Honey Bun Cake

Honey Bun Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
8 oz sour cream
Combine and mix well by hand, 50 strokes
Put half the batter into a 9x13 pan
Next, combine 1 cup brown sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon and pour over. Spread rest of batter on top of this layer
Use knife to make swirls. Bake at 325 for 40 minutes
Mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 4 Tbsp milk, 1 Tbsp Vanilla and pour over warm cake

Photo courtesy of Faith Builders First United Methodist Church via Facebook

A recipe for Amazing Cinnamon Rolls made with Ice Cream (WHAT??)

Back in Action! Hello to my one follower (Julie, that is you!)

This blog has seen a long hiatus: a baby born who is now almost 5, fun times, sad times and I turned 40! It will most likely see another break before long but for now, let me share an amazing recipe with you that will do nothing but fill your belly with deliciousness :)

Allow me to introduce, Okoboji Amazing Cinnamon Rolls
These are so good, a new adjective gets added every time they are made and someday will have a 20 word name - they are that GOOD!

Okoboji Amazing Cinnamon Rolls
1 12 count frozen cinnamon rolls (Rhodes or similar)
1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream
1 stick margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar

Place frozen rolls in a greased 9x13 pan. Place remaining ingredients in saucepan and boil. Continue to boil for one minute while stirring constantly, then pour over frozen rolls. Lightly grease/spray foil to keep from sticking and cover the pan. Place in a COLD oven.

In the morning, turn oven to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes (this includes the preheat time while the rolls are in the oven!) Remove foil for the last 10 minutes to brown. Remove from the oven and invert on a tray - careful - this part can be messy! Frost with prepared frosting from cinnamon roll package if desired (and I say WHY WOULDN'T YOU DESIRE TO??)
You can also turn off the oven and leave in for a few more minutes if needed
Eat and be amazed by these warm and gooey rolls. A sure hit!

Cold(s) suck...

It is absolutely freezing outside and has been for 3 days.

Yes, I realize we live in Iowa.

Yes, I understand that we always have rough winters but SERIOUSLY! Stop the madness!

AND, I hate the sounds of snow right now - you know how it squeaks when you step on it? Makes me cringe even thinking about it.

AND, I have a cough.

Stupid Winter.

Hey, Hey! Happy New Year!

Yippee! 2009 is here and I am Johnny on the Spot updating my blog! Happy January 12th! I hope you made some New Year's resolutions that you have held for the first two weeks!

I must admit the Holidays were great in a lot of ways but one way they really sucked was with regard to my fitness routine and weight. One went way down and the other shot up - I will let you guess which fits where. I would be happy to help you figure it out provided you are willing to risk your life asking.

I did walk the other night while watching Rock of Love Tour Bus. When else can you justify spending (wasting) your time watching complete hussies throw themselves at BRET MICHAELS? EEEWW!!! Talk about being thankful for my plain, simple, non botoxed, fully clothed, non alcoholic, regular old midwestern life!

On another note...my addiction to the Bachelor has resurfaced with the new season. My early pick is Melissa. Maybe I should only allow myself the time to watch it if I am working out - or maybe not. I really like using DVR to breeze past commercials and boring parts (not to mention rewatching the good parts!) As the hubby points out, the couples never last. HELLO - I KNOW THAT, I watch it every season but it is still a happy time filler!

Back to business - Yes, I will get back on the wagon. As one friend put it, I am so far off the wagon I can't even see it right now but look out wagon, I am coming for you!

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Warm Apple Crisp

Did you miss me?

Yeah - I didn't think so. I am not sure who even reads this thing but I decided I needed to fess up to the horrible record I have accumulated in the past few weeks. If for no one else, it is accountablility to myself.

First, let's start with vacation...packing my bags I was adamant that I had to have my workout gear. I was going to be one of "those" people on vacation. Shoes - check, sports bra - check, cute spandex outfit - HELL NO. I am not insane or trying to make anyone sick and my 4 weeks of training have not allowed me the use of spandex - yet (except sometimes when I am completely alone and in my basement and decide to jog in my sports bra but that is mainly because my laundry is never completely done and by saving one t-shirt from the pile it could be the difference that allows me to wash, fold and put away everything. Too much information? I thought so...)

So I put in a few shorts and t-shirts and told myself I would work out 3 -4 days while in paradise. We arrived. I scoped out the fitness area, strutted around, made small talk with one of the other fitness crazies and headed off to consume a margarita vowing to be back soon. I did return, once. ONE lousy day is all I can claim. We walked a lot so that counts for something but the buckets of Corona (not even light) and guacamole sabatoged any and all efforts to "lose weight" while on vacation. Bet you couldn't see that coming could you?

Which brings me to last week. I return to Iowa rested, tanned, rejuvenated and ready to get back on track. So what happened? Nothing. Zilch. I have no idea why. I didn't even pretend to try last week. I hosted a cookie baking party one night and tried one of every item we made. I quickly learned I needed to freeze those babies or I would be in huge trouble. They are in the freezer but I know they are there and I swear I hear them screaming "eat me, eat me" from their icy cave.

Today is a new day. Freezing cold (although not like Fargo - sorry Carrie!) and a great day to hibernate in my basement, jogging on the treadmill and thinking of anything but food or sweets. Especially those Almond Shortbread Cookies in my freezer.

And if it isn't enough to be beating myself up, I have a substitute coworker who may be the death of me. He is a runner and I mean a RUNNER. He owns a running store for pete's sake. Why me? He likes to run outside (even in the winter.) He rides his bike like a madman -snow, ice, rain it doesn't matter. Kind of like the old US Postal Service motto. He snowshoes, cross country skis and bottom line LOVES to exercise. I made the mistake of mentioning my "training" and now he thinks I am one of "them." It may pay off in the future but right now I am hoping for a snow day so he and his bike are stranded at home.

Pathetic. I am well aware...


And just in case you were interested...
Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies
- These taste like shortbread! - Yum

1 cup softened butter
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
2 cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine butter, sugar, and almond extract. Beat until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add remaining ingredients; mix.
Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten with glass dipped in sugar.
Bake 7-9 minutes. Cool then frost with glaze. Decorate as desired.

Almond Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
4-5 tsp water
Sliced almonds
Stir together, decorate cookies as desired.

Who doesn't love broccoli trees??

Direct from Wikipedia (the web's source for anything and everything. What did we do before the web? We actually had to look things up in books or just make it up! But I digress - on to broccoli)
..."Broccoli possesses abundant fleshy flower heads, usually green in color, arranged in a tree-like fashion on branches sprouting from a thick, edible stalk. The large mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves." Mm, mm good! This is my snack of choice this week. I stocked up on the jumbo bag at Sam's Club which is enough broccoli for an army. If I can eat all that, I deserve to lose at LEAST 5 pounds this week.
I have decided eating healthy is a lot of work. Fresh foods mean more trips to the grocery store which never has you leave with only what you came for but usually a whole lot more! Kind of like when you go to Target for toilet paper and end up with $120 worth of other "essentials." Those bullseye people know what they are doing. I know, steer clear of the center aisles where all the processed goodness lies and stick to the perimeter.
Today officially kicks off Week 2 of my Couch to 5K training. My first workout will be tonight for the next level. Woo hoo! I can imagine what I will be thinking when I get to week 9 - "what a pansy complaining about those first workouts", then think about it when I start the 1/2 marathon training I might not even recognize my thought pattern anymore. I will become a woman of steel! Hear me Roar!!
Stay strong friends -