Even sugar-free these are GOOD

Cinnamon Rolls
Adapted from: the pioneer woman

Ingredients

• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 c coconut Oil
• 1/2 c honey
• 2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 tsp)
• 8 c (plus 1 c extra) whole wheat or all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (heaping) baking powder
• 1 tsp (scant) baking soda
• 1 T (heaping) salt
• 1 c melted butter
• 2 c sugar or erythritol
• generous sprinkling cinnamon

maple frosting

• 1 package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 T pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 c confectioners' sugar or erythritol (thrown in blender previous to use)

Directions

1. For the dough, heat the milk, oil, and honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.
2. Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. 
3. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (Note: dough is easier to work with if it’s been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)
4. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
5. To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan/bowl. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 x 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.
6. To make the filling, pour 3/4 cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don’t be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.
7. Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don’t worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you’re finished, you’ll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.
8. Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices. One “log “will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)
9. Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking. 
10. Remove the towel and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Don’t allow the rolls to become overly brown.
11. While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar; continue beating until well combined and smooth.
12. Remove pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing’s moisture and flavor. They only get better with time… not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It’ll seal the relationship for life. I promise.

 

In honor of Easter. EGGS

Deviled Eggs

source: tastykitchen.com

Ingredients

• 12 whole Eggs
• ½ c Mayonnaise
• 1 T White Vinegar
• ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• ½ tsp Dry Mustard
• 2 dashes Tabasco Sauce
• ¼ tsp Salt
• ¼ tsp Onion Powder
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• 6 whole Green Olives Stuffed With Pimento, Cut In Half (optional)
• ½ teaspoons Paprika Or Parsley, For Garnish

Directions

1. Place eggs in a large pot covered with water. Bring water to a boil, cover the pot and shut off heat. Leave for 10 minutes. Then take eggs out of water with a slotted spoon. Slightly crack the egg to open the shell a little, then run under cold water to peel off the rest of the shell. Once all are peeled, cut eggs in half length-wise.
2. In a bowl, combine mayo, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, Tabasco, salt, onion powder and pepper. Scoop out the yolk part of each egg and put it into the mayo mixture in the bowl. Set the whites aside. 
3. Squish the yolk mixture with a fork to make a slightly smooth consistency. I like tiny bumps of yolk in it, but you can make it as smooth as you like.
4. Spoon the mixture into each half of egg white to fill the hollowed part. To garnish, cut green olives in half and press one into each egg if desired. Sprinkle with paprika and or parsley for garnish. 

 

DANG Good Waffles

Brown Butter Waffles
source: williams-sonoma.com

Ingredients

• 4 T unsalted butter
• 2 c whole milk
• 2 large eggs, separated
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
• 3 T sugar or erythritol
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1⁄4 tsp. sea salt

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 200°F. 
2. Have ready a rimmed baking sheet. Preheat a waffle iron. 
3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk solids in the bottom of the pan turn a toasty brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool slightly. 
4. Add the milk, egg yolks and vanilla, and whisk until combined.
5. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the milk mixture and whisk just until combined (a few small lumps are okay). 
6. In another bowl, using a clean whisk or a handheld mixer, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Scoop the whites onto the batter and, using the whisk, gently fold them in evenly. 
7. If your waffle iron is not nonstick, lightly and evenly oil the grid. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, spoon the batter over the grid, close the lid and cook until the waffle is golden brown, usually about 4 minutes. 
8. Transfer to the baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve the waffles piping hot.

**Optional:

• 2 cups cherries or strawberries
• 3 Tbs. orange blossom or other mild honey

Halve and pit the cherries and place in a bowl. Add the honey, stir to mix evenly and let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes to allow the cherries to release some of their juice. Serve the waffles piping hot with a big spoonful of the cherries.

 

I LOVE shrimp. And pasta. And this dish.

Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi

source: olivegarden.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb medium fresh shrimp, shelled
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1/2 c white wine (or 1/2 c chicken broth + tsp. apple cider vinegar)
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp. italian seasoning
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper
• 4 oz butter
• 1/2 lb angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 T fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in a saute pan. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute; do not brown. Add butter, wine, red pepper, salt and pepper and reduce by half. Add Italian seasoning.
2. Add shrimp and cook 1-2 minutes until fully cooked.
3. Transfer pasta to plate and top with shrimp mixture, and Parmesan cheese.

