Endings and Beginnings

Sunday, July 1, 2012


My oldest daughter just graduated from high school, just went to her senior prom, just started her first summer job.   This fall, she’ll be going away to university.  I couldn’t be prouder of her.  She has excelled academically and, more importantly, has developed into a kind, conscientious young women who I’m proud to send out into the world.

With my lovely daughter standing on the threshold of her future, here are some of my hopes for her:

“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young.
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

-from “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan



My sweet daughter loved these coffee cake muffins – both of my sweet daughters loved them!  Make them for the people you love.

Cinnamon Roll Muffins

For the filling:
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For the dough:
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
zest from 1 orange
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour (and extra for dusting)

For the drizzle:
1 cup confectioners' (icing) sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 - 3 Tbsp cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Butter or spray a standard 12 cup muffin tin.

To prepare the filling, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Set aside.

To prepare the dough, in a separate small bowl, lightly beat together the buttermilk and egg.  Set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the orange zest, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Whisk to combine.  Add the buttermilk/egg mixture and, using a fork, mix everything together.  Add the flour and mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon or spatula.  Do not overmix.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead gently for about a minute.  With a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12" by 18" rectangle.  (Don't overwork the dough in either step, or it will get tough.)

With a pastry brush, coat the entire surface with the melted butter.  Sprinkle with the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, and gently press it into the dough.

Starting on the long side, begin rolling the dough into a tight log.  If the ends are scraggly, cut them off.  Cut the log into two equal pieces, then cut each of those into two pieces.  Finally, cut each of these sections into three, for a total of 12 muffins.  Place each one into the prepared pan, and bake for 13 - 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and let the muffins rest in the pan for about 5 minutes.  Remove from pan and let cool completely before adding the drizzle.

For the drizzle, combine confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and 2 Tbsp cream in a small mixing bowl until smooth.  If it looks too thick, add a little more cream until thin enough to glaze.  Drizzle mixture over the muffins to decorate.

48 comments:

Valerie Gamine said...

Beth, congratulations to your beautiful daughter! What an exciting time, and a bit of a scary one for you, I'm sure. Bob Dylan always gets it right. :-)

I'm so happy that your girls enjoyed the muffins!

Belinda said...

CONGRATULATIONS, sweetie!! May life always show you its sweet side.

Carol said...

Lovely lovely post! Congratulations on the graduation. We are having the very same happenings at our home as well. It's such an exciting time! Best wishes to your lovely daughter :)

Bonnie said...

Congratulations! This is such an exciting time in your daughter's life. Enjoy your summer together. Love the cinnamon muffins. Bonnie

Kristy said...

My girls are still young but I know that they'll be off to college before I know it. Beautiful photos!

nancy at good food matters said...

congratulations to both you and your daughter for these achievements. A wonderful time of growth and change, which I can well remember from my experience with my daughter, not too long ago. Now married, she is expecting her first child in December--I am looking forward to grandparenthood!

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats to your daughter! She's lovely!

I have so many of your recipes bookmarked - now that summer is here, I hope to actually try a few of them!

Beth said...

Congratulations to you, too, Nancy! That's definitely something to look forward to!

And Jemi, I hope you enjoy some of those recipes. Let me know!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on your daughter graduating. Hopefully in the Fall you'll show us how to gracefully let go. I'm a few years behind you and then my only daughter (and child) will be going to college.

Jess said...

What a wonderful, exciting time in her life, and a bittersweet moment in yours! She's clearly the product of good parenting :)

Jeanne said...

Congratulations to your daughter! What an exciting time for both of you! These muffins look irresistible too.

Ellen B Cookery said...

That is so sweet! Congratulations! I wish your daughter all the best on her new journey of life!

Kitchen Riffs said...

What can I say? Just a sweet post. Congrats to your daughter for what she's accomplished (and is about to accomplish), and congrats to you for creating the environment where such accomplishment was possible.

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Congrats to your daughter my friend, how exciting :D
She has so many new opportunities now!
A very sweet post :)

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to your daughter! She has so many things going for herself. This is an exciting time as she explores adulthood.

Joanne said...

What a sweet post and congrats to your daughter for all of these achievements! The muffins look delicious and beyond.

Vi said...

That's a great accomplishment and truly the start of something totally new! I wish her the very best. And, um, those muffins look amazing!

