Holiday

#CranberryWeek: White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

It’s day three of #CranberryWeek hosted by Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking. We’re sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration.

I made this dip last year at Christmas and it was enjoyed by all. Who doesn’t love a dip in a bread bowl!? I held on to it hoping that #CranberryWeek would indeed return in 2017.

White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip for #CranberryDip from Sew You Think You Can Cook

The photos taken at my parents’ house last year were not worth editing and I knew I’d have to make this dip again. It’s still delicious – the cheddar cheese has a bite that challenges that of the fresh cranberry while the cranberry sauce lends just a back-note of sweetness.

White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 C shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 C shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 C fresh cranberries
  • 1/4 C cranberry sauce
  • 1 sourdough boule loaf

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together shredded cheese and cream cheese until combined. (Option to reserve some of the cheddar cheese for topping.) Fold in the cranberries and cranberry sauce.
  3. Create a bowl from the sourdough by cutting the top and scooping out the insides, leaving enough thickness for a wall. Cube up the removed bread for serving.
  4. Pour cheese mixture into the bread bowl. Place on a baking sheet and bake 30 minutes. Top with reserved cheese, if desired, and broil until golden.
  5. Serve with cubed sourdough bread, vegetables, and crackers.

*This recipe is adapted from https://californiagoldminer.com/recipe/white-cheddar-cranberry-dip*

White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Be sure to check out these other great cranberry recipes:

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Fennel from Caroline’s Cooking

Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad Wraps from Family Around The Table

Cranberry Cheeseball by The Freshman Cook

Cranberry Cobbler from Cookaholic Wife

Cranberry Gremolata from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Cranberry Orange Relish from Books n’ Cooks

Jellied Cranberry Sauce from Palatable Pastime

Orange Cranberry Sweet Rolls from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Pear Holly Cocktail from Bear & Bug Eats

Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries from Making Miracles

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Chicken from Jonesin’ For Taste

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast from Everyday Eileen

White Cheddar and Cranberry Dip from Sew You Think You Can Cook

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies from House of Nash Eats

#CranberryWeek: Cranberry Cider Punch

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

It’s the second day of #CranberryWeek hosted by Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking. We’re sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration.

Cranberry Cider Punch for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Do you have a themed beverage at your holiday gatherings?

I’ve done one for The 4th of July and for Auburn game day (both of those a sangria). Surprisingly, I’ve not done one for Thanksgiving or Christmas! How is that possible?!

This punch I’m sharing for #CranberryWeek is non-alcoholic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little something to it should you desire.

The simple syrup created for this drink uses brown sugar instead of granulated sugar, giving it a beautiful Autumn color. Star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange impart their flavor on the sweetener.

Burst cranberries provide a bit of pizzazz that dress this punch up for holiday season.

Cranberry Cider Punch for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook (2)

Cranberry Cider Punch

Ingredients:

  • 1 C brown sugar
  • 1 1/3 C water, divided use
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1/2 small clementine peel
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 C fresh cranberries
  • 3 C apple cider
  • 1 1/2 C cranberry juice
  • 1 bottle (12.7 oz) ginger beer

Steps:

  1. Make simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, 1 C water, cinnamon sticks, star anise, clementine peel, and nutmeg. Bring to a low boil until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool.
  2. Put cranberries and remaining 1/3 C water in a small skillet. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst. Remove from heat.
  3. In a pitcher (or punch bowl), combine the cider, cranberry juice, 2/3 C simple syrup, and ginger beer. Gently stir to combine.
  4. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with burst cranberries.

*This recipe is adapted from Jessica at https://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/11/cranberry-cider-punch/*

Cranberry Cider Punch for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook (3)

Be sure to check out these other great cranberry recipes:

Cranberry Chicken Salad Wrap by Making Miracles

Cranberry Dijon Ham by Cookaholic Wife

Cranberry Cider Punch by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Cranberry Margaritas by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Cranberry Orange Wild Rice by Jonesin’ for Taste

Fresh Cranberry Muffins by Family Around the Table

Pickled Cranberries by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Salad with Cranberry, Pear, Walnuts and Gorgonzola by Palatable Pastime

#CranberryWeek: Cranberry Swirl Bread

~ lk529 ~ 9 Comments

Welcome to #CranberryWeek, hosted by Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking. We’ll be sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration.

