Cinnamon Rolls, Potato Pancakes. and a Snappi

Potato pancakes are one of my comfort foods. Doug knew they were fried, and so didn't try one until last year, although I've been cooking them since we got married. He will now eat ONE. More for me!!

Potato Pancakes

• 1 cup potato, grated
• 1/4 cup onion, grated
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• salt and pepper
• oil (for frying)
  

Grate the potatoes and onions, add remaining ingredients, while heating oil in pan.


I love using a wok for this because I can use a smaller burner and less oil.
Drop by tablespoons-full into the hot oil, let cook a bit, then flatten slightly with a spatula. keep the heat at medium, or medium high. If they cook too quickly on the outside, the inside won't cook.


Brown on both sides, drain on paper towels. These are usually eaten with applesauce but my family now eats them with ketchup. I still prefer applesauce, though.


I had a lot to do today, besides making cinnamon rolls. Guess what I'm going to do with these??


You guessed it!! Kid yogurt, in green today!!! I had to use this small blue dish because the cinnamon rolls are going in the big clear one. Notice the prestigious company this yogurt gets in my fridge??



Cinnamon Rolls

I love, love, love my cinnamon rolls. They're SO good!! I use my trusty bread machine (as usual) for the dough mixing. I love to use this because it reduces my "hands on" time for breads and doughs.

1 c warm milk
2 eggs, room temp
1/3 c butter, melted
4 1/2 c bread flour (or all purpose plus 1 T vital wheat gluten)
1 t salt
2 1/2 t yeast

(also, get out butter and cream cheese for the frosting, let soften on the counter while you work)

Measure the milk, add the butter to it, heat up until the butter melts.


While the butter/milk mixture heats, break the eggs into the bread machine pan. Beat them with a fork.


Add the remaining ingredients in the order listed, being careful to keep the salt away from the yeast. I use all purpose flour and just add 1T of wheat gluten...it's SO much cheaper than that bread flour. silly, silly, silly!!! I can't believe I used to buy that crap!!! How embarrassing!!


Set your machine on the dough cycle and let it rip!! In an hour and 20 minutes, you'll have THIS lovely dough!!


Turn on to a floured board, knead just a bit, then let rest 10 minutes. If you do NOT let it rest you will spend at least those same 10 minutes trying to roll it out. Don't bother. Go update your Facebook status, post a new Tweet, and delete some spam, then go back.


All caught up? Great!!! Roll into an approximately 16x 21 inch rectangle. I never measure, though. I sort of eyeball it.


The filling!!!
1 c brown sugar
2 1/2 T cinnamon (see hints)
1/3 c butter, softened

Spread butter evenly on rolled dough, sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar evenly, then roll up, from the long sides. You need to make a nice long "log" (as William calls anything that's rolled up. Thank you, crappy book illustrators who depict logs as being cylinders with spirals on the ends)



Slice into 12 sections. I usually cut the "log" in half, then cut the remaining together so they are mostly the same size.


Place in a lightly greased pan. I like this big clear Pyrex dish. I use it for everything, as you know. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place. I use the oven with the oven light on. I think I use the light more frequently than the oven!!! Let rise 30-45 minutes, until they are starting to touch in the pan.



While they are rising, make the frosting!!!
Cream Cheese Frosting
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 c butter, softened
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
1/8 t salt

butter and cream cheese softening in the bowl.


Add all ingredients, beat on high until fluffy. Spread on warm rolls.


oooh. all done rising. Take off the towel (very important), set oven to 350, bake until lightly browned, about 15m.



beep, beep, beep, beep. They're done!! Yummy, yummy!!

****HINT*****
Buy good cinnamon sticks (at an Asian or Indian grocery..cheap!!) and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder reserved ONLY for spices. To grind them, microwave or heat in a skillet until warm, wrap in a towel and whack w/ knife handle or heavy mug. Put the pieces in the grinder and grind to a find powder. This really makes a HUGE difference in the taste of the rolls. Fresh cinnamon TASTES like a luxury, but anyone can do it.


And just for fun, since it's been a few days since an Aldous sighting, here he is!! In a snappied prefold, no less, and really, is there anything cuter than a baby in a REAL diaper??


Happy baby Aldous, almost 11 mths old (next Tuesday!!)


Here he is with his lovey, Puppy-puppy.