Wordless Wednesday: EEK! Happy Halloween!

 

 

Happy 5th Anniversary - The Tradition of Throwing Cake

Today is me and Scott's 5th wedding anniversary. Instead of getting all mushy on you, I wanted to share some pictures of our cake cutting...and smashing....and throwing.

 

It was guaranteed that my husband was not going to be gentle when it came to feeding me cake. As the piece of shared cake was placed on the plate, I braced myself. It seemed like slow motion as he approached me with a piece of cake....then smeared it across my forehead and hair. Then he took off running.

 

 

I think guys easily don't realize how long us ladies sit at the salon on our wedding day, getting our makeup and hair done. I decided to fight back. According to our guests, my husband made a break for the patio door....but not before I threw a piece of cake and hit the back of his head! I must have been so caught up in the moment because til this day, I really don't remember throwing cake. He looked into the room through the window and I indicated that he needed to come back in. He voluntarily let me smash cake in his face.

 

 

I cleaned up shortly after but I smelled like marshmallow frosting for the rest of the afternoon.

 

 

Five years later, we still have our playful relationship. Even as I write this, he's sitting on the couch, mimicking what he thinks is my voice (his version is much squeakier), and fake typing on his lap so he can get my attention.  I have to admit, it makes me giggle every time he does it.

 

I married my best friend that day and I look forward to many more years of happiness and shenanigans to come!

Hello Autumn! - Pumpkin Nutella Rolls

Most people get cash tips for their work. My husband (a locksmith) got a pumpkin. I didn't believe him at first when I got the text in the middle of the day but when I got home, there sat a small pumpkin on my kitchen work station. Hmm okay. Other than carve and eat things made with pumpkin, I haven't actually cooked one. What on earth was I going to do with something that I've never worked with? I decided to start with making pumpkin butter and hope I would get inspired somewhere along the way.

 

 

 

 

Homemade Pumpkin Butter

adapted from fitsugar.com

 

1 small to medium sized pumpkin (about 5lbs)
1/4 cup apple cider (I used light/no sugar added apple juice)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp stevia or agave (I used stevia for this recipe)

 

Preheat the oven to 350*F.

Cut the pumpkin in half and remove seeds and "guts." Line a roasting pan with tin foil and drizzle with olive oil or spray with cooking oil. Place the halves on the pan, face down.

Bake for 1 1/2-2 hours (check your pumpkin occassionally. IMO, without turning over the pumpkin, it will be done when the outer skin starts to darken and wrinkle). Allow to cool.

Scrape the contents of the pumpkin into a bowl. Mix in apple cider, cinnamon, pie spice, and sweetener.

Boil in a sauce pot over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir until the puree is smooth and cool. Store in an air tight container such as a mason jar.

 

On the site, suggestions for the pumpkin butter was to put it on top of pancakes, waffles, bread, oatmeal, and yogurt. Do you see the trend that I saw? It seemed like it was a good compliment to breakfast so I decided to use the pumpkin butter for cinnamon rolls. But what if I put it inside instead of on top? Oh oh and what if I added chocolate chips which I had heard was a great combo with pumpkin? (can you believe I've never had a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie?) Darn, I was out of chocolate chips....but never out of Nutellla! Oooh my mouth was watering already!

 

Pumpkin Nutella Rolls

1 box of Pillsbury Hot Roll mix (hot water, 1 egg)

1/3 cup of Nutella

1/2 cup of pumpkin butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Butter or margarine (for top)

 

Follow directions on the box to make the dough. (Yes I know that some of you may think baking from a box is cheating but I don't judge. Baking from a box is fine but I always suggest you get creative and jazz it up!)

Roll dough out thin on a floured work surface or on parchment paper.

Begin spreading thin layers of Nutella then pumpkin butter on top of the dough. Sprinkle brown sugar on top.

Tightly roll the dough, tucking and pinching as you go.

 

 

Tip for cutting: Get a long piece of dental floss. As shown in the center picture above, tuck it under the log, criss-cross the floss, then pull. The floss will easily and cleanly cut through the dough. Repeat cutting 1 inch thick pieces.

Lay the cut pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet about an inch apart. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for about 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375*F.

Brush soften butter or margarine on top of roll. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

 

Okay, I know this recipe takes a LOT of time and effort but it will be worth it in the end. Most rolls have some kind of icing on top and I honestly believe this doesn't need it because all the sweet goodness is already inside. My only suggestion is if you do want to top it off with anything, serve warm and add a little more butter to keep it moist.

 

 

Holy moley these turned out better than I expected. I'm so happy that this was the first thing I made for the Fall season! I hope you'll at least try to make the pumpkin butter. If you're a pumpkin fan, I promise you'll want to put it on EVERYTHING.  Happy Fall baking everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday - Will you go to Homecoming with my brother?

 

 (insert red rose under the cakepops)