A day in the sun and a new swap to join.

Such excitement, Jo at Through The Keyhole is hosting a 12 Days of Christmas Swap. The idea is that you source 12 gifts, max value of each £2, and wrap all separately. Go and have a look for the details.
 You can do a bit of lurking round your partners blog ( you need a blog to take part) to chose things your swap partner would like. The idea is that one is opened on each of the 12 days, I have opted to swap worldwide but you can just keep to the UK. I love choosing gifts and wrapping and tarting the parcels up. 
BTW I am knitting the Blackberry Beanie in her sidebar, it will be my third. Very easy and quick to knit and lovely to wear. I started my crochet last night, just little 4 round solid colour squares, when I start to sew together I am planning on making a few 4 times as big to dot around here and there. Well I plan to try anyway, if I fail I may well contact Lucy at Attic24 for help, she is a whizz at crochet.

Now to food.
My cheese whirls take;
6 cups of plain flour with 2 tsp instant yeast, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 
1 tsp mustard powder. I just dump it in the mixer bowl and give it a quick whisk to mix thoroughly. Then put the bowl in the mixer with the dough hook attached, set it going on 1 and gradually add warm water and 4 oz melted butter till it forms a dough. Leave to knead for 5-10 minutes. I then turn into a bowl, cover and leave to double in size.
Turn out onto a board and punch down, roll out to an oblong as thin as you like, melt a dollop of butter and brush over the top then sprinkle enough grated cheese to cover, a shake of paprika or cayenne is nice, sometimes I mix a little whole grain mustard in with the butter.
Roll up like a swiss roll as tight as you can and cut into slices, no wider than an inch. Place in a lined tin with room to spread a bit, leave to prove and then cook at 180c for around 15 minutes. I brush with a little melted butter and garlic powder when they come out.

The cinnamon rolls are very similar, I make a half batch, too moreish for a whole one.

So, 3 cups plain flour, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 heaped tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp yeast, a quick whisk and into the mixer with warm water and 2 oz melted butter. Knead and prove till double in size.

Roll out as before then spread with a mix of;
4oz butter, 4 heaped tsp cinnamon, a good glug of maple syrup or 2 oz soft brown sugar, enough dried mixed fruit or sultanas to cover the dough. I am guilty of not weighing this out, I just chuck it in a bowl and mix till it looks right, spreadable but not runny.
Roll up and slice, into a tin and prove, then cook at 180c for around 15 minutes. The timing depends on your oven and how thick the slices are.
When cooked I brush with more maple syrup and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans then back in oven for about 2 minutes.
Sometimes I make a glaze of icing sugar, cream cheese and maple syrup and pour over but this takes it in to the realms of fantasy.

These do open freeze well and microwave wonderfully, I can assure you that a warm cinnamon whirl with a scoop of good ice cream is sublime.

I do change both nearly every time I make them, herbs and or finely chopped onion in the cheese ones, different spices and or fruit in the sweet ones.

Now I have made myself hungry, so am off to make some muesli.

                 TTFN                                                    Pam