cinnamon rolls

Much preparation went into getting the Carrotsticks ready for school this week:

We tried, really hard, to wean them off Late Night Olympic watching.

We came, we saw, we conquered The Mall.

And then, on Back to School Eve, the Oldest Carrotstick made an announcement:

"I need new hairspray."

"What?" says I. "We have hairspray. Use the hairspray in my bathroom."

"I can't." she said. "It stinks."

"What?!!" I asked, incredulously. "Hairspray is supposed to smell weird."

"No. I can't use that hairspray. I need this Special Brand of hairspray. It smells good."

"What??? Nobody cares what your hairspray smells like." (apparently the Oldest Carrotstick and I have communication issues. I seem to start every sentence with "what?")

"Mom. Tomorrow is the first day of school," she explained, speaking slowly and carefully, so I was sure to understand, "and people will be giving me hugs. They will notice if my hair smells freakish."

Shaking my head, and washing my hands of it, I availed myself of the supreme hand-off -- "Take it up with your dad."

She did.

She got new hairspray.

(It did not turn her hair blue. She just likes this wig. And she likes her camera. I think she looks like she should have her own show on

the Disney Channel )

So I guess I just don't get how vitally important smells are.

Unless it is the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls baking in your oven.

That is a smell I get. It is a smell very akin to Heaven.

So, on the First Week of School Good Food Friday, bake up a batch of:

Smells Better Than Your Drakkar Drenched Jr. High Boyfriend Cinnamon Rolls

1/4 c warm water
1 Tbs dry yeast
3/4 c milk, scalded
1/4 c margarine
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 ½ - 3 3/4 c flour

Filling:
1/4 c margarine melted
½ c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Glaze:
1/4 c melted margarine
1 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2-4 Tblsp water


Soften yeast in water. Melt margarine in milk, combine all ingredients to make slightly sticky dough. Mix well. Raise away from drafts or cold until double. Punch down & raise a second time. Punch down. While dough rests, mix together filling. Roll dough into 16x4" . Cut into 1" strips.
Grease 9x13" pan. Twist a strip, make a loop to make each roll. Raise until double. Bake at 350 degrees from 20 minutes. Cover with foil if getting too brown. Cool and glaze.


Ok, so my cinnamon rolls don't look like the picture 'cause I don't like rolling 'em up and trying to cut them. The alternate method proscribed by this recipe is so much easier -- and still looks (and smells) good. Both of which are very important. Especially if you are the Oldest Carrotstick.

I wish there was a button on your computer that you could push and get a wiff of yummy cinnamon roll scent. That Gates guy really should work on that. They are that good.

Just so you know.

Smell ya later.

Cinnamon Roll picture originally downloaded by Shu Ting.