Domestic Sunday

Some days I'm in the mood  to cook and bake and then there are days when I'd just rather sit and stitch or sew.  Thankfully I have things in the freezer that I have put by for those "don't feel like cooking" days.

This morning my kitchen beckoned.

I started by preparing our favorite veggie beef Weight Watcher's soup with a few changes, of course.

It's so easy to make and delicious as well.  If you'd like to give it a try, here's what you'll need...

EDIT: I forgot the diced tomatoes - Duh!

1 pound of extra lean ground beef, browned and drained
2 medium onions, sliced
4 (+ or -) carrots, peeled and shredded
4 (+ or -) celery stalks, sliced
1 parsnip, peeled and shredded
3/4 C pot barley
2 cartons low sodium beef broth
1 large bottle V8 juice
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped fine
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
fresh chopped parsley to taste
Worcestershire sauce to taste 

Place all ingredients into a large pot and simmer for 2-3 hours.

It tastes even better the second day because the pot barley thickens it.

While the soup was simmering on the stove, I decided to make some cinnamon rolls.  Once again, they are easy-peasy to make and ever so good.

Here's what you'll need...

4 C all purpose flour
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
8 tsp baking powder, level (yes, you read right...8 tsp)

Measure all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a whisk to incorporate all the ingredients.

Then add 1C margarine to the dry ingredients and cut into the mixture with a pastry cutter.

1 1/4 C milk
2 eggs, beaten with a fork

Slowly add the milk and eggs to the dry ingredients, mixing with your hands. Knead dough on a floured surface.  If your dough mixture is too wet, keep on adding a bit more flour a little at a time, kneading as you go.

Roll out to a 1/4" thickness on a floured surface.

Spread generously with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon...nuts and raisins are optional.

Roll into a big roll...

then slice into 1" segments.

Bake at 425 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.

Then enjoy with a nice hot cup of tea or coffee.  

To die for!

Guess what we had for lunch?

Now it's time to head up to my studio to sew for the afternoon.

Happy stitching!