National Cranberry Day November 23rd – which is Thanksgiving Day this year. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the extended weekend with family and friends. I love cooking all day (all week, really) and enjoying a plateful of the best sides of the year.

Last year’s #CranberryWeek was such fun – I’d made 3 of those recipes within the month and can’t wait to see what everyone is sharing this year.

Cranberry and Walnut Swirl Bread for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook (1)

To kick off this week I’m sharing a beautiful bread perfect for you holiday morning. The bread itself is sweet, flaky, and buttery. The swirl is tart with walnuts providing texture.

Cranberry and Walnut Swirl Bread for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook (2)

Cranberry Swirl Bread

Ingredients for bread:

  • 1/2 C milk
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1/3 C butter, cubed
  • 3 – 3 1/2 C flour
  • 1/3 C sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 pkt (0.25 oz) instant yeast (I used Red Star Platinum)

Ingredients for filling:

  • 1 C chopped fresh cranberries
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)

Steps:

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water, and butter over medium-low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool down to 120 – 130 degrees F.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together 1 C flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add the warm milk mixture and mix 2 minutes at medium speed. Add the remaining flour and switch to the dough hook. Knead until the dough comes together around the hook and pulls away from the bowl.
  3. Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and keep in a warm place until doubled in side, about an hour. (I put mine in the microwave.)
  4. Make the filling: In a small saucepan, heat cranberries, water, and brown sugar over medium heat, until cranberries are soft. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter, vinegar, and walnuts. Allow filling to cool.
  5. Punch down the dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Roll into a rectangle. Spread the filling on the dough, leaving a 1/2″ border on all sides. Roll, like cinnamon rolls. Cut in half and place into two greased 9″ x 5″ loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place, about 45 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  7. Bake bread 40 – 45 minutes, until an internal temperature of 190 degrees is reached.

*This recipe is adapted from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cranberry-swirl-loaf*

Cranberry Swirl Bread for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Be sure to check out these other great cranberry recipes:

Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Cranberry Apple Pecan Bread from Cookaholic Wife

Cranberry Apple Pie from House of Nash Eats

Cranberry Butter from Family Around The Table

Cranberry Coffee Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Cranberry Loaf from Making Miracles

Cranberry Moscow Mules from Books n’ Cooks

Cranberry Mousse Chocolate Dessert Bowls by The Freshman Cook

Cranberry Swirl Bread from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Double Chocolate Cranberry Almond Bark from Frugal Pantry

Frosted Cranberries from Bear & Bug Eats

Pear Frangipane Tart with Cranberries from Caroline’s Cooking

Roasted Cranberry Chicken Salad from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Gingerbread Mummies

~ lk529 ~ 3 Comments

 

Halloween is next Tuesday, which means we’ve made it to the end of my themed Halloween week.

The true reason for choosing the theme of mummy this year was to make gingerbread mummies. I’ve seen these pop up on Pinterest every Halloween and it’s one of those “I wish I thought of that” moments. I think they’re completely adorable!

There’s nothing that says you have to use a gingerbread cookie recipe, but it is quite a fun way to transition into the holiday season everyone is really waiting for.

Gingerbread cookies aren’t my favorite, but after this recipe they very well might be! This particular recipe has a perfect balance of ginger and cinnamon, of sugar and spice.

The boys loved helping make these cookies – particularly touching the frosting of every single mummy, forcing us to keep (and eat) all of the decorated cookies for ourselves.

Halloween Gingerbread Cookies | Sew You Think You Can Cook

We made a sheet-full of small gingerbread men to turn into mummies with the leftover candy melts I had from the mummy caramel apples. By all means use your favorite recipe for royal icing or a store bought tube of decorating frosting.

We turned the rest of the dough into fun Halloween shapes -bats, cats, ghosts and pumpkins! I shared these non-child-contaminated cookies with my Bible study group.

This recipe makes approximately 4-5 dozen cookies.

Gingerbread Mummies

Ingredients:

  • 4 C flour
  • 2 tsp ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
  • 1 C brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 C molasses
  • white candy melts, or other white frosting

Steps:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and salt.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg, mixing until incorporated. Add in the molasses, mixing until combined. Slowly add in the flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  3. Cover and refrigerate a minimum of 4 hours.
  4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  5. Roll the dough to 1/6″ thickness. Cut out gingerbread men and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
  6. Decorate mummies with frosting.

*This recipe is adapted from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/gingerbread-cookie-cutouts*

Gingerbread Mummy Cookies | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Mummy Granola Bars

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Granola bars have been on my “to make” list for quite some time. In fact, I’ve tried making them before with disastrous results.