 

Before I Fall

Before I Fall **1/2
by Lauren Oliver
Book Type: YA, Realistic Fiction
Summary: What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: I really didn't like how this book started out. It was all teens drinking, swearing, talking about sec, doing drugs, drinking alcohol... I guess what's considered the teenage experience. I guess I was clueless in high school and didn't live the experience or was even really aware of it. The main character is super duper popular and awful to everyone. I also hated that. I've never understood why people are so mean to other people sometimes. Anyway. This chick dies and relives the same day over and over again. The way she responds makes perfect sense, so I thought it was realistic in that respect. I did enjoy after about the fourth repeated day when she begins to try and figure out why she keeps repeating the same day over and over again. In the end she figures out what's most important and tries to live her last day to the fullest and still help at least one person. The book progressed slowly, had a lot of disappointments along the way, but the end was satisfying... Except for the fact that the girl remains dead. But it made sense. That's why she's trapped anyway right? Because she's dead and had unfinished business? Anyway. The book wasn't great, it wasn't bad... It was just okay for me! :)

 

Fairy Tales Revamped ~The Princess Books~

Princess of the Midnight Ball ***
by Jessica Day George
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale
Summary: Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above. 
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book is based on the Brother Grimm tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I read the Grimms version and have to say that the author followed the story very well. It follows the plot almost perfectly, with ONE big exception. The princesses in George's story are under a curse that requires them to dance all night long. In the Grimm's tale they choose to and drug the princes. I preferred the princesses being helpless to stop the cruelty that was befalling themselves and those around them. This story was much cuter and more romantic than the Grimm's story. The soldier is endearing, the princesses are more relatable, and the ending was much more exciting. I thought this was a very fun, cute little fairy tale. I really enjoyed reading it!

Princess of Glass ***

by Jessica Day George
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale
Summary: Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances--and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book is a sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball. The main characters are different and the story takes place in a different city with a different bad guy... BUT the main character was IN the first story. She is one of Rose's little sisters. The story is a major twist on Cinderella. Surprisingly I liked it as much as the first book. I thought the main character was a lot of fun. Both of these books were well developed with loveable characters that you just want more of. Fun little remakes of some classic fairy tales :).

Princess of the Silver Woods ***
by Jessica Day George
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale
Summary: When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book was just as fun as the first two. I liked Petunia as a main character. She's spunky like Poppy but she cares a lot about her family like Rose. I thought Oliver was cute, a fun addition to the stories. This story is like the sequel to The Twelve Dancing Princesses with a splash of Little Red Riding Hood thrown in. It was cute, clever, and fun. I thought that this book was a nice little addition to the previous books in this series. If you like the first one then this one is worth reading as well.

 

YUMMY

I LOVE bagels. They are SO GOOD. YUMMY. So it was time for us to attempt to make our own. That way we know what's in them and we know they're healthy. These are healthy bagels but they are still quite delish!
Honey Whole Wheat Bagels

source: heavenlyhomemakers.com

Ingredients

• 4  to 4 1/2  c whole wheat flour
• 1 pkg yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 1/2 c warm water
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 3 T honey 
• Water + 1 T honey

For CINNAMON RAISIN Bagel:

• 1 T cinnamon
• 1 1/4 c raisins

For EVERYTHING Bagel:

• 4 tsp dried garlic
• 4 tsp dried onion
• 4 tsp poppy seeds
• 4 tsp sesame seeds
• 2 tsp kosher salt 

For CINNAMON SUGAR Bagel:

• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. cinammon

Directions

1. Stir together 2 cups of the flour, the salt and the yeast.  Add in the warm water and 3 Tablespoons honey.  Gradually add in the remaining flour. 

**If you are going to blend anything into your dough, now is the time to add it! Such as cinnamon raisin or blueberries.

1. Dump out  dough and knead the flour until smooth and elastic. Cover the dough and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into twelve equal parts. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Begin shaping each piece of dough into a nice ball.  Stick your finger in the middle of the ball and pull it apart to create about a 2 inch hole.   
3. Lay it onto a buttered cookie sheet or baking stone. Continue until all the bagels are formed. Let them sit until your 20 minute timer goes off. 
4. Turn the broiler on in your oven. Broil your bagels for 2 minutes on each side.
5. Meanwhile bring a big pot of water to a boil.  Stir in the remaining 1 T. honey. Put 4-6 bagels into the water, turn down the heat and simmer for seven minutes, turning the bagels over once during that time. Continue to boil your bagels until they are all done.  Let them drain on a towel for 1-2 minutes.

 **If adding toppings brush with egg wash and sprinkle with toppings on both sides now.

1. Bake at 375 ° for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.