Monday, February 28, 2011

Did ya know?? I used to own a Cinnamon Roll Shoppe?

So here's the Scene:
 Year: 1988
Location: Dallas Texas...right down the street
from American Airlines Headquarters
A strip mall housed
The Cinnamon Station....
my creation.

I was working 18 hour days....
making, baking delivering 
cinnamon rolls.

I had a 6 month old in the backroom
whom I was breast feeding...
two other little kids running around...
pregnant with the fourth child
and didn't know it...

but felt like I was having a 
nervous breakdown.
Literally.

At the end of these hard days...
I would have less money than I started out with..
Hmmm....
Finally figured out...
that the 'then' husband...
was having an affair with the girl
at the hair salon next door...
and right next door to her...
Sam the deli man...
was supplying him with cocaine.

Needless to say...
I went broke.
My fortune and fame 
was not to be made
with dough...

But I will share my recipes with you!

I made the above cinnamon rolls for my son in law
while I was down in Utah last month.

I overheard a conversation between him and my daughter.

Brooke: Brian you started coming over to my house when I was 12 years old because you were so in love with me.
Brian: Sorry hon....I was coming over for your mom's cinnamon rolls!

Thus I made him a double batch...
3 large pans full of huge cinnamon rolls.

If you don't have a lot of time...
and don't want to make the dough yourself...
this is the easiest way.

Buy a loaf of Bridgeford Frozen Loaf Bread...
the package that has 3 loaves in it.
Set it out on the counter the night before.
When you wake up it will look 
like it is ready to burst out of the bag.

Roll it out to about 1/2" thickness.
Slather it with a stick and a half of
softened butter (not margarine).

 I sprinkle about another 1/2" of
brown sugar over the whole thing....
and put a good amount
of quality cinnamon
on top of that.
has great cinnamon.

I like nuts...
so I chop up about 1 cup of walnuts
and spread that on top.

Roll them up tightly!
Cut about 1" thick
and place in a greased pan.

Let rise for about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for around
25-30 minutes.
When they are light to medium brown on the top
they are ready to come out.

About this color

Top with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 stick of real butter
1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese
about a half of a large bag of powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla.
(Beat together)
(Do a taste taste. I don't like my frosting
super sugary sweet...
because the rolls already
have a lot of sugar in them.
I think this is one of the keys
to my awesome cinnamon rolls!)

With a spatula
slather it on top of the
just baked cinnamon rolls.

Enjoy!!

Now if you want my dough recipe...
here it is:

4 cups of warm water
3 Tbsp of yeast
(Mix together and let sit for 10 minutes..
until it is frothy)

Add:
1 cup powdered milk
2/3 cup of oil
4 tsp of salt
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
10-12 cups of flour

Mix all together. I have a Bosch
so I put in all the ingredients 
except only about 6 cups of flour.
I then add enough flour
until it cleans the sides of the bowl.
Knead it for 10 minutes.

I place about 4 Tbsp of oil
in large bowl...
place the dough in there,
then turn it over, so the oil is on all sides of the dough.


Let rise until doubled in bulk.
Roll out for cinnamon rolls.

This dough is GREAT to freeze.
Once I make up the cinnamon rolls,
I put them on a buttered baking sheet to freeze.
After they are frozen I place them in ziplock bags.

When you want to use them, place them 3" apart on
a buttered pyrex or sheet pan.
Let rise until doubled in size.
(Around 5-6 hours.)

I used to take frozen rolls out of the freezer
on Saturday night late...
and then popped them in the oven
early Sunday morning...
for a quick breakfast before church.

So there you have it gals!
That's my story...
and I'm a stickin' to it!!

Hope you have 
a sweet sticky...
cinnamon-y day!!

Love, Hugs and Smiles....

29 comments:

  1. Pretty darn sure I'm gonna have to try this recipe. My mouth is watering just looking at the picture! Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!

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  2. Hi John'aLee,
    What an adventure that must have been. The 80's were a wild time for so many people.I can tell your the kind of girl who makes lemonaid out of lemons! We'll give your recipe a try! I'm enjoying cooking from scratch more these days. It's always nice to see you at Dandelion House! :)
    Have a great day...
    Deb

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  3. *drool* These look sooooooooooooooooooooooo good! I'm going to have to pick up some of that bread dough tonight!

