The Best Bread Machine Caramel Rolls EVER!

Cinnamon rolls are so pretty!

3 ½ C. bread flour
1/3 C. sugar
1 t. salt
1 C. room-temp water
1 large egg
¼ C. softened butter
1 ½ t. yeast
(You will also need brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, butter, and caramel ice-cream topping).

Place Ingredients in pan and put on the dough cycle. This cycle is usually 1 ½ hours. Remove the dough from bread machine and roll out on a lightly floured surface.

Spread 2 T. softened butter across the flat dough and then sprinkle with ¼ C. brown sugar mixed with 1 t. cinnamon. Finally, sprinkle with ½ C. chopped pecans (optional--leave out if you don't like nuts) and roll up. Empty one jar of caramel ice-cream topping into two lightly greased pie pans or 1 cake pan. Cut the roll of dough with dental floss (place under the roll and then bring ends of floss up and crisscross at top of roll and pull to make even slices) and then lay the rolls in the caramel in the two pie pans. Cover with plastic wrap. You can put them immediately in the fridge to rise overnight or let them rise 30-50 minutes before baking at 350 for about 30 minutes. If you put them in the fridge, pull them out about 30 minutes before you plan to bake them and let them rise as the oven is warming up. These are so simple and so delicious!

Note: The key to making them perfect is letting them cook long enough. I've under-cooked them a lot of times so this time I made sure to let them get really toasty, golden-brown colored and then I dumped them out of the cake pan onto a cookie sheet covered in foil and toasted them a little bit before serving so that the tops weren't doughy at all. I made these on Christmas Eve and then merely warmed them up in the oven for a few minutes on Christmas morning and served with gourmet scrambled eggs and strawberry and yogurt smoothies. Hopefully this will become a family tradition!

The Best of COF--Preserving Memories

Reader Response

Heather asked, "What are some good ideas for saving memories, especially during your child’s younger years?"

The readers responded!

One thing my mother did when we were younger that is fun to look back on is our baby books. For one of my brothers she used a baby book from the store and then for my other brother and I she used a regular photo album and included photos, cards, clippings of hair etc. along with monthly updates on what we were doing and saying. Stories about things we did with our siblings, friends or family were especially fun to go back and read.

Hanna

I would write things on a calendar that I kept in their room, so every time I was either changing their diaper, putting them to bed, nursing them, or whatever, I would remember to write down what happened that day.Write down ordinary things and every-day happenings that you think you'll NEVER forget because you WILL forget them!! (speaking from experience...20 years later) Take pictures! Buy a Date-Back Camera (old school) or use the date setting on your digital camera. You will love it in later years when you can't remember the date! And of course....scrapbook those pictures and get the journaling/writing done NOW! Because, once again....you WILL forget!
Becky

I personally love scrapbooks, because they are like a journal with pictures. Plus, it allows you to be creative and incorporate small mementos. So for those of you with babies, you could add locks of hair, hospital bracelets, etc.

Karen

　
　
Make a memory box for each child that you have. I have heard of some people saving Sunday school papers, papers from school, coloring pictures and etc.. Also, make sure to scrapbook every picture and if you aren't a scrapbooker, then just put them in an album. Your child will really appreciate it when they get older.
Sherah

Take pictures!!!! Lots of pictures!!!!!!!!!!!! Share stories about your children to others and that way you will better retain them.

Jenna

　
Establish a "tradition" in your home. It can be something as small as a favorite dessert on special occasions or a meal that signifies this is as set apart. During grade school, we established a "special night" after a semester of school was completed. Even though Mason is now 14 years old, we still chuckle over his dinner menu for special nights. It was jerky, Ramen Soup, Jello, and carrot sticks. Even though we didn't do this, I wish I would have taken a picture of them cooking and serving the food, even a pic of the plate. Then set apart a photo box, label it "special nights" and put the pics in. If this tradition started in Preschool-High School it would be a wonderful photo display of them growing up over the years.
My son has now graduated to Crab Legs, Apple Nut Salad, and Garlic Bread!

