Cream cheese cinnamon rolls

 Oh yeah, yummy, delicious, decadent cinnamon rolls! So it had been awhile since I've made cinnamon rolls, but on Super Bowl Monday (yeah since we live in Guam with the time difference we are a day ahead of everything) we had a brunch types of foods, and I figured cinnamon rolls would be the perfect dessert. So I was looking all over for a recipe, I need up finding one on allrecipes, it was on overnight recipe. They were pretty tasty but kinda dry so I decided to make up my own recipe. So that's just what I did, and can I tell you I'm so glad I did! My hubby said they are the best ever, and I think I may have to agree. He really loves the cream cheese frosting, it's more cream cheesy flavor and not over the top tooth ache kind of sweet like a lot of  other recipes make. This recipe does take a little patience, but it's so totally worth it.
For the rolls

• 4 oz cream cheese*
• 1/2 butter *
• 1 cup warm milk**
• 21/4 tsp or 1 packet of active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon 
• 3 eggs
• Pinch of salt 
• 41/2 to  51/2 cups of flour

For the filling

• 1/2 cup soften butter
• 1cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) 

For the frosting

• 1&1/2 blocks of cream cheese (12oz)
• 1/4 butter
• 13/4 cup powder sugar
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 tbsp milk

*soften room temp. ** between 120-130 degrees, over 140 will kill the yeast.
Tip. I like to run my dryer empty on high heat for about 30 minutes and then turn it off and pop my dough in to rise.

1. Warm milk in microwave or on the stove, add yeast**. Let it sit till foamy (about 5 minutes). While that is sitting cream the cream cheese and butter together
2. Add in  sugar and blend well. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add cinnamon, salt and the milk with the yeast mixture. Once all that is well combined start adding you flour 1 cup at a time until it all pulls together in a ball. Now for kneading,I just let my stand mixer do all the work, knead it for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Ball it up and place in lightly greased bowl, cover and place some where warm to rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.
3. While the dough is rising make the filling.  Using a fork mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. When that is combined add in the butter and mix it all together till its like a  spread.Now you can add the nuts now like I did if you want, but it does make it more difficult to spread or you can just sprinkle the nuts on .
4. Once dough has risen punch down and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle 
5. about 1/2" thick. Now spread on your filling and the sprinkle your nuts all over it.   
6.  Now your going to roll it up and seal it. Cut into 6 equal pieces and let rise a second time for about 30 minutes .
7. In a preheated 375° oven bake in a lightly greased pan for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown. 
8. While rolls are baking make the frosting by creaming the butter and cream cheese together,  then add the extracts and milk, then once combined slowly adding powder sugar until it comes to desired consistency. 
9. Once rolls are finished baking I like to frost them right away so that the frosting melts and works it way into all the nooks and crannies of the rolls. 

spaghetti pizza

Wow, it has been a while since I have done anything on here. The credit for that goes to the holidays and my vacation back stateside with my family. We really had to pack a lot of stuff into the 3 weeks we were there. It was a wonderful trip and I'm so happy I was able to spend Christmas with my family. Hopefully we will be moving back to California soon, fingers crossed and prayers said!

   Alright  lets get down to business, so who doesn't love pizza or spaghetti? Well let me tell you everyone in this house sure does! Actually pizza is one of my favorite foods. You can never go wrong with pizza, I mean about it have you ever had a horrible pizza that you just couldn't even eat? Well I never have, I mean I have had pizzas that are awesome and amazing and I have also had pizzas that are just okay, but never have I taken a bite of  cheesy goodness and said oh that's a awful pizza.

Anyways I think I am done confessing my undying love for pizza and I can move on to telling you about this family favorite dish.

• 1lb. Of cooked thin spaghetti*
• 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 2 tbs. olive oil
• 2 tbs. butter
• 2 tbs. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 C. Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 1/2 C. Bread crumbs
• 1/2 C. Your choice of pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce
• 1 C. Mozzarella or cheddar (or whatever kind of cheese you prefer)

Any toppings you like on you pizza. Italian sausage, olives, pepperoni, mushrooms, pineapple, bell peppers etc. Get creative.
* I use whole wheat pasta for this dish, but it's really up to you.

