Beautifully Yummy Holidays!

Le sigh.  Holiday cookies are stinkin gorgeous yummy yummily gorgeous.

Paula Deen's Snowflake Cookies

Tyler Florence's Chocolate Covered Snow Peaks

Alton Brown's Paradise Macaroons

Sandra Lee's Stained Glass Wreaths

Giada's Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

All images from Food Network.  And can you tell I'm finally getting *so* excited about the holidays?  I know all the beautiful winter-y home decor treasures out there have had me sighing, but finally, it's like enjoyment is *right* around the corner, and I love it!

{cinnamon roll recipe}

This is delicious.  I know, I say I love food, and yet I don't think I've ever shared a recipe (except that chocolate cake in a mug!) -- But, I have to clean up my work computer, and this was a recipe I snagged from a co-worker, whose cinnamon rolls I absolutely fell in love with.

Her email said it wasn't too much work, but... I don't know.  Regardless, here's to success (and de.licious.cinnamon.rolls.)

edarcy,

via ineedacupcake::allthearmsaroundyou

DOUGH

1 package yeast
1 cup warm milk (not too hot, not too cold)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour

1. Heat milk in the microwave about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. If its too hot, it will kill the yeast; if too cold the yeast won't activate.
2. Pour milk over yeast in large bowl; let set for a few minutes while yeast dissolves in milk.
3. Mix melted butter, sugar, and eggs in small bowl; then add that mixture to the yeast and milk.
4. Gradually stir in flour; add salt.
5. Knead dough about 5 minutes until almost smooth. Form into ball, cover and let rise about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
6. Once dough has risen, roll into a 20x15 rectangle.

FILLING
1 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/3 cup butter (softened)

HINT: I never actually measure any of the filling ingredient. Once I have the dough rolled out, I smear butter over the top with my hands or a pastry brush (depending on my mood), cover that with brown sugar (generously), and then sprinkle cinnamon all over that.

Roll the dough from the long side (so that you have a 15 inch jelly roll looking thing). You can cut them however thick you want them. I cut a dozen and they make big fat yummy rolls.

Put them in a greased 13x9 baking pan. Let them rise another 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 400 for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Frosting

7 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 oz. cream cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla

HINT: I use less butter (4-5 tablespoons) and more cream cheese :o)

**Note: I changed a bit of punctuation, but other than that, directly copy-pasted from my co-worker's email.  And remember, I haven't tried to make this, so um you can ask questions, but I probably won't know the answer :D  Maybe we can all try making this together sometime, and pow-wow-virtually about it later, hmm?  Good luck! Let me know your thoughts if you try this!

dolcifelici,

via ineedacupcake::sugarbunni

mmm, yes please

VINTAGE VICTUALS, feat. on T Spoon of Sunshine, via A Cup of Jo

So, I know I'm an emotional eater, and I'm trying to work on that.  But mmmm, this sooo looks like something I need right now. 

Yum yums ... in 5 minutes!

Ruby Slippers in Italy

My boss sent me this recipe a few months ago -- thank goodness! And sooo easy!

Little English

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

• Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
• Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
• Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
• Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
• Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
• Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
• EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Mmmm, delicious (looking)

Check out this makes-you-look-like-a-fancy-pastry-chef gadget at William Sonoma! It is most definitely going on my wish list.

via Williams Sonoma

A handful of pretties from this week!

• No wonder this chair is a favorite of Kim + Jo at desiretoinspire... The colors, the lines, the natural + quirky/funky blend, the colors (oops, I said that?) -- yummy.
  

Desire to Inspire, feat. Graham Atkins-Hughes

• Dresses. Beautiful light. Beautiful photograph.
  

100layercake, feat. Alix & Kelly.

• Mmmmmmmm. That's all.
  

Layers of Meaning, feat. VintageConfections

• The curls, the polka dotted feathers (my fave!), the delicate + slightly offbeat fun.
  