Suzee

A great way to keep memories is by writing daily in a journal. You can simply write about what happened that day. It doesn't have to be about monumental events, but about the little things. Later on, when you look back, you'll be glad you captured the everyday things that made that time in your life special.
Ashlee

When I was little, my mom used to take a picture of

the same activity every year. Like apple picking, a special time with our grandpa, or with our dad in the garage and then she would cut it into a circle, glue it onto the top of the inside of a canning jar lid and glue onto a long thick ribbon and hang them in the hallway. It was fun to see each year how we had grown. That was her "cheap" way of displaying some of our family pictures!

Holly

I’ve heard that you should take a 30 second video of your baby each week on the video camera so that at the end of the first year, you have a 25 min. video of their growth and development. A shorter video will be more likely to be watched down through the years than if you film countless hours of footage. You could continue this practice all through childhood.
Lindsey

I'm definitely not shy on taking pictures! I take rolls and rolls of film as well as video!

Kristin

The Best of COF--That's Funny Honey!

I asked our married readers to share stories anonymously of funny things their husbands have said or done.

My husband says funny things all the time to me, but he not only speaks with his mouth, he uses body language a lot. Here's one thing he likes to do: He puts one leg forward while extending one arm and pointing at me, while winking with his eye and clicking his tongue loudly, then proclaiming something like, "Why, hello!" in a lower than normal voice. In general, he likes doing things to get my reaction and make me smile. I love my husband! :) OH, one more funny thing he says a lot, is "Dear Abby, ....." and then continues with whatever is on his mind at the time.
Comedian Hubby in the Forest

For Christmas, my mother-in-law gave us a pack of onesies for our upcoming baby. However, on the package, they're called "body suits." My husband looked at that and commented: "I thought the baby's supposed to come out alive!" (Body suits...body bags...same thing, eh?!) Fortunately his mother was distracted elsewhere and didn't hear...she would have flipped!
Daddy-to-Be in the State With Zero Trees

My husband gazed at me with adoration and said, “Honey, you haven’t lost an ounce of beauty since we got married. In fact, I think you’ve gained ounces!”
Flattering (or not!) Hubby in the Desert

　
While I was out of town, he lovingly cleaned the house and had the brilliant idea to spray Odor Eater's foot spray on the pillows to "freshen them up". It left lovely yellow stains and not a lovely smell!
Housekeeping Hubby on the Coast

Back when my husband was still my fiancé he was going to compliment my smile. Just as he was going to say the words, he thought in his head, “Wouldn’t it be awful if I said yellow instead of white?” Sure enough, his mind scrambled his words and I heard, “You have such beautiful yellow teeth!” We were both quite shocked at his comment but laughed hysterically over it!
Tongue-Twisted Hubby in the Wild West

I was working on our wedding pictures the other day and showed my husband what I had accomplished and he said, “Man, we were skinny then." The other one that sticks out to me is him saying he was going to propose to me in a caveman outfit (which came about because I answered him a certain way when he asked a question, and he was like, "Caveman understand.")
Caveman Hubby in Tornado Country

One evening I was getting ready for bed and washing up in the bathroom while my husband was in the kitchen. As soon as I came out, I walked into the bedroom without turning on the light, and turned to the closet to throw some clothes in the laundry basket. There, standing in my closet looking out at me in the shadows, was a man! I screamed at the top of my lungs! My husband later told me that he felt bad that he scared me so much. He really had intended to just give me a little fright, not scare the wits out of me--but that's what happened!
Monster Hubby in the North

When my husband and I were just dating, I was raising money for a missions trip I was planning to go on. As a joke, he put a fake check made out for $10,000 in an envelope and hand-delivered it to me. I could see the numbers through the envelope and was so excited! He was from a wealthy family so I honestly thought it was for real. I don’t know if this counts as the meanest thing he’s ever done or the funniest!
Paying-for-it-Now in Big Sky Country

The Best of COF--Summer Fun

SUMMER FUN

*Host a pool party! Buy or borrow a little inflatable pool and invite your friend’s kids or neighbor kids over to have a splish-splashing time in the sun (of course making sure that kids are supervised at all times around the water). Set up sprinklers for them to run through too!

