baking season

the baking mood has struck.

i whipped up more pizza dough last night. 

i still have lots of chopped onions and green peppers that i don't want to go to waste - and a sure fire way to get rid of them is to make more pizza!

and because dough is so easy to make...

i decided i wanted pretzels.

homemade pretzels and bagels are a tad bit time consuming - but the end result is mighty tasty. (both take a baking soda bath before baking - to ensure browness)

i also gave up on trying to make the pretzel shape.  once you dip the pretzel in the baking soda bath - the dough gets really sticky and hard to handle and my pretzels were all over the place.

so pretzel rolls it was!  i had some mini ones last night with mozzarella and one this morning for breakfast.

so clearly i like to bake - i would say if i'm following a recipe everything usually turns out pretty tasty, too.

with that being said - for the second year in a row i have been asked to bring rolls to my in-laws for thanksgiving.

not a vegetable, not a baked good, not an appetizer.

rolls.

just some rolls from kroger.

i'm not sure if i should take offense or just...ahem...roll with it.

part of me is like eff it - i'm going to make some homemade rolls - especially since i've been on a dough kick - and they will be the best damn rolls ever!!!

the other part of me is pretty "ehh" about it.  i found out last minute that the in-laws are doing thanksgiving at 4, and i made plans with my family to do dinner at 5 (and my family is about 45 minutes away).  so, i'm not even sure if we'll be eating dinner at the in-laws.  and i'm definitely not going to bake fresh bread to sit around for hours until dinner time.  kroger rolls it is!

besides - i'll be baking for my side of the family.

if you're looking for a dessert to take this thursday - may i suggest this pumpkin crunch recipe.

i'm not sure where it's from - a co-worker brought it in a couple of weeks ago and i had to have the recipe.

it sounds so easy to whip up too

and it tastes like pumpkin heaven.

pumpkin crunch

1 package yellow cake mix
1 15oz can solid pumpkin
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 cup pecans - chopped
1 cup melted butter
cool whip - optional

preheat oven to 350 and grease the bottom of a 9*13 pan

combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.  pour into pan

sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture.  top with pecans.  drizzle melted butter over pecans.

bake for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown.  cool

serve chilled topped with cool whip



my co-worker said that the mixture looks really runny when combined - but that it sets up well after baked.

ok, so...

thanksgiving grocery list:
rolls

got it.