Feast Your Eyes > Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Aaah, the leaves are turning and the days are shorter, fall is here! Is it just me, or is everyone else having to use a team of horses to drag your family (or yourself) out of bed on these chilly mornings?

Well never fear, here is a recipe that will work better than any alarm clock, when trying to rustle up your herd in the morning. (I watched a western last night, uh, can you tell?! It stuck with me...)

These gooey babies are a super lazy smeazy version of your everyday cinnamon rolls, using refrigerated pizza dough instead of your usual, break out the big equipment and big biceps, all day rising bread dough. Don't get me wrong partner, (I just can't stop!) true cinnamon rolls are divine, but some days you don't have time to be Paula Deen.

Add some canned pumpkin, maple syrup, brown sugar, and some spices and you have yourself the the best smelling alarm clock ever invented!

Note: When I took this pic I was using the orange as a place holder for some apple cider - then forgot. Story of my life.

Glossy's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

16 oz (or so) refrigerated pizza dough

3/4 C. canned pumpkin

1/3 C. maple syrup

2 T. room temperature butter

1 1/2 t. pumpkin spice

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

2 T. brown sugar

Chopped pecans (optional)

Frosting:

3/4 C. powdered sugar

1/2 C. room temperature cream cheese

1/3 C. maple syrup

1 T. apple cider

Unroll dough into roughly a 10x12 rectangle onto a well floured surface. Mix all other ingredients together and spread a thick layer onto the dough. Roll up the dough starting on short end, and then slice into 1 1/2 to 2 inch slices. Place into a well greased 9x9 pan and place a towel over the top. Place in an empty microwave to "rise" for 20min. Note: you can skip this step if you want. The rolls will be just as delicious, but I just find that it helps the rolls become a little fluffier. Place into a 350 degree oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Top with frosting while still warm from the oven.

**Double this recipe for a 9x13 size pan**

Oh. My. Gaww. I want to be woken up every day like this!

~Angela

P.S. Hmm...lotso' leftover pumpkin, are you feeling some pumpkin scones? Maybe those are next!

Feast Your Eyes > Summer's Goodies

I'm a garden mooch. There I said it.
Yes, I myself do not have a garden this year unlike everyone else in my family, even though I have 4 hungry man-ish boys in my house, and really should do one.
Yes, I do go around to said family member's gardens and pluck, pick, and gobble their garden's extra bounty.
Yes, I do find it lucky ducky that their little household's cannot keep up with their big garden's goodies.
Yes, I do run, not walk, over when I hear "Do you want some...", and I feel no shame about it!! It's really like veggie charity if you ask me.
So there.
Whew. I feel better getting that off my chest.
So... moving on to a great summer recipe straight from my garden, uh, a garden.

Glossy's Super Easy Salsa:

3-4 tomatoes (depending on how thin or thick you like it)
1-4 hot peppers (more peppers = more fire)

1/2 of an good sized onion

1 clove of garlic

cilantro (I used 5 sprigs)

1tsp sea salt

dash of pepper

Throw it all in the food processor or a blender

Oh. So. Good.

And please, feel free to come out of the closet you fellow Garden Moochers! Amazing recipes and salsas await you! We won't judge. :-)

~Angela
P.S. - for even yummier flavor try roasting the veggies in a cast iron pan for a couple minutes before blending.