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  4. WOW o WOW o WOW!!! :-D These look and sound wonderful!!! I hate that you had such bad memories to associate with such goodness, though. I think a faithless man is about the work thing on earth! So glad that things are better now. Sounds like you have an A-1 son-in-law! LOL The only thing that comes close to making people happy with quilts is making them happy with food! :-P (as I drool and eat my weight-watchers friendly sub sandwich! :-D)
    Blessings!
    Mary Lou

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  5. I don't know how you manage what you do NOW, but that soundsl like hell (apart from the Cinnamon rolls)!! I'm surprised you still want to make them.
    There are some serious calories in those but I bet they're delicious :-)
    Teresa x

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  6. Oh my those looks so scrumptious. Hugs

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  7. Oh my those look yummy.....I'm trying so hard to eat healthy. Maybe I could make some when I know the girls and their friends will be home as they come out of the oven! Then I'd only have a few lol
    What a story you share...we women sure can be survivors when we have to be!

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  8. Oh scrummy, they look absolutely delicious John a'lee. I so wish you lived closer and I could pop round for a cuppa and a cinnamon swirl and a chat.
    What an amazing story you tell about your "then" husband, you must have felt like slipping something extra in his cinnamon swirls when you found out. What a good thing you found out and got rid of him!!
    hugs Deb

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  9. You are a woman of any talents....

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  10. Love the story of that brave woman...those rolls sound delish!

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  11. You are just full of surprises! I love cinnamon rolls ... yummy :) I will definitely try this recipe.
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  12. Hi John a'Lee,
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe, but even more so, your incredible story... what an amazing woman you are!!
    You rock!!

    Big hugs,
    Robyn xx

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  13. Oh, you are a good woman (not only for the hassle now ex created) but for posting the "you don't want to make the dough" way! God, I love you for that and will be trying these this weekend for a yummy treat for the Hubs as a thank you for being a good man and never putting me through those kinds of hassles. Makes me appreciative (always). :)

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  14. Girlfriend - you bless me. I so admire your strength. I'll give dh the recipe, he's the baker - I'm the eater - it sounds delish!

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  15. Can hardly wait to try the rolls. Like that they can be frozen so I can get them ready ahead of time when having company! Thanks for sharing.
    Jolyn

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  16. These look delicious! Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Thank you for sharing your recipe John'a Lee, they sound yummy!
    I like that they can be frozen and baked when needed.
    You are incredible.

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  18. you definitely should be crowned Miss SURVIVOR Woman of the year....no....DECADE! GREAT rolls!

    hugZ,
    annie
    rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

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  19. You are a wonder woman! Did you know that?

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  20. You had me rolling down the aisle reading about your sweet adventures NOT...However dear child...look what is the end result..ONE sweet lady and I am going to make YOUR ROLLS..yes I am ...today in fact...I have a few neighbors who will love YOU for the treat...well really..you have to share right...sew thanks for YOUR recipe...I am on it....sweet buns...yep you are..lol

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  21. OMG, these look yummy, yummy, yummy and I need them in my tummy!!! LOL I will definitely be making these very soon.

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  22. Wow! What a story! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us :)

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  23. What a fantastic post. I love how you've shared some real truth, real life. I'm trying not to smell the Cinnamon Rolls else I'll want some and I'll end up with a Muffin Top!

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  24. YUMMY!!! Those look scrumptious!! Thank you for sharing your recipe!!

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  25. I definitely need to come for a visit and try one. I'll bring the milk :)
    I'm in awe that you were able to run a shop with 3 little ones and one on the way.

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  26. Love the new layout and logo Mom!

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  27. Wow, those cinnamon rolls look GREAT! I will try them!

    What a story! I'm happy to know your having happy days after your "cinnamon roll" days! You are a inspiration to many!

    Thanks for visiting!
    Have a great week!
    Love, Brenda

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  28. Well, what a tale that was! I really enjoyed this blog post and, oh my, what I wouldn't give for one or three of those cinnamon rolls right NOW!
    I've never made them and probably never will so can only imagine how good they taste.

    Margaret

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