PolkaDot Bride, feat. Living Image Studio

• I heart apricot-y pink. Or, peaches + pigs, as this is called...
  

via Snippet & Ink

Yesterday got better

This is how my yesterday ended up fantastic.

via AndrewB47 @ flickr

Warm Tortellini and Cherry Salad via Cooking Light

Banana Cake, modified from Technicolor Kitchen, linked by 3Bs

(Thanks, C & E :))

And, of course, a comfy bed with clean jersey sheets -- that's a perfect ending. Maybe I'm too easy, but mmmmmm.

via The Linen Cupboard

(sigh)

Totally one of those days. So, immediate cheer from blogs:

• Gorgeous lavendar chair at Neiman Marcus, via The Finer Things

• Cupcake stationary, by Dingbat Press, featured by Cupcakes Take the Cake
  

• This beautiful combo of a bouquet AND a cupcake, on Martha Stewart via Cupcakes Take the Cake
  
• 

• This recipe (and the extolling of its virtues) from The City Sage
  

Boston Cream Pie Cupcake {Stylish Events, feat. Martha}

{Martha Stewart}

Stylish Events posted this link, and it looked too yummy not to capture and post, since I know Martha Stewart's pages get taken down after I'm not sure how long. For example, before tissue poms because super-all-the-rage, another blogger had posted a link to MS's instructional page, which, after time disappeared. And I'm not losing this scrumptious looking thing!

BOSTON CREAM PIE CUPCAKES!
Makes 18

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for tins
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for tins
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Vanilla Cream
• Chocolate-Ganache Glaze

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour standard muffin tins. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Warm milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Beat eggs and sugar with a mixer on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in dry ingredients.
3. Bring milk and butter to a boil. With mixer on low speed, add milk mixture to batter, and beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each halfway. Bake cupcakes until light gold, about 15 minutes. Let cool in tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Let cool.
4. Using a serrated knife, cut each in half horizontally. Spread 1 tablespoon vanilla cream on each cupcake bottom. Sandwich with top. Spoon glaze over each, and serve immediately.

PS: Vanilla Cream

Makes 1 1/2 cups

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Whisk yolks until smooth. Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, stirring, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 5 minutes.
2. Pour 1/3 of milk mixture into yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thick, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
3. Pass vanilla cream through a fine sieve into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

PPS: Chocolate ganache glaze (Makes about 1 1/4 cups)

• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Remove from heat, and add chocolate and corn syrup. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool, stirring often. Use immediately.

Holy Cupcake!

{Bakerella}

First Communion cupcakes. I mean, I'm not saying these are the Body of Christ -- but Bakerella made these for her friend's daughter's First Communion celebration. The process she went through to make these delightful treats is, in itself, a delight. Or maybe I just looooove cupcakes. And pretty pink things. Hmm.

Favorite finds

I've been a smidge more self-conscious about re-posting things from the fabulous blogs I read ... but some of these things I just can't help. And I tried all week not to... but these are such.pretty.things.

decor amor's dream series, but especially

{Neemrana Fort Palace, India}

{Hagia Sophia, Turkey}

The Finer Things' feather finds

Cupcakes Take the Cake's pedestal of cupcakes

{Suburban Kat}

DesireToInspire today, but especially

{both at Aleenta Resort and Spa, Phuket}

A whole bunch of posts I've missed at Dwellings and Decor, somehow, but especially

[A reader's home]

[Rachel Follett's sketch of her office space, since she had to send pics of her work space for an interview! How neat! I'd almost wish I worked in a field where this was part of the interview, but I think I'd never get a job...]

{Living in Argentina}

BakingBlonde's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dream Bars. Seriously dreamy.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Although I'm sure we're full on tea, I hope your weekend is as scrumptious as these treats look!

{Gourmet Gift Co.}

ADORABLE

So, I was feeling somewhat guilty after seeing Michael Wolf's photography project -- but who am I kidding, I love pretty things. And I feel like a reality check is definitely a good kind of inspiration -- but seriously, my job means I deal with convictions all day long, so part of me feels like it's just fine that things like beautiful posts and fun blogs make me smile.

Like Bakerella's cakepops:

eeeeeeeeeeeee, these are *adorable* -- you should see the ones of just "the body" on different background colors.
Seriously. Makes you smile. And how is that not okay?