Test Chef

Cinnamon Rolls

2015-05-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

aka Fluffy Rolls
Servings: 8, Total Time: 2 hr, 30 min

Ingredients
DOUGH

2-3/4 cup All Purpose Flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 pkg yeast
1/2 cup water, warm
1/4 cup milk

2-1/2 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg

FILLING

1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans (optional)

butter and sugar, for pan

GLAZE

4 tbsp butter
2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

3 to 6 tbsp water, hot

Directions
DOUGH

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Set aside.
Mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg in a large bowl.
Add 2-1/4 cup flour. Mix until smooth.
Add yeast mixture.
Mix in remaining flour (1/2 cup).
Knead dough 5 to 10 minutes. Place in bowl. Let rest for 10 minutes.

FILLING

After 10 minutes, roll out dough into 14x8 inch rectangle.
Spread butter on top.
Mix cinnamon and sugar together. Sprinkle over dough. (Add optional raisins, walnuts, or pecans).
Roll dough long ways and pinch to seal. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees.
Cut roll into 8 pieces.
Add butter and sugar to bottom of 9-inch round pie pan.
Loosely cover rolls with foil. Turn oven off.
Place rolls inside oven. Let rise 1 to 1-1/2 hours until rolls have doubled in size.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake 15 minutes.
Cover rolls with foil. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

GLAZE

Mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp hot water at a time until glaze forms. Spread over rolls.

Best Banana Bread

2015-04-27T12:13:00.001-07:00

aka Banana Walnut Bread
Servings: 10 (1 loaf), Total Time: 1 hr, 30 min

Ingredients

1-1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
4 bananas, finely crushed
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
walnuts (optional)

Directions

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl.
Add eggs and crushed bananas. Combine well.
Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture.
Add vanilla (and optional walnuts).
Pour contents of bowl into greased and floured loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.
Let cool and refrigerate.

Fry Bread

2015-04-27T10:49:00.002-07:00

aka Elephant Ears
Servings: 6-7, Total Time: 2-3 hours

Ingredients

4 cup All Purpose Flour
4 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp salt
2 cup lukewarm water
1/2 cup shortening (optional)
1 cup shortening (for frying)

Directions

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Slowly add water (and optional shortening).
Blend with a fork until a soft dough forms. Dough should not be sticky.
Knead until all the lumps are gone, about 5 minutes.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rest 1 hour.
Roll dough into fist-size balls.
Flatten and stretch dough into disks. Make a small hole in the center.
Heat shortening over medium heat. Watch carefully.
Fry in oil until brown on both sides, about 2 minutes.
Serve hot. Spread butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar if desired.

(click to enlarge)