*Buy or make a batch of Popsicles and take a walk around the neighborhood, passing them out to anyone you see who looks like they need one!

*Invite your Sunday School class or Bible Study group over for a barbeque (or to be different, invite them to come over before church for a fancy breakfast served outside!)

*Make a pitcher of iced tea or cold lemonade and drop in on someone from church who is lonely or might enjoy a cold drink and visit.

*Grab some girlfriends on a Saturday morning and go Yard-Saling! Stop for smoothies or lattes on the way!

*Set up an ultimate Frisbee night at the local park with all of your friends.

*Plan a family camp out! Invite some friends to go camping at a nearby location with you.

*Surprise your husband with a picnic lunch at his workplace or kidnap him after work and take him to a pretty spot.

*Take some kids to the lake/park who otherwise might not get to go because their parents don’t have time to do things like that with them. Be sure to have helpers along to supervise!

*Sign up for summer swimming lessons or Mommy and Me swim classes.

*Host a waterfight or bonfire for your church’s youth group

*Mow an elderly friend's yard for them.

*Host a free car wash one Saturday. Invite all of your friends to bring their vehicles and let them put their feet up and eat a popsicle while you wash their wheels.

*Start a babysitting co-op so you and your couple friends can take turns going out on dates once a week or bi-monthly.

*Offer to watch someone's kids who is going through a rough time. Set up fun games in the yard and tell your friend to enjoy herself for the day. You may just get treated back someday!

*Set up a little tent in the yard and have a reading day with the kids, spending lots of time cuddling and reading books.

Every Saturday I'm posting articles/recipes/tips from my newsletter, "The Circle of Friends" which I am no longer publishing. This was taken from the June 2006 issue.

The BEST of COF--Penny Pinchin' Tips and Frazzled Mommy Spa

Due to temporary scarcity and rising postage costs, I have ceased sending out my newsletter, The Circle of Friends. But every Saturday I'm sharing some of the best recipes, tips, and contributions from it so you can all enjoy it!

Penny Pinchin' Tips

From thefrugalshopper.com

To stretch shampoo, pour out half into an empty bottle. Fill up both bottles with water and you now have twice as much!

Make your own flexible ice packs. Pour 3/4 C. water and 1/4 C. rubbing alcohol in a ziploc bag and seal. Put in another ziploc bag and seal. Freeze. You now have a slushy bag of ice for whenever you need it.

Nearly everything can be cut in half. A dryer sheet, a cotton ball, and the amount of detergent you use. Try it! You'll likely find there's no difference in using less!

Save plastic milk containers and freeze full of water for camper iceboxes. You can also use them to freeze colored water or juices for adding to punchbowls.

Don't throw out extra coffee. Put in an icecube tray and freeze and then when you just want a cup you can thaw some cubes in the microwave or you can use in mocha slushies on a hot summer day.

Frazzled Mommy Mini-Spa

At the end of an especially hard day, give yourself a mini-spa at home. Fill your baby's bathtub with hot water and bubble bath or Epsom Salts. If you have lots of marbles you can add these in; my friend says they feel really good on the feet. Soak your feet and apply a masque to your face while your feet are soaking. If you don't have a masque cream oatmeal or egg whites work nicely! After you are done, moisturize your face and rub baby oil over your feet. Amazing how a little tender loving care can give you a boost after a long day of serving!

These tips were taken from the June 2006 issue.

The Best of COF--Snack Ideas and Cute Poem

This list was published in the May 2007 newsletter.

