Taylor Time

Since I got a few fancy new cookbooks and a pretty white Artisan stand mixer for Christmas, I was itching to get cooking. I gave Jordan a hard time about getting me an appliance for Christmas this year, even though I've wanted a stand mixer since before we were married. Jordy got the "ok" to get a grill (which basically means I had no idea what kind of grill he really really wanted, so I gave him permission to pick out whatever his heart desires, which he still hasnt done.).

Knowing we were expecting Nate & Allison (and Garrett!) for New Years weekend, I figured it was only appropriate to make PW Cinnamon rolls... or should I say SINnamon rolls?!

By the time I was finished, I had sprinkled flour over every square inch of our kitchen.

Even Mauve. (notice the sprinkles on her nose) (Also notice Mauve's Christmas present- her shock collar! I was a little afraid to use this at first, but it works like a charm!!!)

Being that I am still a very amateur cook, I overlooked the need to procure a rolling pin prior to starting my cinnamon roll assembly. I was on a roll (no pun intended!) and didnt feel like going to Walmart on New Years Eve, so I improvised with a family sized can of Bush's Baked Beans to do my rolling with.

I even got flour in the oven! The recipe says it makes 40-50 cinnamon rolls, and that's no exaggeration. I ended up filling 7 pans!

Ahhhh, sweet cinnamon love.

And just so you know, the rolls freeze beautifully. Dont let the abundant yield that the recipe affords intimidate you. I was nervous at the idea of freezing a bread product for fear that it would get tough in the reheating process. So, I did exactly what was recommended in the book: bake, ice and cool the rolls before freezing them instead of freezing the uncooked dough. They reheated perrrrrrfectly. So now, whenever I choose, I can pull a pan out of the freezer and pop it in the oven for a few minutes and have a gooey flavorful breakfast (or midday snack... or post-dinner dessert...)

We had such a great time with our friends. They were sweet enough to put up with our homebody-ness, our cooking, our dog (who now that she doesnt jump on people anymore thanks to the collar, has resorted to sniffing crotches. )

Jumping : irritating / Sniffing crotches : awkward.

Anyway, they withstood our sniffy, licky dog, our current obsession with Super Mario Wii, and our tiny full-sized guest bed.

Here we are having the key lime pie that almost wasnt! After having seafood & key lime pie at Water Street in Corpus, I told them about this great place in Port A that serves plate-sized key lime pie. We decided that after lunch on Sunday, we'd make the drive (and ferry ride) to Pelican's Landing. So we get there, sit down, order drinks, order key lime pies all around and hear "Oh, the key lime pies arent ready yet... it'll be at least 2 hours until they're cooked." We were all brokenhearted! No other dessert was appetizing. We were ready to pack up and head home, when the waitress ran back and apologized for being incorrect- there were pies! Oh and they were delicious, and I think desperation had little to do with it.

I tell you who else had a great weekend with our friends-- Mauve. She just loved all over the Taylors and hardly gave them a break! She got lots of play time in and tons of good scratches and head rubs. I didnt get a picture of her looking out the window for them when they left but...

I did get a picture of her moping by the door.