Cinnamon Rolls

If you know me, you know I am a die hard fan of Giada De Laurentiis from the Food Network Channel.

  I have watched her since the beginning of Everyday Italian.  I even tried to meet her when she came to town and I did everything in my power to see her, but didn't make the cut.  I did, however, get a signed copy of her book, which I drove an hour and a half one way to pick up.  I am die hard!

Did I mention that the signed copy was later destroyed in a tea disaster?  I had a drink container leak tea over the countertop and floor for a whole night.  This in turn ruined my pristine signed copy of Giada's book.

Did I also mention that this incident happened in our new house, where we had only lived 3 months?  That was almost a year ago and our stained white cabinets are still not really fixed.  You can still see it.  So...if you come over please take a look.  Ugh.  Don't really take a look.

Did I also mention that although I have a signed copy of the book, her signature is already printed in the foreword of the book and looks exactly the same as her real-life signature?  Why did I drive so far for a signed copy?  So now it looks like she signed the book twice.

Since I love Giada so much I never thought another Food Network star would ever replace her...and they haven't.  However, I do like The Neely's and it is not as though I really LIKE them.  I just happen to watch and actually have tried a few of their recipes.  Here is one that I really love!

Nana's Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

2 packages of dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

4 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

2 t. salt

5 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, melted

Filling:

2 T. all-purpose flour

1 stick butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 T. cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional-I don't do it...yuck!)

1/2 cup raisins (optional-I don't do it...again yuck!)

Glaze:

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 T. milk

1 t. vanilla extract

Directions:

Spray a large mixing bowl with Pam.  Dissolve yeast in water in a bowl of a standing mixer with dough hook.  Let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large measuring cup beat together eggs, sugar, and salt.  

Whisk in egg mixture to the bowl of yeast.  Add 1 cup flour and mix until smooth.  Add melted butter and mix well.  Add remaining 4 cups of flour in stages a mix until stiff dough is formed.  Add dough to greased bowl and place in a warm area with plastic wrap on top.  Let rise for about an hour until it doubles in size.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle 2 T. flour on the counter top.  Punch down and roll out dough to approx. 12 by 15in. rectangle.  Spread with butter. Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon, pecans and raisins.  Roll dough into a large pin wheel cylinder and cut ends off the roll.  Cut into approx. 1 inch pieces.  Put in greased pan, and let them rise to approx. double in size.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until brown.  Remove from oven and cool.

Whisk the ingredients for the glaze and drizzle over cinnamon rolls once cooled.