Healthy Snacks for Kids

Baked apple rings

English muffins topped with scrambled eggs and cheese

Banana frozen on a popsicle stick

Celery with peanut butter and raisins (ants on a log)

Cereal low in sugar

Hardboiled eggs

Zuchinni or carrot muffins

Fruit smoothies

Frozen yogurt topped with nuts

Pita bread

Popcorn topped with cinnamon or Parmesan cheese

Rice cakes

Finger sandwiches

Homemade popsicles

Sunflower of pumpkin seeds

Cottage Cheese

French Toast Strips

Meat balls

Fruit leather (made without sugar)

Cucumbers

Quesadillas

Taken from The Mom Book by Stacey M. DeBroff.

Poem written by Jill Briscoe

Submitted to the newsletter by my friend Hanna

A Prayer About a Hot Spot

Am I like a tea bag

Waiting to know

What flavor I am

When in hot H2O?

Am I like a tea bag

Soggy and wet?

Am I asking the Lord

Just how hot it can get?

I want to be able

To give out for sure

A fragrant aroma

That makes folks want more

But that means hot water

That hurts my deep pride

And cleans out my life

Till I'm tired inside

Of a fragrance-less life

That knows not how to sing

So dip me in water

But keep hold of the string!

Amen.

The Best of COF--Funny Stories

In January of 2006 I asked Circle of Friends readers about funny moments/embarrassing stories. This is what they shared:

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

One of the funniest moments I can remember is my "repetitious praying episode." My friend and I were praying together, after a long day, and I started with "Dear God, thank you for this beautiful day and for the sunshine." Then I peeked at my buddy and whispered "Was it sunny outside today?" because I suddenly couldn't remember. She started to smile and said "No, it rained all day. You've been caught in the act of repetitious praying!" We started laughing so hard we fell on the floor. I don't think we stopped for 10 minutes. It was both embarrassing and hysterically funny!

Praying While Tired

A friend of mine described how his mother was playing the piano at a local nursing home during a service there. After the service the people in the congregation were greeting one another. A couple elderly ladies decided to give each other a hug. Those around watched as they started to sway and unable to regain their balance both plonked to the floor. Neither of them were hurt but were rather embarrassed with the nurses rushing to check they were ok and not letting them move around until it they had been carefully assessed!
Hugs Can be Harmful

When I was a kid my family had an Easter egg hunt. My older brother explained to us that every time we found a hardboiled egg we had to crack it on our heads. It was great fun until I was the lucky one to discover my brother’s surprise and crack a raw one on my head!
Egg Shampoo-er

What is your most embarrassing moment?

I was water-skiing and part of my bathing suit got misplaced on me. I was not wearing my glasses so I did not notice this until my sisters let me know. Needless to say I only water-ski with a wet suit on now.

Blushin’ Skiier

When my daughter was a few months old, I was at a service where my dad was being welcomed as the director of the Bible Mission in his area. There were lots of older people there and at one quiet moment, my baby passed some extremely LOUD gas and everyone turned around and looked at me! Hopefully they knew it was the baby, not me!
Red-faced Mama

Recently, I came back from a meal at a café to have my roommate comment that my T shirt was on backwards with the tag sticking out the front. Fortunately I had a jacket over it but it was not zipped all the way up so I’m sure a few people wondered what I had been thinking dressing myself that morning!
Unobservant Fashion Diva

I was in a choir in college that was supposed to perform one evening. I accidentally got up with the jazz choir instead of the regular choir. Instead of exiting the stage ASAP I tried to fake the dances and songs as they performed, which just made it worse since everyone else had a dance partner and different outfit. The audience must have assumed I was the special solo performer. It was mortifying!
Dancin’ Her Heart Out

I left an answering machine message once for someone and at the end I said, without even thinking, “In Jesus’ name, amen!”
Prayin’ Without Ceasing

