Pizza Mamma AyraAmna

I have always wanted to try to make my own pizza.

It looks easy.

So, for dinner last night, that's what we had.

Homemade Pizza!!

The dough recipes are mostly quite the same. 

I used this recipe from http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14433/pizza+dough

The ingredients used:

 

and the steps are:

 

You can choose to wait the dough to double in size or you can just roll it straight away. 

for me, i've waited for about 15-20 minutes before proceeding to 'throwing stuffs' on it.

The rolling part was fun. as usual. I really like to spread the flour on my kitchen island and roll away.

And the girls will be so eager to help and watch. Including cheeky Amna. 

As for the topping recipe, I didnt follow any recipes on the net. 

I used anything we had in hand. 

except that Chicken roll that Hub had to buy.

I spread on the tomato puree and pasta sauce, evenly on the rolled dough.

Then, I placed the chicken rolls on the puree, and along with cut sausages.

 

Next, I just 'threw' the onions and bell pepper and tomatoes. 

and of course, what is a pizza without that cheese topping.

 lots and lots of cheeseeeee

wallaaa!

while assembling the topping,

me: Kakak, is this like the one u made in the pizza game?

u want to help me? u can put anything u want.

Ayra: no la mommy. itu main-main jer. 

pfftt. 

But she did help in putting the stuffs on the pizza.

She was excited. 

Both my princesses show great interest in baking and cooking.

I sure hope that stays till they have grown.

Ayra did say something before we started:

Ayra; Mommy, kan mommy x sihat. mommy boleh ke nak cook? Mommy kata sakit kepala

Mommy: well, i think i am now. i feel ok. 

Ayra: but.. u have baby inside.. mana boleh sihat

Mommy: erm.. boleh.. if i feel ok, then it's ok.. dont worry..

kakak being so thoughtful. 

Cinnabon Crave

I need Cinnabon. I need Cinnabon.

I've been craving for this sweet cinnamy bun for about 3 weeks now.

My cousin and I went to Sunway Pyramid just for me to buy it there.

but imagine my disapointment when the kiosk is under renovation!

 

I was so so so frustrated. This baby really wants Cinnabon okeh.

I wanted to go to OU, but.. it's quite far. 

Well, not that far, but i cannot stand the traffic. 

Masuk jam, kuar pun jam.

So, yesterday, I decided to make it on my own. 

this would be my second time doing it and using the same recipe. 

I really love this recipe by Lauren at: http://www.laurenslatest.com/my-cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls/

It's really great. You just follow each steps all the way and you will be in awe of the result.

It's not really rocket science to do it. But you need patience and time. 

Ingredients:

for the dough-
3/4 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast {use the fast acting kind!}
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 egg
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
4 1/2-5 cups all purpose unbleached flour
for the filling-
1/2 cup softened margarine
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons cornstarch
for the frosting-
2 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup softened margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Making the Dough- 

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, 

pour in water, yeast and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. 

Stir and proof 5 minutes. 

Once mixture looks bubbly and frothy, pour in remaining sugar and salt.

 Stir on low for 15-20 seconds. 

In a small bowl, measure buttermilk, oil and egg. 

Whisk ingredients together until egg is incorporated to other two ingredients. 

 Pour contents into the water and yeast mixture. 

Stir another 20 seconds in the mixer. 

Pour 2 cups of flour into mixer and stir on low until incorporated. 

Sprinkle flour in by 1/4 cup increments until dough cleans 

the sides and bottom of the bowl. 

Dough should be sticky but not sticky enough to stick to your hands when touched. 

Once it has reached this stage, turn mixer on and knead for 5 minutes. 

Remove dough from bowl, grease and replace back into same mixing bowl

 {since it's practically clean anyways.} 

Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel. 

Rise 1-2 hours or until dough has doubled in size.

Filling and Cutting Rolls- 

In a medium size bowl, stir brown sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch 

together until combined. Set aside. 

Punch down dough. Flour a large clean table liberally with flour. 

Lightly flour dough as well.

 Roll dough out to be a 20x30 rectangle 

{or as close to that as possible} while moving dough 

around to ensure it's not sticking to your work surface. 

If it's a little short or uneven, feel free to cut off the edges to even it all out. 

{FYI-I cut off some dough on one side and filled in a spot that needed more dough on the other side to make a more even rectangle.} 

Spread softened margarine over dough, 

being sure to go right to the edges leaving a 1-inch strip untouched on one of 

the longer sides of dough. 

Dump brown sugar mixture onto the middle of the dough and spread with your hands, creating an even layer over top of the margarine, 

still leaving that 1-inch strip of dough untouched.

 If you have any filling that falls off the sides of the dough, 

use a bench scraper to replace. 

Lightly press the sugar mixture into the margarine using a rolling pin. 

Roll the dough up into a tight log,

 finishing with the plain dough on the bottom to seal the entire thing together. 

Cut off the uneven ends to even out the log. 

Score log every 2 inches and then slice your rolls using those marks.

Place into parchment paper lined, margarine greased pans. 

12 into a 9x13, 3 remaining into a loaf pan, or 8x8 with the small ends. 

Cover pans with plastic wrap and dish towels. 

 Let rolls rise another 1-2 hours or until they are touching and have risen almost double. 

My rolls always spread out more than up, 

so just be aware that they will most likely spread out more than up. 

Bake in a preheated 350 degree for 17 minutes, 

or until tops start to brown. 

Watch them carefully!!

For the Frosting- 

While the rolls are baking, whip cream cheese and margarine together. 

Stir in vanilla, corn syrup and lemon juice. 

Scrape sides and mix again. 

Pour in powdered sugar and stir slowly until it starts to incorporate. 

Then mix on high for 5 minutes or until frosting starts

 to lighten in color. 

Scrape sides and mix again briefly. 

Once rolls have been removed from the oven, 

frost using half the amount made. 

 Then after they have cooled a few more minutes, 

frost again with remaining frosting. 

The first frosting will melt down into the rolls and the second layer should stay put. 

Serve warm.

I had fun doing it. maybe coz I really enjoy baking. 

and the girls really dig into it. That makes it even worth it.

The result is as below:

 I like that it is soft. and yummy. and cinnamy and sweet but not too sweet.

I like the cream cheese on top with a tinge of sweetness and the vanilla aroma.

and when it got out of the oven, your whole kitchen is filled with cinnamon aroma.

and makes your tummy grouch. 

It is best eaten fresh from the oven. or warm.

I followed the recipe to the core for its dough and filling.
But i didnt have lemon and corn syrup so i altered the frosting accordingly.
and it still turned out great.

Dig in!