Cinnamon Roll Bun

A must try recipe for those with a sweet tooth.This can be eaten at breakfast or tea time.I have introduced two additional ingredients : jaggery and cardamom to the traditional cinnamon roll bun recipe .The combination of cinnamon , cardamom and jaggery does wonders for your tastebuds.And the sweet aroma of these yummy delights will make you ask for more.Best when eaten warm  alongside a cup of tea

The rich flavours of jaggery,cinnamon and cardamon

For the dough 
ingredients.

4 cups all-purpose flour
 1 tablespoon active yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon milk powder
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup raisins

Method for making dough

In a large bowl combine the flour, yeast, milk powder,sugar ,salt,  melted butter and the warm water and stir well to combine.knead it well with an electric mixer.When the dough has pulled together, scoop it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic,
Slightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and  cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size about 1 & 1/2 hours.

 Preparing the baking tray ( line the tray with aluminium foil for easy cleaning)

For the base
(Ingredients)
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup jaggery ( scrapped and melted in the microwave ( 30 secs)
2 tablespoons  cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon cardamom powder


In a pan, melt 3/4 cup butter in medium heat. Turn off heat. Stir in 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup melted jaggery ,cardamom powder,cinnamon powder whisking until smooth  Pour it evenly  into greased 9x13 inch baking tray. Set aside.

The baking tray lined with aluminium foil and the jaggery- cinnamon mixture

For the cinnamon roll filling.
(Ingredients)
3/4 cup brown sugar
 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cardamon powder
1/4 cup melted butter
Method for the filling-
Melt butter; set aside. Combine 3/4 cup brown sugar,, and mix cinnamon/cardamon powder and  set aside.

Preparation for baking

 Gently deflate the dough ( remember?? Which was kept to rise in a warm place ) and onto a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough  into an 18x14 inch rectangle.
(Herein  make use of the cinnamon roll  filling ingredients )
Brush the rolled out  dough with 2 tablespoons melted butter, press the raisins firmly on the dough. sprinkle with brown sugar ,cinnamon and cardamon powder. Tightly roll up the dough, pinching seam to seal. Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.Cut the roll into 15 pieces; and arrange the pieces in the prepared baking tray. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in volume.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 25  minutes, until golden brown. Invert into a serving dish  whilst still warm.  

   

Press the Raisins firmly into the rolled out dough

Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar,cinnamon and cardamom

Roll the dough

The cinnamon rolls kept in warm place to double in size

Just out of the oven

Invert the baking tray onto a serving platter 

Indulge in the most delicious and goey buns

Baking Bread My Way

 

 

I love bread especially when its freshly baked.The smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the nostrils and tantalizing the tastesbuds..Hmm  don’t you love that? For a  long period of time I have been trying  baking bread at home ,however, I never achieved  the perfect loaf and  I used to get fed up with the end results.But  I didn’t completely give up my determination.I have turned to cook books,TV demonstrations and even foodies in the internet in a desperate attempt to learn the art of bread making.Somewhere in  the mid month of  November last year,things started changing.I was fortunate to learn some techniques that was being  demonstrated on a Food channel. Like how  light  and fluffy the dough should be when we mix in the ingredients and knead. Since then ,my bread making has  slightly improved.During the past months I had been practising almost every week to get the correct proposition for an enhanced loaf.I think I have somewhat achieved my goal, making it my way.I didnt actually follow any exact measurement.I adjusted it accordingly,with a little extra of this and that,here and there. My children loved the softness of the inside and the crusty texture of the outside.With a generous spread of butter in each slice you could very well satiate the taste buds of everyone at home.I am familiar with only one type of ‘bread making’ whereas there are many ways of  making bread.Bread is eaten all over the world. I find irresistible the  thin breads like Naan and chapattis too.The Middle Eastern bread pronounced "Khubz', is a thin flat circular shaped bread,a pita bread  very similar to tacos and delicious when eaten ‘hot hot’.There is also a variety of fillings wrapped in these breads .My children love the filling with chicken, chopped tomatoes, gerkins and a good amount of mayonnaise.A favourite among the young and old.

 

Though the loaf resembled a pound cake,every bite tasted so scrumptious,like the perfect bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delicious Date Muffins

The weather here is so cold and it makes the children hungry more often .The other day,a little later after we had our lunch,the children wanted me to serve something for dessert.Since I didnt have any prepared ones in my refrigerator,I decided to make something from scratch.I  really enjoyed adding some new ingredients to a recipe that I had tried earlier.I had  first tried this recipe with plums. Since then,I have made with various other  fruits like apples,bananas and raisins and nuts However this time I  thought I will  try with yet another kind.So I added Dates to this recipe.Believe me,this was really, really good.The aroma was so irresistible that we were all waiting with plates and spoons to eat it straight from the oven.Trust me,don’t postpone, try making  them  immediately.It was so delectable eating it still warm and with a steaming cup of tea..This is something    wonderful   to  delightfully indulge  on a cold afternoon.

Date Muffins

1 and 1/2 cups flour

250 grams sweetened condensed milk

60 grams butter or ghee (room temperature)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup chopped dates (seeds removed)

cake sprinkles ( I used chocolate sprinkles)

Method

Sieve together the flour,baking soda and baking powder.

Put the above  sieved ingredients in a large bowl.

Now stir into it  the condensed milk,butter or ghee,vanilla essence and water.

Thorough mix and then fold in the chopped dates.

Grease the muffin tray and pour in  the batter ( do not fill to the top)

Sprinkle with  chocolate (sprinkles)

Bake in a hot oven till done ( about 15-20 minutes)

( Makes a dozen large size muffins)

Enjoy!