So I did some searching for another type of recipe – this one a no bake!

These chewy granola bars are made kind of like rice krispie treats! They’re packed full of healthy ingredients (and sugar) and given the mummy treatment with a drizzling of melted white chocolate. To give the mummies eye, I simply cut raisins, though melted dark chocolate would work quiet well, too.

These granola bars have an airy crispiness from the rice cereal and a smokey sweetness from the local honey I used in the recipe. Because I was mummifying these granola bars with a drizzling of white chocolate I opted to omit the mini chocolate chips.

If you have a granola bar recipe you swear by, by all means use that – and share it in the comments, I’d love to expand my granola bar repertoire!

Mummy Granola Bars

Ingredients:

  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 1/3 C brown sugar
  • 1/4 C + 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 C quick oats
  • 1 3/4 C crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 C sliced almonds
  • 1/4 C flax meal
  • white chocolate
  • raisins or dark chocolate

Steps:

  1. Line a 9×11″ baking pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
  2. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, and honey together. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook 2 more minutes, until thickened slightly. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla, stir to incorporate.
  3. Fold in the oats, cereal, almonds, and flax meal. Mix until combined.
  4. Pour into the prepared baking dish and press firmly. Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
  5. Remove from the fridge and cut into rectangles.
  6. Melt the white chocolate and pour over the granola bars to make them look like mummies. Cut a raisin in half for each granola bar to make eyes.
  7. Store in the refrigerator.

*This recipe is adapted from Jenn at https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/chewy-chocolate-chip-granola-bars.html*

Mummy Granola Bars | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Mummy Paper Plate Craft

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

I wanted to include a craft during Halloween week here on Sew You Think You Can Cook. 

I couldn’t find any sewing mummy crafts that weren’t a pillowcase and since I did one during Candy Corn week I continued my search. 

Next thought was to make a wreath. Unfortunately I didn’t make one before heading to Alabama a couple of weeks ago so that idea had to be scrapped. 

Firecracker loves making crafts, it’s probably his favorite thing about homeschooling. 

I found a cute and simple mummy paper plate craft on handy dandy Pinterest and knew I could manage that with everything we already had on hand. Mission accomplished last minute!

I made one the night before to have an example for the boys. 

Mummy Paper Plate Kids Craft | Sew You Think You Can Cook
This craft is great for fine motor skill development and if strong enough, they can use the hole punch to punch a ring of holes around the plate.

Mummy Paper Plate Craft (toddler)

Firecracker just liked gluing eyes onto his mummy face and threaded the string over the face just twice. 

Mummy Paper Plate Craft (baby)

I was surprised at how much more Treat did than his older brother! He did a great job inserting the string into holes and loved pulling the string all the way through. 

Here’s what you need to make your own mummy paper plate:

  • White paper plate
  • Hole punch 
  • Eyes (googly eyes, buttons, or a marker)
  • Glue, if needed
  • White yarn, string, or thin ribbon 
  • Tape, if needed

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Punch holes around the edge of the plate. 
  2. Glue or draw on the eyes. Let dry. 
  3. String the yarn through the holes, going across the face in a haphazard manner. Tie ends of the string behind the plate and tape down if desired. 

Mummy Paper Plate Craft (3) | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Mummy Caramel Apples

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

We’re just over a week away from Halloween (not that you’d know it from all the Christmas paraphernalia in the stores already) and that means it’s time for my week long theme!

Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving wins that honor), but when it comes to blogging I look forward to my themed week the most.

It will be hard to beat the Harry Potter theme last year, but what I’ve got in store for you this week is simply too cute to resist!

I’ve been contemplating this mummy theme for a few years now, honestly, and I’m excited to finally be bringing it to you!

We’re going to start with caramel apples, which get the adorable mummy treatment.

Caramel apples have never been my go-to treat, but after a recent trip to Disneyland, I’m now hooked!

Mummy Caramel Apples (baby) | Sew You Think You Can Cook

While walking around main street to find a place to watch the parade, I caught a glimpse of a caramel apple in a shop window. I immediately decided I needed one – I was craving something sweet yet fresh and I thought a bright Granny Smith apple coated in caramel would do the trick. It did take a while before I finally found that apple – in the Winnie-the-Pooh part of the park making it that much better!

