenever that happened, the word would spread that he was there and cooking. He would make amazing things out of the dried pantry staples: powdered milk, powdered eggs, etc.
I have written a recipe from memory of many mornings grown up, but calling it my father’s recipe is almost a paradox. Dad doesn’t use recipes, but rather methods and approximated ingredients. So, I used the biscuit method and guessed on the amounts. My father’s method sometimes turned out amazing things, sometimes horrors. This time, I got lucky. The biscuits are light with a buttery crunch, and the filling is not too sweet, but a nice cinnamon-sugar crunchiness. I’ve already eaten four. Plus, they were made, baked and cleaned up in less than 30 minutes. Can't beat that!

Jailhouse Cinnamon Rolls

1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp buttermilk powder (if you have buttermilk, use that instead of the powder and water)
½ stick cold butter, cut into pats
3/4 -1¼ cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Stir together the first 6 ingredients. Cut in butter with a fork or two knives until it is pea-sized. Slow add water and stir until just combined. Dough will be wet and sticky. Turn out on a floured board. Pat out into a rectangle. Stir together sugar and cinnamon, and then sprinkle over dough. Carefully roll the dough from the widest edge, brushing off excess flour. Cut into rolls and transfer to a parchment lined pan. The dough is delicate, so they will fall apart a little in transfer. That's okay. They're jailhouse rolls. See below! Bake at 350 for 18 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges.

Ugly...but tasty!

Friday, February 4, 2011

To quote the mailman:

"It's froze as s*** out there!"
A few pictures from this morning's walk. This is the creek by my house. I think the top layer of water is frozen...and isn't running water not supposed to freeze? How should I know? I live in Texas! I thought last year's snow would be the last I'd see for a long time. But on day 4 of a hard freeze with ice and now snow, all bets are off for Texas.
Truth be told, teachers like having school canceled almost as much as the kids do, but by Wednesday evening, I thought we should have gone back to school. Thursday, I went to work with Casey, and yes there was some ice, but whatever. I'd already read three (young adult) books. It's time to get to work!
But today, this kind of snow merits no school. It's amazingly beautiful. Casey was very apprehensive of me even driving to the corner Kroger, but I risked it to get s'mores provisions. We've had a fire the last two nights which has been lovely, but we had no marshmallows to roast. I love, love, love roasting marshmallows...with a big pink heart love. Now, life is perfect.
The Fatty (aka. Charlotte) cares nothing for the snow, and it's cut down on her squirrel hunting.
Charlie just wants to cuddle, no matter the weather.

Stay safe and warm!