yum yum yummy

last night, i made the easiest recipe of cinnamon rolls ever... and surprisingly, everyone liked them! I'll let ya'll in on the secret:

ingredients:

• 4 rolls of the Pillsbury "big and flaky" crescent rolls (make sure to get the big and flaky kind because the original don't turn out as well. i learned this last night too)
• box of brown sugar
• 1 stick melted butter
• ground cinnamon
• "toppings"--whatever you would like to add. I added:
• raisins
• pecans
• mini chocolate chips
• 1.5 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

How to make the deliciousness:
*i didn't take pictures while i made them last night, so i drew some to better explain when my words fall short

• preheat your oven to 400 degrees (or however high is instructed on the crescent dough container)
• Roll out each container of dough separately. Make each roll of dough one piece by pushing together the perforated edges together.... i hope that makes sense.

• brush melted butter over the dough
• sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, and toppings on. Be creative. Do as much or as little as you want. If you're like me, you will sprinkle on wayy too much.... can't deny a sweet-tooth!
• When you are done with your sugar, cinnamon, and toppings, roll the dough into one big roll with the sweet stuff in the middle.

• cut the big roll into pieces, however thick you want them to be, and place them in a well-buttered pyrex pan.

• repeat this for every roll of dough until your pyrex is full!
• stick 'em in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the top is brown.
• tick tock tick tock... bing! They're done!... but not yet.

• while your buns are cooling down, make some quick icing to sprinkle on top:
• put the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract into a bowl and whisk until it's a thick, icing consistency. 
• put your, now warm, cinnamon rolls onto a serving platter and drizzle with icing. Feed to the masses and report back to me with the results. I hope you like them!

What the Land of the Brave Needs to Hear

I know it's a month until the 4th of July, but I couldn't hold this one in any longer. I was being a complete dork the other day, and spend about 2 hours watching Little House on the Prairie reruns. I'm a sucker for good, family fun television and this old show is the epitome of family value TV. One episode was about the centennial celebration of our beautiful country. The small wild west town is getting ready to celebrate America's 100th Anniversary. Everyone is excited and willing to pitch in for a picnic celebration, even the immigrant who has lived on our rich soil for just a few months volunteered himself to make a flagpole for the red, white and blue. In the hubbub of excitement, a plot twist occurs. Everyone in the town receives government letters informing them of tax increases. They all owe more money than they can afford to the men in black. The immigrant man and his family are forced out of their new home because they can't pay for the land he just bought. Little did he know, when their family bought the land, they also inherited the debt that was left over from the last landowner. It's hard to read the fine print when English isn't your native language! Everyone in the small town feels angry, cheated, and taken advantage of. Many people get so angry at our government's control of their hard-earned money, that they plan NOT to celebrate the 4th this year. The children, with their childlike faith and joy, are very disappointed in their parent's reaction to our compassionless government, but plan to keep the celebration going... no matter what, even if it goes against the wishes of their fathers. What happens next, you ask? watch these short clips and find out. You might be surprised at the towns reaction to a few words of encouragement. These videos are worth your time. Our country may be in more trouble today than it was during prairie days, but it's in no worse shape than it was during the Great Depression, the Civil war, or the Revolutionary war. We should never forget what our loyal ancestors went through for the United States to become the most strong, free, and wealthy country in the entire world. Enjoy!