Mummy Caramel Apples (toddler) | Sew You Think You Can CookI made 6 caramel apples for this blog post and I have no shame in saying that I personally ate 5 of them! My afternoon apple and Nutella snack simply got replaced with a mummy caramel apple. And it was glorious, and might just have ruined regular apples forever. Firecracker took all the slices with eye candies.

Mummy Caramel Apples

Ingredients:

  • 6 Granny Smith apples
  • 6 popsicle sticks, skewers, or cocktail stirrers
  • 14 oz caramel squares, unwrapped
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • white candy melts
  • 12 candy eyes

Steps:

  1. Thoroughly wash and dry the apples and remove the stem. Carefully push the popsicle sticks into the stem of the apples.
  2. In a microwaveable bowl, combine the caramels and the cream. Microwave 1-2 minutes, until caramels are melted, stirring every 20 seconds.
  3. Dip the apples into the melted caramel, working quickly and carefully. Place coated apples on a parchment lined tray and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
  4. Melt the candy melts according to package instructions. Use a spoon to drizzle the candy over the caramel apples, to create a mummy. Dip two candy eyes into the candy melt and stick to the apple. Repeat for all 6 apples and return to the refrigerator to set.

Mummy Caramel Apples | Sew You Think You Can Cook

 

#FantasticalFoodFight: BLT

~ lk529 ~ 14 Comments

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I took a bit of a break from blogging over the Easter holiday. But I’m back and ready for a food fight!

Blog-oshper-ically speaking of course. Don’t you dare throw food around my house. You’ll get a glaring look, scolding, and slap on the hand. Just ask my 17 month old. Not that any of those punishments seem to work. Who wants to give us advice on how to get the child to STOP THROWING HIS FOOD ON THE FLOOR!?

This month’s Food Fight is BLT. Recipe requirements were to share a sandwich that contains bacon, a green leafy veggie, and tomato.

With it being the Easter season, I immediately thought of trying to make egg salad with our colored eggs. My mini me loved helping peel the eggs.

 

This year was the first we colored eggs with our children and I am so incredibly, words cannot express how happy I am that they loved it! My husband had the genius idea to color eggs outside and it’s a good thing we did! Treat just kept wanting to drop eggs into the mugs of dyed water. The concept of being gentle is completely lost on him. The result of the splash the eggs into the water method was a dark puddle of water on the tray holding the mugs of dye.

I’m on the trend of starting to like eggs and I’m happy to report that I quite liked this egg salad. I’m confident it’s the yellow mustard that makes me enjoy it so. Putting egg salad on a BLT is probably the best way to eat it, too! The crunch from the bacon and the freshness from the tomato create the perfect bite.

This recipe makes 4-6 sandwiches.

Egg Salad BLT Sandwiches

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 9 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
  • 1 lb center cut bacon, cooked
  • 8 slices sourdough bread, toasted
  • 2 vine ripened tomatoes
  • 4 leaves romaine hearts

Steps:

  1. Make egg salad: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, paparika, and onion powder. Season to tastes with S+P. Fold in the chopped eggs.
  2. Assemble sandwiches: Spoon egg salad onto a slice of bread. Top with 2-3 slices tomato, 3-4 slices bacon, and one lettuce leaf. Add a second slice of toasted bread. Cut in half and serve.

*The egg salad recipe is adapted from Heather at http://missfrugalmommy.com/easy-egg-salad-recipe/*

Egg Salad BLT for #FantasticalFoodFight from Sew You Think You Can Cook

To check out the other Fantastical BLT sandwiches click here:

If you would like to join our Fantastical Food Fight, you can learn more on our informational page.

Carrot Cake Energy Balls #EasterRecipes

~ lk529 ~ 15 Comments

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Today is my last post as part of the Easter Week with “Holiday Fun with our Blogging Friends.” This week, 13 bloggers are sharing 46 recipes and tips to help you serve up deliciousness this Easter. Follow #EasterRecipes on social media to see what we’re serving up! I’ll be taking the Holy Weekend off from my computer and spending it with my family and friends.

Our brunch menu consists of those Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls I shared with you yesterday, eggs, and bacon. Our dinner menu will be my Parmesan Pork Tenderloin, a corn and green bean casserole from one of my cookbooks, and some crescent rolls on the side. For dessert, as is tradition, I’ll be making my grandmother’s Easter Pound Cake in her lamb mold.

To round out my carrot cake related offerings this week I provide you with a healthy option. These energy balls even qualify as raw vegan (assuming you leave off the drizzle of cream cheese icing)!

