It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It was another amazing day of this wacky winter weather we have been having. By all means I am not complaining, but the weather has been quite bizarre. March will be here and a week and it feels like Fall never really ended and Spring is just around the corner. We haven't even had but just a dusting of snow here around the Chesapeake Bay. I am quite sure the number of days in the 50's and 60's are far greater than the 30's and 40's! And again....I am not complaining. Tomorrow is going to be even warmer! Yahoo! The birds are chirping, the robins have returned in full chorus.  The dogs played outside all day long. The crocus and the daffy's are popping up and there is even a huge fly buzzing around the house.

I took advantage of this pleasing day by starting Spring cleaning, it just feels like it's time! How can it not? And I also took time to get outside and hang out in the woodland forest (my back yard), soak in the beauty and connect with nature, play with the dogs, do a little hooping and take some pictures.

I bought these in the Fall and they are still blooming! 

I took these with my new camera. An Olympus...no comparison to my Canon. I got a good deal on it, it has 14 mp and like 35 X optical zoom. My older Canon still takes a nicer shot. Not sure why but I am having a hard time getting used to this one! Should have just broke down and got a DSLR!

The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze.
~Julian Grenfell

The trees are still naked, but it sure felt like Spring. Was 63 today...I can't wait for everything to be green again! It's my favorite time of the year.

I found a frisbee for Stella. She loves to play, but doesn't like to share with her bro!

"It's mine Kombi and you can't have it"

"Please Stella!!!"

"No frisbee for YOU"

All tuckered out!

National Sticky Bun Day

While drinking my morning coffee and browsing the net I saw that it was National Sticky Bun Day, as well as Fat Tuesday! I immediately thought of the Chebe Cinnamon Roll Mix  in my pantry that came with an awesome deal I got thru the Gluten Free Saver a few weeks ago! If you have Celiacs or are gluten sensitive the Gluten Free Saver is a great little site with awesome GF deals!

I can't remember the last time I had a cinnamon roll or sticky bun! Well over a year! When I was little I remember on Sundays my mom would always make the Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast, I used to love to *pop* them open! Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease over a year ago there are many things I can no longer eat like I used to. Even though many things can be adapted with GF ingredients, sometimes it just isn't the same. But over the last year I have learned to roll with it.

The Chebe website had a recipe for a Brown Sugar Almond Sticky Buns using the Chebe CR Mix! So I thought I would make them being it is National Sticky Bun Day!

*Smiles*


















The recipe for the Sticky Buns was pretty much the same as the Cinnamon Roll recipe, except the buns were baked in a 9 inch round pan, instead of muffins tins.

Recipe

Ingredients:- 1 package Chebe mix (7.5 oz or 1 ¾ C)  (I used the Cinnamon Roll Mix)

- Margarine or butter  (I used Coconut Oil)

- ½ Cup sugar (if using Chebe All-Purpose or Original Mixes) (omitted)

- ½ Cup Brown sugar (I used Palm Sugar)

- ½ Cup Almonds, sliced or slivered

- 2 eggs

- Oil (Coconut Oil used again)

- Water, milk, or milk substitute (I used Almond Milk)

 

Directions: Preheat oven to 400° F
1. Grease a 9x9 square (or 9 inch round) baking pan using margarine or butter. Sprinkle 1/4 Cup brown sugar on the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle 1/4 Cup almonds on the bottom of the pan (spread them out evenly as this is part of the topping).

2. Prepare one package (7.5 oz. or 1 ¾ Cups) of mix according to the package instructions (if using All-Purpose or Original Mixes, substitute cheese with ½ Cup sugar).
3. Roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Spread with margarine (or butter).
4. Spread 1/4C to 1/3C brown sugar on the margarine. Spread 1/4C almonds on top of the brown sugar. Roll the dough up and slice in 1/2 inch sections. Place them in the baking pan touching each other.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes (note that the tops may not turn dark brown). Immediately after removing the rolls from the oven, turn the pan upside down onto a plate. This will give you the rolls with the topping side up.

I got 7 rolls, the pan was definitely too large, but I just went with it and baked them about 17 minutes. They didn't look much different before I baked them (above) than baked. 

Visibly they were not oooeygooey sticky buns, the joy of no gluten! 
BUT they were quite delicious! 


And my husband gave them a big thumbs up, so be it the sugar junkie he is, they must have been good! I will definitely make them again, they were quick, easy and oh so yummy! 


Happy Sticky Bun Day! 


Enjoy
~J~