Cindy said...

Beautiful daughters and a yummy treat--life doesn't get much better!

Food Gal said...

Congrats to your daughter on so many major milestones. Those definitely call for some major sweet treats for celebrating. ;)

Jennifer Kendall said...

Congratulations to your daughter! What an exciting time in her life :) these muffins are simply divine!

Cathleen said...

Congratulations to your daughter!!
This is such a sweet treat for such a sweet time in life, I love it!

Stina said...

Yum!

Wow, I can't believe your daughter is getting ready for university. My niece started last year. Geez where does the time go?????

Julie said...

Your daughter is beautiful! Such a fun time in her life! The cinnamon rolls look amazing which I could reach in for a bite.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Oh, how my children would love to wake up to these muffins! I must try it one of these weekend mornings. Your daughter is a beauty...good luck to her as she moves on to the next phase of her life/education. My youngest graduated, too...it will be a big change without him in the house come fall~

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post Beth. Wishing your daughter every success with all of her firsts. And thinking of your younger daughter, as this is a time of transition for her too! I must make these cinnamon roll muffins for my sweet girls.

Elaine said...

That is such a beautiful photo of you and your daughter, Beth. I wish your much happiness and success. Your cinnamon rolls look perfect and I will have to make them for my loved ones.

Anna said...

Your daughter is stunning, congrats to both of you on this milestone!

Angie's Recipes said...

Your daughter looks so PRETTY! Like mother, like daughter! These cinnamon rolls are fantastic.

Katerina said...

Congratulations for your daughter Beth! Kids grow so fast you don't even realize it! The cinnamon rolls is something I love too!

Cucina49 said...

Congratulations to your daughter--how wonderful, and yes, a huge step in her life! Have you ever seen the show "Parenthood"? It uses that song as its introduction.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Best wishes to your beautiful daughter! A most lovely photo of the two of you :) I think the cinnamon rolls look pretty special too!

lisa is cooking said...

It must be exciting to watch your daughter start a new phase in her life. Congratulations to her! And, these muffins look amazing. A great thing to share with family and friends.

Beth said...

I haven't seen that movie, Lorraine. I just loved these lyrics!

Anonymous said...

she is so beautiful just like her mother.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! These rolls look scrumptious.

Kayte said...

Lovely recipe, and even lovelier daughter...so grown up, how can that be? Such an exciting time. Matt went off to college last year and I wasn't sure how I was going to do, but it was fun and we had a lot of great times over the year with the college activities, etc. Each new phase is just such a great time...enjoy enjoy with your college daughter this year!

Sue said...

This is just such a sweet post: sweet sentiment, sweet cinnamon rolls and sweet daughter:)

Kathy said...

Congratulations to your daughter!! Such lovely sentiments! And absolutely wonderful looking sweet rolls! Lovely post!
Love the photo of you and your daughter….she looks so much like you!

Catherine said...

Dear Beth, Congratulations to you and your daughter. It is hard to believe how time flies, but I couldn't be more proud of my own two kids. I understand your pride.
These cinnamon rolls look delicious! I know my family would love them. Beautiful post, Beth, and a beautiful picture too! Your daughter looks just like you. Blessings to you both, your friend, Catherine xo

Miriam said...

Your daughter is absolutely beautiful and I wish her all the best. You've shared such lovely thoughts.
The sweet rolls are amazing :)
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

julie said...

Congrats to your daughter Beth! She is a beautiful young woman; you raised her well. :) These coffee cake muffins look like a perfect celebration of her accomplishments.

Amy said...

Very lovely post (and delicious looking muffins, too)!

grace said...

what a lovely gal! indeed, she must be lovely if i was able to tear my eyes away from what must be the best batch of muffins ever made. :)

MTeacress said...

My daughter was looking over my shoulder as I read this post...

"Oh my goodness." *giggle* "You should make those, Mommy. Those look delicious!"

MTeacress said...

PS Best of luck to your daughter!

shaz said...

Awww...you both look so gorgeous in that photo. Best wishes to your daughter and well done Mum :)

Mary said...

Oh my goodness, you both look so beautiful in this picture. You have ever reason to be proud, Beth!

Food Gal said...

These cinnamon rolls are beauts! But still, not as lovely as your daughter. ;)

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