Peppermint Stick Cookie

Overview
A special cookie to make during holidays that has peppermint flavor. The peppermint flavor comes from the mint extract added to the cookie dough and the candy cane bits used for decoration on outside of the cookie.  These cookies do look like peppermint sticks.

Peppermint Stick Cookies

Ingredients
2 sticks salted butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon mint extract
Green and Red food color

For decoration
1 cup confectionery sugar
1 - 3 tablespoon water
6 red candy canes
6 green candy canes

Steps
1. In a large bowl mix the sugar, vanilla extract and butter until it is fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended. Add in the flour mixed with salt gradually and mix well till it is well blended and dough is formed.
2. Divide dough into half. Take one half make it into a disk cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
3. Take the remaining half dough and divide into half again. In one half add 1 teaspoon mint extract and red color and in the other halt add 1 teaspoon mint extract and green color. Mix each half separately and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Refrigerate all doughs for about an hour till it is firm.
4. Heat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
5. Cut uncolored dough in 12 equal wedges. cut each colored disk into 6 equal wedges.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 plain wedge and 1 colored wedge into 15 inch long ropes(keep rest of dough refrigerated). Place each rope side by side twist together from one end to the other. Place on  un greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
8. Bake 12 - 15 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
9. To decorate the cookies mix the confectionery sugar with water  one tablespoon at a time to make a smooth thick paste. Crush the candy canes each color separately and keep in separate bowls.
10. Dip about 1/2 inch of each end of the cookie in this confectionery smooth mixture and then into the crushed candy canes. Decorate the red twisted cookies in the red crushed candy canes and the green twisted cookies into the green crushed candy canes. Placed on waxed paper to dry. Enjoy.

Cinnamon Rolls

Overview
My boys love cinnamon rolls and I wanted to make it at home. I got this recipe from food network  and it came out very well. When you make at home you can add the ingredients you want like nuts or raisins. Warm cinnamon rolls with a cup of coffee will make your day.

Cinnamon Rolls

Cut cinnamon rolls placed on baking sheet before rising

Ingredients for dough
1/4 ounce package yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar+1 tablespoon
1/3 cup butter melted
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour

Ingredients for filling
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Ingredients for glaze
4 tablespoons soft butter at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 - 4 tablespoons water

Steps
1. In a small bowl mix the yeast with 1/2 cup warm water and a tablespoon of sugar. Mix and keep it aside till the yeast becomes active and frothy.
2. In a big bowl add the flour, warm milk, melted butter, egg,  sugar and salt and mix well. Add the frothy yeast mixture to this and knead well to  make a smooth soft dough. Place in well greased bowl cover and keep it aside till it doubles in size. Takes about 1 or 1 1/2 hour.
3. After dough doubles. punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle about 15x9 inches.  Mix all the ingredients for filling and spread in evenly over the rolled dough.
4. Roll dough tightly length wise and seal ends with water. Cut into two inch thick pieces and place on buttered sheet and  keep it aside to rise again till it is doubled in size.
5. After the rolls have risen again to double in size bake at 350 for about 15 - 20 minutes till they are golden brown. Take it out off oven and let in cool a little bit.
6. Mix ingredients for glaze by mixing one tablespoon of water at a time to make a glaze of desired consistency.
7. Pour glaze over slightly cooled rolls and spread evenly over all rolls.

Serve warm with a cup of coffee.