Sweet Treats

Have you ever made dessert before dinner, only to snack on it while cooking and then be too full to eat dinner?  Yeah... me neither... I was just checking.

We have been eating various left overs and easy to make things like pigs in a blanket and chicken nuggets, mostly because I didn't feel like cooking.  Sue me.  I did make a huge pan of delicious Cheesy Potatoes with Ham Steak (recipe to come soon), they were gone in a day.  So since I haven't been making anything exciting I decided to focus on what I like to do the best, bake. 

We walked/jogged to the store today, which ended up being 5 miles round trip, it was an awesome workout.  I'm glad we walked, it helped me burn of some of the calories I plan on consuming when I eat these delicious goodies...

Cherry Kolaches

They used to serve these occasionally when I was in high school.  They are a Czechoslovakian treat and they are yummy! 

Dough:

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)

1 1/4 cups warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)

3/8 cup sugar

3/8 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

5 ½ to 6 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

1 20 oz. can cherry pie filling

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon cold water

Topping:

1 cup powdered sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk

½ teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, butter, salt, eggs and 2 ½ cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a very soft dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 75 minutes.

Turn onto a well-floured surface. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine pie filling and sugar. Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into filling. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened; set aside.

In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball; fill with 2 rounded teaspoons of filling.

Bake at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Drizzle with powdered sugar glaze.

Monkey Bread

My dad is the monkey bread master.  I don't know if I ever even saw my mom make it, it has always been my dad's thing.  This is about 1/2 of a batch, I used some leftover roll dough I had.

This is the reason I didn't eat dinner.

You understand now, don't you?

 24 Rhodes Rolls dough balls thawed but still cold, cut in half

1/2 a cup sugar

2-3 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 stick butter, melted

Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.  Roll the dough halves in the butter, then the sugar mixture.  Place into a greased Bunt pan in an even layer.  Once all dough is gone sprinkle remaining sugar mix over top of the dough and pour remaining butter in as well.  Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes or until dough is about 1 inch below the top of the pan.  Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.  Cool for 5 minutes and invert onto plate. Enjoy!