My most embarrassing moment was when I thought I saw my brother in the grocery store (which is attached to the bank I work at) and waved wildly at him, and when he didn't stop, chased after him to tell him something. He happened to glance back, and I beckoned him with my finger. But as I drew nearer, I realized that it wasn't my brother, it was my sisters' professor from college. I quickly explained that I thought he was my brother, and ran back to the bank. My face was SO RED!!!!! When I told the girls I work with what I'd done, they laughed SO hard. Needless to say, I make sure I identify someone BEFORE I wave!
Wild Waver

I was at a friend’s house and got something in my eye. I went to the bathroom to find a cotton ball or Q-tip to swab it out with. I looked all over and could only find some panty liners on the shelf so I decided to use one to swab out my eye. It turns out it was a scented one and it burned my eye really bad and I caught an eye infection from it! When people asked about my eye, of course I avoided telling them how it happened!
Puffy-Eyed

I was a pre-teen shopping with my mom and I saw a boy from school in the store. I was really nervous around guys and he kept following us around throughout the store. I was so nervous I took off with the cart, leaving my mom in the dust and started hurrying down the aisle, trying to look busy and occupied so the boy would leave me alone. I would stop and throw things in the cart and then hurry on, hoping he would leave. He finally did and my mom caught up with me and we had to backtrack and put a cart-full of things back!
Shopping with Reckless Abandon

I was going to a play and ended up tripping as I was walking down the aisle of steps to find a seat. It was one of those awful, slow-motion falls. I wasn’t hurt, but some people I knew saw me and I was soooo mortified I couldn’t even enjoy the play!
Bringing Down the House

When I was pregnant, I worked as a cashier. Between the morning sickness and the dizzyness/faintness I had almost daily embarrassing moments of having to run to the bathroom to throw up in the middle of someone’s order or having to get down on the floor because I was blacking out. It was truly mortifying, even if people were sympathetic.
Gag Master

On Saturdays I'm sharing "The Best of COF" here as I no longer can afford to publish the newsletter. I hope you enjoy the tips/recipes/ and articles!

The Best of COF--Salsa Skillet and Stroganoff

It's Saturday and that means "The Best of COF" Day! Here are two great recipes that I received from my friend Laura, back when she had just gotten married. Hope you enjoy them! We certainly have over the years. We have found that salsa skillet freezes well and is a quick and delicious meal to make for busy nights!

Laura’s Easy Salsa Skillet

Laura says, "This was the 1st dish I ever made as a newlywed! It’s now one of our favorites!"

1 lb. Lean hamburger
1 jar salsa (preferably chunky)
½ cup sour cream
1 cup water
½ tsp. Salt
2 C wagon wheel pasta (uncooked); you may use fiori pasta or something else if you can’t find this.


Cook beef in 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Cook 8-10 minutes until brown. Stir water, salsa,
uncooked pasta and salt into beef. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender. Stir in sour cream and cook just until hot! Enjoy!



Norwegian Venison Stroganoff


1 Chunk Stew Meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 can mushrooms
¼ c. chopped onion
2/3 c. red cooking wine (or beef broth instead)
1 c. sour cream
Sprinkle cubed meat with salt, pepper, and paprika. Let sit for ½ hour. Brown meat in butter in skillet. Take meat out with a slotted spoon, leaving juices in skillet. Fry mushrooms and onions in skillet with juices and butter and saute 10-15 minutes. Stir in red wine and sour cream in the skillet and simmer. Add meat again. Cook 10 minutes. Serve over egg noodles. This is really, really good!


Circle of Friends (COF) was a newsletter I published for 3.5 years to share recipes, mom tips, and encouragement with young moms. Now that I am no longer able to publish it because of costs, I am sharing the best of it here on Saturdays!!!

The Best of COF--Alfredo and Chocolate Crepes

Every Saturday I plan to post "The Best of Circle of Friends" and share recipes and tips with you from my newsletter which I'm no longer publishing after 3.5 years.

