Jobless and Baking

I'm jobless right now. Jobless and loving every stinking second of it. Loving it so much that I rarely even remember I should be busy at work trying to make myself job....jobbed. Not to be confused with GOBBED, which GOB might call himself (watch Arrested Development - this magician will change your life). I only think of actually looking for a job about twice a day. This number is very low considering my usual responsible, ambitious, antsy self. Yesterday before my interview I wasn't even nervous. That's never happened before. What's happening to me? I told my mom the other day on the phone that the only reason I'd want to have a baby at this point is so I could stay home. "Is that a good enough reason?" I asked. "YES!" She yelled.

This, I know, is not a good enough reason. Cuz life at home with a baby is not necessarily a vacation. And I want all my days at home to be 100% selfish and packed with vacationing. So, I won't be birthing for that reason, (and besides, I want a baby right NOW so I can stay home --not in 9 months -- hey, wait --- maybe I could fill that 9 months with vacationing. Rethinking....but back to my sentence) but I will be vacationing while I can. Which is at least until the middle of August. My fabulous husband actually feels sorry he's dragged me all over the country with his changing jobs...so he's compensating by giving me time with friends and family -- as far away as North Carolina!! He rules. And this vacationing will not be in vain. Because when I come back I'll be ready to work, ready to get dressed, maybe even ready to do my hair. I will become a contributing member of society and not just a contributing member of the Heritage Point swimming pool.

Being jobless means I'm also baking my brains out. And reading. But let's talk about baking. Do you ever just want to eat bread all day until you pop? I have had this kind of feeling ALL WEEK. So I've been stuffing myself with blueberry bagels and Philidelphia whipped cream cheese. It does the trick for awhile. But I knew there had to be something more. A few weeks ago I successfully made 2 loafs of wheat bread. What a feat. But that wasn't what I was craving. It was....cinnamon rolls....YES. So I consulted my rusted little recipe box. It's hideous. The recipe box -- not the recipes inside. Maybe I'll post a picture of it here. I have been on the lookout for a cute one with pizzazz. This is a niche some really creative Mormon chick could really capitalize on because online I did not find one thing. So my crappy little thing sticks by my side.

Here's the recipe I used last night:
Butterflake Cinnamon Rolls by Lynne Smith

(Lynne Smith was the town dr's wife who lived in the country in Roosevelt times. She is a red headed delight. Lynne, if you're reading this, hope your house has not burned down. You're a gem. Hope you don't mind that I'm publishing this family secret.)

2 c. warm milk, scalded
2 t. salt
4 t. yeast in 1/2 c. warm water (add 1 t. sugar)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
2 eggs
7 c. flour

Mix milk, salt, butter, eggs, and half the flour. Add yeast/water/sugar mixture after it has bubbled. Mix well. Add remaining flour. Mix by hand -- add enough flour yet make sure it's still sticky. Let raise until double. Punch down. Roll out on floured surface. Cover top of dough with plenty of butter, cinnamon and sugar. Roll into jelly roll. Slice into 1 in. pieces (I use a piece of thread -- do you know this technique? I'll tell you if not). Place on greased cake pans, barely touching. Let raise. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min.

The recipe at this point says "cover with almond frosting." Do I have the almond frosting recipe? No! But I sure wish I did cuz it sounds TDF. I'm sure I could find it online but do not have the funds for almond extract at this point. So I used Betty Crocker's orange frosting recipe, because everyone has funds for one solitary orange.

BC's Orange Buttercream Frosting

3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. butter, softened
1-2 T. orange juice
2 t. grated orange peel

Mix and smear on top of a hot CR. Enjoy!

I ate two of these monsters last night and went to bed sick with no signs of digesting by midnight. Which is just what I wanted. It was awesome. Luckily I had the inspiration to make them when I did because Adam tried to switch the hinges on our $120 fridge we bought from a dude in Oceanside and he got to the last bolt and...and....and....it was stripped beyond grasping. So he put it all back the way it came...with the fridge opening to the wall. And boy was he mad. But glad when he ate a cinnamon roll. Mad almost always turns to glad with a home baked wonder.