If you love carrot cake, you absolutely must stop everything you’re doing and make these energy balls. You won’t feel guilty in the slightest indulging in a couple.

Firecracker helped me make them – aka he dumped ingredients into and pushed the buttons on the food processor – so he knew there were a bunch of carrots in these treats. Even if I called it a cookie he wouldn’t actually try a bite.

Treat on the other hand, inhaled two of them with his lunch! He had two more of the bunch later in the week, too.

I brought them to Bible study, as I knew one of the moms follows a raw vegan diet. I brought that Caramel Apple Dip as planned, but as we’d made these carrot cake bites the day before, the lightbulb went off and I knew I had to leave cream cheese icing off half of them. They were greatly approved and appreciated.

You can customize these balls to suit your tastes, too. Use any nut you like and any nut or seed butter in your pantry. I actually used a honey sunflower butter!

Carrot Cake Energy  Balls

Ingredients:

  • 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 6 Medjool dates, pitted and halved
  • 1/2 C pecans
  • 1 tbsp sunflower butter
  • 1 C quick oats
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • cream cheese icing (optional)

Steps:

  1. Pulse carrots in a food processor until finely shredded. Remove and set aside.
  2. Place the dates and pecans in the food processor and pulse until combined. Return the carrots to the food processor along with the remaining ingredients. Pulse until the mixture starts to come together.
  3. Form into balls. If the mixture is too thin, add a little more oats; if it’s too dry, add a little extra sunflower butter.
  4. Optional: Thin out the icing with milk. Drizzle over the energy balls.
  5. Store in refrigerator up to a week.

*This recipe is adapted from http://www.superhealthykids.com/no-bake-carrot-cake-bites/*

Carrot Cake Energy Balls | Sew You Think You Can Cook | #EasterRecipes

Be sure to check out these other Easter recipes:

Baked Eggs with Tomatoes by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Hot Cross Buns by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Classic Peanut Butter Confetti Bars by Making the Most of Naptime

Easter Muddy Buddies by Family Around The Table

Honey Cinnamon Quick Bread by Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Linda’s Famous Carrot Cake by Cooking With Carlee

Mini Easter Cheesecake Bites by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

In case you missed them, here are the #EasterRecipes from the first half of the week:

Monday

Deviled Ham Bites by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

30 Minute Dinner Rolls by Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Easy Pecan Sticky Buns by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

Easy Citrus Ham by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Sausage and Vegetable Strata by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus With Lemon Herb Sauce by Tip Garden

Strawberry “Carrots” by Family Around The Table

Easter Malted Milk Dip by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Sharadan’s Lemon Blueberry Parfaits by Cooking With Carlee

Easter Egg Cooking and Dyeing Tips and Tricks by Palatable Pastime

Tuesday

Italian Easter Bread by Palatable Pastime

Carrot Cake Pancakes by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Torta Salata Pasquale by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Dill Roasted Radishes by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus by Family Around The Table

Praying Arm Pretzels by Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Creamy Coconut Mini Tarts by Making the Most of Naptime

Wednesday

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Cinnamon Crescent Rolls by Tip Garden

Individual Easter Breads by Cooking With Carlee

Tomato Asparagus Quiche by Caroline’s Cooking

Peeps Whoopie Pies by Palatable Pastime

Rosemary Garlic Herb Rib Roast by Family Around The Table

Honey butter Peas and Carrots by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Pea and Pasta Salad by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Roasted Eggplant Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls #EasterRecipes

~ lk529 ~ 21 Comments

What do you do when you can’t sleep?

Do you just toss and turn, stare at the dark ceiling and hope for rest to return?

Well, today (yesterday) I decided to do something productive with my restlessness. Maybe I’ll be regretting that later, but I was tired of feeling like I was keeping the hubs awake. (Pun unintended.)

So what did I do?

Wash dishes.

Everyone washes dishes at 2am, right?!

I don’t know why I couldn’t sleep. I have a slight head cold, but it’s nothing to write home about. (Hopefully this “just wake up” decision doesn’t come back to bite me with that cold. I’m off to get some Nyquil tomorrow!) I keep having these parenting dreams that seem all too real, involving unplanned pregnancy and horrible mothering.

I think the real culprit has something to do with the first of three preschool tours lined up this month in the morning. All yesterday, while he was playing with his trains and talking up a storm, I just looked at him and thought, “When did you get so big?”

