Summer Carry Alongs

One of the worst aspects of summer driving is the driving itself. There can be endless traffic jams, even on a weekend. It's sitting in a hot car, sometimes hungry, almost always thirsty. If that's the case then have some healthy snacks and drink on hand.

It's horrible when hunger pangs kick in on a drive to the shore or mountains. It's tempting to pull over into a Parkway or Turnpike rest stop as  we have here in New Jersey. There's a wide variety of fast foods - from Popeye's to Cinnabon to Starbuck's to choose from. Yet most of these quick bites are loaded with salt, fat and sugar. They're also not that filling. If you're still on the road in an hour's time, those hunger pangs will return and it's back to looking for a place to eat. Some of the Turnpike rest stops do offer a somewhat healthy choice in salads and wraps. Yet, there could be the risk of salmonella or just old ingredients that have seen better days. Depending on the length of' your trip, buy sandwiches from your local grocery or make your own. You know what's in them as well as customizing them to satisfy your family's tastes. Fill sandwich bags with salted grape tomatoes, cheese cubes and crackers,Pretzels never go amiss.You can buy a small box of  pretzel stick snack packs . These are light and low calorie and will hold you until your destination.

One of the absolute must haves during a summer ride is water.A  cold bottle of either spring or carbonated is necessary. It not only keeps you hydrated but alleviates any hunger. It also will not leave you with a dry throat like some colas will. It's easy to buy a twelve or twenty pack and cool three or four bottles at a time in the fridge.If just pure water won't do it, then consider buying flavored ones. Stop & Shop has an excellent array, ranging from lemon to watermelon. Perrier has something similar with peach and grapefruit flavors. These are a refreshing change. Another good bubbly water is Poland Spring that offer all sorts of fun fruit combos like blood orange hibiscus and pomegranate lemonade. To keep the water from heating up in a hot car., invest in an insulated travel cup. These can be bought anywhere, from your local grocery to Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. If you still want a sweet cool drink, then think San Pellegrino. These are tart tasting but revitalizing sodas that go very well with sandwiches and even picnic foods like cold chicken and salad.

A summer ride should not be a torture trip. Stock up with healthy foods and drinks to make the drive more pleasant. There's no need for a rest stop then. Just keep driving on that open road.

Roll With It

One of the best parts of winter is staying indoors on a snowy day and baking. Even better baking rolls and buns. They're a nice departure from the usual snowy day baking line up along with challenging skills. Another good thing about rolls and buns, they're perfect for any meal or snack.

Many novice home bakers may balk at using yeast dough. They feel that it's unreliable and can ruin a recipe. The key to that is proofing for usually half an hour. It's all about letting the dough rise. This produces fluffy  light rolls or loaves when they 're baked. Rolls are easy to make and have a simple recipe. It is usually is margarine, white sugar , eggs yeast and refined white flour. Baking time is between thirty and forty minutes. For a healthier bread try whole wheat,Some recipes would be  bit richer because whole wheat rolls usually have milk and butter included.Add some variety by sprinkling on sesame seeds or poppy seeds. This is done right before you put the tin into the oven. Brush tops with melted butter and then sprinkled on the seeds.More experienced bakers can try their hand at brioches, those buttery, heavenly French rolls. It's an involved recipe that has four eggs and a cup(!) of unsalted butter.There's also half a cup of milk to to add to the roll's richness.It's a double rise meaning that the dough is let proofed once after kneading. An hour later the process is repeated and then the dough is put into those special tins.Then there is the "head",a ball of  dough which is put on in  a certain way.Then there is a third proofing that lasts an hour, along with a preliminary egg wash to get that golden glaze before baking.

Most people love homemade buns. especially the cinnamon ones, thanks to Cinnabon. Those instant ones are good in a pinch however you can easily make your own, tasting exactly like the ones at the mall.The dough has a tangy richness thanks to the addition of buttermilk.along with the seven tablespoons of butter. Of course it is the filling and melt in your mouth icing that makes these treats sing and shine. The filling is a mix of cinnamon and brown sugar along with corn starch and again half a cup of butter (Cinnabon sells the cinnamon if you want to use theirs). The icing is made with cream cheese along with more butter- a mere quarter of a cup this time- and lemon juice. It's an elaborate bake with many steps however the end result is definitely worth it.A regular bun recipe is , of,course much simpler ,similar to the roll one. It just has more sugar, namely anywhere between one third to one half cup sugar. Try currant buns for a different twist. This is a big British favorite, appearing often at teas.Currants are basically dried red seedless grapes, a bit different from raisins. They  can also be made with regular raisins or sultanas. a dried white grape. Saffron buns, popular in Sweden on December 12, St. Lucy's day are also yummy.treat.It's a regular bun recipe with a 1/4 teaspoon of saffron added.


A cold snowy day is the perfect one for making rolls and bun. Bake a batch to be served with dinner or just as a snack.They're tasty treats to warm you inside and out.

Cinnamon RollsTasty Morning Treats

Nothing beats a cinnamon roll in the morning or as a snack. There's something about the combo of a yeasty bread with the zing of cinnamon and sugar. Even better when they're fresh from the oven .Their recipe is also versatile because you can add extras to make them special or different.

Cinnamon rolls are one of the easiest baked goods to make. You can use a regular yeast base recipe or even just get crescent rolls and fill them up with plain cinnamon and sugar. Before doing this mix brush each triangle with melted butter and then roll up There was a recipe in Wednesday's new York Times dining section where Melissa Clark made her own , making the icing more butterscotch in taste. You could do this and also use it as a filling too, making it like the Cinnabon ones.

Cinnamon rolls can have variations too. You can add raisins as well as a variety  of nuts.Most bakers add walnuts for crunch and texture but also try milder tasting almonds to balance out the flavor. Again use whole nuts or grind them in a food processor. You can mix them in with the cinnamon and sugar and cinnamon too. Size can also vary, You can make huge ones that are perfect to split or tiny ones that are perfect for brunches or even afternoon teas.

Cinnamon rolls are wonderful bites of flavor and sweetness. You can easily make them using  premade dough or from scratch,Either way they are a great treat with coffee or tea.

Warm And Yummy Breads

There 's nothing like a hot roll or bun on a cold morning. Even better is when they come straight from your oven or toaster oven. Making these warm and yummy treats is easy. All you have
The dough is usually premade and it just takes a few minutes to bake. After that get out the hot coffee and butter and enjoy a special breakfast.

Pilsbury is the granddaddy of all frozen buns and rolls. They still make their popular ready to heat cinnamon rolls , this time with the extra kick of Cinnabon cinnamon. If you want to make them more decadent , add some raisins or even almond slivers before baking, You can also add little pats of butter for a moister , buttery taste. You can also take frozen biscuits and brush them with a mix if melted butter , cinnamon and sugar to get a lighter version. A fun breakfast treat is making monkey bread using these too.. Coat with cinnamon and sugar and bake together in a ring.

If you want from scratch rolls and buns, then use the classic Bisquick. With this you can create anything form hot muffins to scones. Even better is that the recipes allows you to add fruit such as dried cranberries, cherries and raisins. It also allows you to regulate the size of the bun. You can make super ones or tiny ones , depending on your family’s tastes. Flavorings can also be tempered to suit what everyone likes. Any Bisquick product is easy to whip up. Biscuits only take fifteen minutes to make and five minutes to bake.
A hot roll or bun is the perfect antidote to a frozen morning. There’s nothing like its’ fresh taste and warm, melting texture .It ‘s a nice way to chase away. those AM chills.