Mouth-Watering Fetuccini Alfredo
Serves 6 Adults

1 stick butter
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1.5 cups shredded parmesan cheese
16 oz. Fetuccini noodles
1 large or 2 small cooked, diced, boneless, skinless chicken breasts (optional)

Heat butter and cream on stove on medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Cook noodles separately. When cream mixture bubbles, stir constantly. When it thickens, after a
few minutes of boiling hard, add parmesan cheese. Toss the alfredo sauce with the hot noodles, and add chicken cubes. You may add a teaspoon of Italian herbs or serve with parsley if desired to make it look fancier. A wonderful dish for company; goes well with home-made breadsticks, garden salad, or a cooked vegetable.

Originally published in the very FIRST Circle of Friends newsletter, Sep. of 2005

Cut the butter in half to make it slightly healthier!

Ashlee’s Chocolate Crepes

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 T sugar
pinch of salt
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk, warmed
2 T butter, melted

Filling:
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 t pure vanilla extract
2 T sugar
Topping:
1 1/2 cups Hot Fudge Sauce (see recipe below for homemade hot fudge)
4 ounces sliced almonds, toasted
Makes 16-20 crepes

In medium bowl, mix together flour, 3 T sugar, salt and cocoa. Add eggs, warm milk and melted butter and beat until smooth. Force batter through sieve and let batter stand at room temperature for 2 hours before cooking crepes. If using a crepe maker, follow recommended directions. Otherwise, brush bottom of 6-inch, thick bottomed skillet with butter. Add 2 T batter, swirling pan to allow batter to cover the entire bottom of the pan thinly. Brown lightly on one side and turn with spatula to brown the other side. Turn onto paper towel to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. To store, place waxed paper between crepes and wrap in foil. Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze. Allow to warm to room temperature before filling. Whip cream with vanilla and 2 T sugar. Fill each crepe with whipped cream, roll and place on serving dish. Drizzle with hot fudge and sprinkle with toasted almonds.

Hot Fudge Sauce

(this makes a ton of fudge!)

Ingredients:
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
4 T butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup half and half
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Makes 2 1/2 - 3 cups
In medium saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Add sugar and half and half, and continue cooking until thick. Gradually add condensed milk. Cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve warm. Keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator; reheat before serving.
(Thanks to my cousin Ashlee for serving me this yummy dessert and giving me the recipe. Originally published in October 2005 Circle of Friends newsletter.)

The Best of Circle of Friends--The Duggar Family Butterhorns

The Duggar Family's Butterhorns

1/2 c. shortening or butter

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 pkg. Yeast (or 4.5 t.)

2 c. flour

Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl & cut with pastry cutter.

2 eggs (beat in 2 c. measuring cup, fill cup to 2 cup mark with hot water.) Pour over dry mixture.

Slowly add:

3 c. flour.

Cover. Let Rise 20 min. in warm oven (or warm place). Pour onto floured surface. Knead. Flatten with hands into two large pizza shapes. Cut each with pizza cutter or knife into 16 slices. Roll up from wide end to point. Place on 2 greased cookie sheets leaving space for rolls to double in size. You can shape like crescents or lay on side where swirl shows. Cover. Let rise in warm (not hot) oven or warm place at least 20 min. Remove from oven. Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 375. Bake 15-20 min. depending on how dark you prefer.

The Duggar family from Arkansas is a large, Christian, home schooling family that has received television coverage because they have 18 kids! Go to: http://www.duggarfamily.com/ for more great recipes from this neat family!

*I brush with melted butter before popping in the oven. These rolls are wonderful because they only take about an hour instead of 3 or 4 hours and they are really tasty! These aren't very healthy but they are tasty and fun to make for a treat once in a while!








Temporary scarcity has caused me to cease publishing my Circle of Friends newsletter, but I am sharing "The Best of COF" with you here on Saturdays featuring my favorite recipes and tips!