We aren’t looking to start Firecracker in school until the Fall – he’ll be 3 and {hopefully} potty trained by then. He is definitely interested in going to school. My boy is such a social butterfly, it’s just something we need to do for him. He’ll be attending VBS at our church this summer, so it’ll be a great test! (Yep, typing that reminded me to go register him now. Look at all of the productive things one can get done in the 2 o’clock hour!)

Who knew picking a preschool would be such a big decision!? I have a spreadsheet on my computer with our top choices, breaking down stats, including the insane cost that is preschool. We’re only considering 2 or 3 times a week, and half days. Yikes!

Maybe typing out these thoughts will help calm my mind and I’ll be able to go back to sleep soon. Odds are I’m going to end up asleep on the couch, computer in lap!

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Absolutely none of that intro story has to do with the Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls I’m sharing with today’s Holiday Fun with our Blogging Friends group. Except that I have to write this post and might as well do it at 2:45 in the morning, right? That way I don’t have to pull out my computer during playtime with my growing boys!

This week, 13 bloggers are sharing 46 recipes and tips to help you serve up deliciousness this Easter. Follow #EasterRecipes on social media to see what we’re serving up!

Yesterday, I shared Carrot Cake Pancakes that came with a confused maple cream cheese topping. All of that leftover maple mixture didn’t go to waste. I simply made cinnamon rolls the next day! Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls, of course.

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients for the dough:

  • 1 packet active dry yeast
  • 1 C warm water
  • 3 tbsp room temperature butter
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 3 – 4 C flour, plus extra for rolling
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tbsp salt

Ingredients for filling:

  • 4 tbsp. butter, softened
  • 3/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 large carrot, grated
  • 1/2 C raisins
  • 1/2 C chopped walnuts

Ingredients for frosting:

  • 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 C real maple syrup

Steps:

  1. Stir yeast into the warm water. Let bloom for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat butter, sugar, and salt. Add eggs one at a time, beating until combined. Slowly pour in the yeast and water. Beat until combined. Add the flour about one cup at a time, beating until combined after each addition. Once the dough starts to form switch to the dough hook attachment. After all the flour has been added knead the dough for 3 minutes.
  3. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand until smooth.
  4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise to double in size (about 30 minutes) in a warm place. (In the microwave or turned off oven)
  5. Roll out dough onto a floured surface.
  6. Roll into a rectangle. Spread the dough evenly with the softened butter. In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Sprinkle the mixture over the dough. Add the grated carrot, raisins, and walnuts, pressing into the dough slightly. Roll the dough into a log, lengthwise. Cut the dough into 2″ cinnamon rolls. Place cut side down in a 9×13 casserole dish.
  7. Cover dough with a towel and let rise for 30 minutes before baking. The rolls should have doubled in size again. (Or you can freeze the rolls and after thawing let rise until doubled in size.)
  8. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake another 7 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool, slightly.
  9. Meanwhile, make frosting. Using a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and syrup. Frost the cinnamon rolls!

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls Sew You Think You Can Cook #EasterRecipes

Be sure to check out these other Easter Recipes:

Cinnamon Crescent Rolls by Tip Garden

Individual Easter Breads by Cooking With Carlee

Tomato Asparagus Quiche by Caroline’s Cooking

Peeps Whoopie Pies by Palatable Pastime

Rosemary Garlic Herb Rib Roast by Family Around The Table

Honey butter Peas and Carrots by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Pea and Pasta Salad by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Roasted Eggplant Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm

In case you missed them, here are the recipes from Monday and Tuesday:

Monday

Deviled Ham Bites by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

30 Minute Dinner Rolls by Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Easy Pecan Sticky Buns by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids

Easy Citrus Ham by Jolene’s Recipe Journal

Sausage and Vegetable Strata by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus With Lemon Herb Sauce by Tip Garden

Dipped Strawberry Carrots by Family Around The Table

Easter Malted Milk Dip by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Sharadan’s Lemon Blueberry Parfaits by Cooking With Carlee

Easter Egg Cooking and Dyeing Tips and Tricks by Palatable Pastime

Tuesday

Italian Easter Bread by Palatable Pastime

Carrot Cake Pancakes by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Torta Salata Pasquale by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Dill Roasted Radishes by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Roasted Parmesan Asparagus by Family Around The Table

Praying Arm Pretzels by Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Creamy Coconut Mini Tarts by Making the Most of Naptime