Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
6 Tbs yeast
1 Tbs salt
3 large eggs
10 1/2 -11 cups flour
Oil for the cupboard (1/4 cup should be plenty)
2/3 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1 cup butter
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 t. vanilla
4-6 c. powdered sugar
3-4 Tbs heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, oil, and yeast.
2. Stir it a few times, then let it sit for a full 15 minutes.
3. At this point, you can preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
4. Now add the salt and eggs and flour to the yeast mixture. Start with about 8 cups, and mix, gradually adding the last 2 1/2-3 cups.
5. Once all the flour is added, mix together for 10 minutes. I often make these in my Kitchen Aid, and it may climb up the mixer some, keep an eye on it, and push it down if you need to.
6. Once it has mixed for ten minutes, let it sit for 10 minutes. It should double in size. It will take longer if your kitchen is cold.
7. After it has doubled in size, you want to pour some oil onto the counter (not flour)
8. Divide the dough in half, and using your hands, press it into a rectangle.
9. Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl, and pour half of it onto the dough that you have pressed out into a rectangle.
10. In a separate bowl, mix white and brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Sprinkle half over the melted butter.
11. Tightly roll into a log and cut into 12 even sized pieces.
12. Repeat with the remaining roll dough, and the other half of the melted butter and sugar.
13. Place on baking tray with a Silicone Baking Mat on it, and let rise more. You can let them rise as short or as long as you want. Sometimes I just let them rise for like 5 minutes. They will continue to rise in the oven. You want them to be nice and big, so if your kitchen is cold it may take longer. You should have 24 rolls total.
14. Bake 12-15 minutes.
15. While the rolls bake, mix all of the ingredients for the cream cheese frosting together using a hand mixer, in a medium sized bowl, until nice and smooth.
16. When you pull the rolls out of the oven, let them sit for a minute or two, then slather frosting over the top and let it melt into the rolls.

Granola

Total: 1 hr 25 min

Active: 10 min

Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
4. Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown

Slow Cooker Cheesecake

TOTAL TIME: 7:25

PREP: 0:25
SERVES: 6

Ingredients"
Cooking spray, for pan
3/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 c. plus 1 tbsp. sugar, divided
1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
2 8-oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1/3 c. sour cream
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preparations:

1. Grease a 6” springform pan and wrap tightly with two layers of foil. In a 6-quart slow cooker, pour 1” water. Create a foil circle and place inside slow cooker as a rack.
2. Make crust: In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Press into greased pan and set aside.
3. Make filling: In a large bowl using a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, sour cream, flour, vanilla, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt and beat until combined.
4. Pour filling over crust. Top slow cooker with three layers of paper towels and lid.
5. Cook on high for 2 hours, then turn off heat and let stand 1 hour.
6. Remove cheesecake from slow-cooker and remove foil from pan. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.