Friday, August 22, 2008

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.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

My boys, yes, the boys, like a certain hair gel over another because of the smell...go figure!! On the same topic, Da.... came home the other day and mentioned that your middle carrotstick's clothes always smelled good and why couldn't we use that detergent...I thought I used a nice smelling detergent...

Dani said...

I must agree with the oldest carrotstick on this one. My younger sister, who was a the time a teenager, got me hooked on a good smelling spray.
But seriously that is too funny! I love how when you are young your world revolves around YOU.

Kate said...

I love the picture, it is priceless. Oldest C.S. should be a self portrait photographer.

the lunch lady said...

she would, unfortunately, have a limited market in the "self-portrait" photographer field.

the lunch lady said...

Dani --
I think she is definitely the center of her universe.

Melanie said...

I love, love, LOVE cinnamon rolls!!! Love the adorable self portrait of the new Disney Channel star. And I totally get the smell thing. I'm pretty sure my dad's memory is all in his nose and I inherited some of that. My brother got mocked by a teacher once for being able to smell the "colorless, odorless" gas she was showing them. Showing? Demonstrating? Imposing upon them? Anyway, I guess hyperactive noses must run in the family. Especially when I'm pregnant. Then I tell Sjon my keen sense of smell is my SUPERpower! (I'm pretty sure Sjon just thinks I'm nuts.)

Shem said...

Hairspray doesn't bother me as long as it isn't White Rain. My grandma used that and it smells like OLD LADY to me.

kninsa said...

For the record, I would TOTALLY date any girl that smelled like fresh cinnamon rolls....

Shem said...

Not sure how you cut cinn rolls, but I had a roommate in college that used thread/string etc. slide it under the end, fold across the top and pull. Perfect cut rolls every time.

Liz said...

Man, I think my oldest banana is in league with your oldest carrot stick! It is all about him. I am not so sure I love that... Anyway, who knew that teenagehood could descend with such ferocity? However, I think the oldest carrot stick is adorable, especially in a blue wig!