I made LindaC's cinnamon buns/rolls last week and while I was happy with the end results, I messed up a bit and knew I could do better. Basically, last week I made the dough in my KA which I do not recommend as it tends to over mix the dough, bringing out the stickiness and making one think it needs more flour. This time I mixed it with a wooden spoon to start, and then kneaded it on my counter top adding flour as necessary. After I made the dough, I remembered Lou's plea for photos and a tutorial. So here it is, unfortunately minus the mixing of the dough. But the recipe I used was very easy for the dough. Basically proof the yeast and start dumping in the other ingredients. I used LindaC's recipe as a base and added 1 and 1/4 cups brown sugar mixed with a generous tbs of cinnamon for the filling. I spread about 1/3 cup soft butter before I put down the brown sugar mix. The icing is a combo of almost equal parts cream cheese, butter and a cup or more of powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla. Next a rise of about 1.5 hours: Punched down: Rolled out like buttah: Spread with softened butter: Add brown sugar mixed with cinnamon: Start rolling up on the long side: finished roll: Sliced, in a greased pan, then let rise 30 min: Out of the oven: Iced:

I tried posting this yesterday and got some kind of maintenance page, so I know this is late. AM, King Arthur Flour sells the cinnamon chips (see link below). I'm sure other online sellers do also, but that's where I usually get them. I've never seen them in stores. That doesn't mean they aren't available, but the selection of baking items is pretty skimpy in my neighborhood. Annie, we have 3 sugar maples along the front road, and if I were to guess, those are probably the only sugar maples for a 100 miles. My DH found them root-bound and neglected in an overgrown "no-man's-land" at the back of an old nursery owned by an elderly gentleman. I doubt tapping those would yield more than a teaspoon. Not to mention we've had almost no cold weather this winter. The crocuses are up and the ornamental cherries and plums are blooming. Hardly ideal for maple-sugaring. Thank goodness for Trader Joe's and the lovely (and well-priced) Grade B maple syrup they offer from our Canadian neighbors. Costco's I haven't tried. Since there are no children in the house, even with baking maple syrup lasts a long time here. Definitely OT, but I'm remembering the homemade pancake syrup we made when I was a child. I think it was some mixture of brown sugar, white sugar, water and Watkins maple flavoring. Karo has its uses, as Annie mentioned, especially for candy-making. I use a small amount in maraschino cherries to prevent the syrup from crystallizing and the same in some fudge recipes. Carol

Yes, momj47, you 'did' start something. Last night I made the dough in the bread machine but by the time it was ready, I was too tired to deal with it. I just left the dough in the bread machine 'pan', covered it lightly with saran wrap and refrigerated it. Is there any reason why that shouldn't be done? The big bowl that I would have used wasn't available and I didn't want to use something else. Sue

Last night our bedroom was stuffy -- not hot enough to run the A/C, but I was restless. Cool this morning; 78F with a nice breeze. Lots of surfers, SUP-ers, and swimmers out in the ocean. The Kamaole beach parks are busy with visitors and locals enjoying sun, sand and surf -- and picnics. I had time to view all this as we crawled along oceanfront Kihei Road to the library, Foodland, Salvation Army, and Ace Hardware. I'd cleaned out my clothes closet and our Owner Storage -- hence the trip to Salvation Army. We leave for home in less than three weeks, and I don't want to get into 'shingles mode' packing things away in a hurry at the last moment. Yesterday the handyman put up four-inch deep mouldings to serve as valances over the woven wood vertical shades on our three sliding glass doors. He also installed one-inch-profile wood corner protectors on seven interior corners. (Some already had them.) He'll give everything a second coat of paint Monday. I need to take my tiny brush to fill in nicks in other trim and on closet louver doors. DH picked up "The Drop" from the Redbox kiosk in Foodland for our Saturday afternoon teatime matinee. We polished off "Downton Abbey" and "Grantham" Thursday and Friday -- recorded from *last* weekend. We were watching "The Judge" (excellent) before getting to the Masterpiece programs. I sent our DGD an e-card with dog and kittens for her fourth birthday. DGS will be getting one for his tenth in less than two weeks. (We will celebrate with cake, paper cards, and gifts after we get home.) Always good to hear what everyone is *doing*. (Especially the chickens! LOL)