1.  So start by preheating you oven to350* and greasing a 9x13 baking dish. While the oven is heating up combine  your cooked spaghetti, can of diced tomatoes, olive oil, Italian seasoning, butter and Parmesan cheese. After that is mixed well add your bread crumbs and egg.
2. Next pour into your prepared baking dish and spread it all out. Now just start assembling like you would any other pizza, sauce, the wonderful cheese, and all those yummy toppings.
3. Pop that baby in the oven for 25-30 minutes. ( I know seems like forever to wait for such deliciousness, but you got to make sure that egg is cooked. I usually clean up my mess of whip up something for dessert to make the time go by faster)
4. When the cheese is all melted and gooey and toppings all tosted up its ready!

Now enjoy! After you recreate this at home post on here and let me know what creative toppings you used.

 

About

My name is Erica and I am homemaker and all that implies as well as a hair dresser.I am from California, but I live in Guam. I am married to the love of my life and I have two wonderful children. My son is 9 and my daughter is 6. I do a lot of cooking, crafts, and some sewing, as well as hair and make-up. My goal of this blog is to share some awesome recipes and projects as well as some beauty tips and tricks with you. I will show you some of my own original recipes and projects and some that I will be recreating from Pinterest ( I will show you the good ones as well as the failed attempts lol). I really hope  you enjoy and please leave comments or emails about anything you enjoy on here as well as things you would like to see on here.
Right now it is under construction but there will be a lot more to come.


Here is a little peak at life here on Guam!

My favorite indigent ever!!!

shh its also usually my secret ingredient..... Wait for it. wait for it... cream cheese!!!It is awesome you can use it in almost anything, it makes things creamy and moist, its just amazing!!! just wanted to share. :-)

Roasted garlic or herb compound butter

This is great for any savoury dish you want to make special. I use the roasted garlic butter in my mashed potatoes. Both of these are great for adding a little something extra to your favorite holiday meals, making everyone ask what you did to make it so delicious!
All you need is butter, fresh herbs, garlic, and a little olive oil. I use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fresh chopped herbs to 1 cup of butter. And for the garlic I use about 3 whole heads of garlic to 1and1/2 cups of butter.( I know this sounds like a lot of garlic, but it takes a milder flavor when roasted)
Step one: melt butter over low heat in a skillet, mean while chop your herbs. ( very important because chopping your herbs will release these oils allowing then to infuse your butter)
Step two: add your herbs or roasted garlic ( directions for roasting garlic follows) to your melted butter. Remove from heat and chill.
Step three: when firm enough to manipulate place on wax paper and shape into log. Chill until ready to use.
Roasting garlic:
Cut the tips off your garlic heads exposing the cloves but still leaving the head intact. Place on foil lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in oven @ 400° for about 20 minutes. Cool until easy to handle and using your hands tear the cloves off one by one and squeeze them out of there skins.
Tip: rubbing under the skin of your turkey with the herb butter leaves you with a very juicy and amazing flavor!

Easy shepards pie

This is one from my mommy!
1 clove  garlic minced
1 small onion diced
1lb ground beef
4 cups mashed potatoes
1 envelope brown gravy mix
1 cup water
1 can peas and carrots
1/2 cup each shredded of
sharp cheddar and monteray jack cheese
Tips: I often use ore ida steam and mash potatoes from the freezer section, they taste the same and takes half the time.
Also you can substitute and canned veggies and cheeses of your choice.

Step one: pre-heat oven to 350°.brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Prepare mashed potatoes.

Step two: add packet of brown gravy mix and water to ground beef mixture until coated.

Step three: in your casserole dish layer ground beef, followed by your canned veggies, then your mashed potatoes and top with your cheese.

Step four: bake for about 35-45 minutes. Or until cheese is melted and everything is bubbly.

Creamy red sauce with bow tie noodles.

So easy and yummy.
1lb Italian sausage
2 cover garlic (minced)
1lb any tie pasta
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 8oz block cream cheese
(cut  into cubes)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Step one: brown sausage with garlic. Cook pasta according to package directions.
Step two: after draining pasta mix toss with half of the parmesan cheese. Then mix pasta, sausage, spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese well.
Step three: spread in  casserole dish and place cream cheese cubes randomly all over.
Step four: bake @ 350°for about 20 minutes or until cream cheese is melted enough for you to mix through out.
Step five: top with the rest of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and bake for 10-15 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
serve with garlic bread and salad and enjoy.

Tip: you can also make ahead by just doing steps 1-3 and increasing your baking time by about 20 minutes.