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    Revisiting Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls w/ Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing and Giveaway Winner

    October 18th, 2011
    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing 



    First of all! Happy crisp Tuesday! It is a nice 35 degrees out this morning and I can’t help but welcome it. I hope that it is cooling down for many of you.


    First of all, I want to thank everyone for entering the Equal Exchange Giveaway. Remember that you can make a difference by learning more about child labor and informing others about it. Please check the post again and read more about how YOU can make a difference even if you do not do a Reverse Trick-or-Treating. The winner is:

    Amber Shea —the Almost Vegan Chef



    Well, if you have been following my blog for a while you know that we are expecting a little girl and that I have FOUR days until the actual due date. It is pretty wild to imagine that our lives will be so blessed with a life that God has blessed us with. Having a human being grow inside me has been the most amazing experience. I never knew how it actually would feel like or how it would affect my life and Ryan’s.


    Our prayer and hope is for our little girl to arrive 2-3 days late. Why?


    Ryan has his first Fall concert for the Holland Chorale and I also sing for them too! He does have a cover in case anything happens but it just seems like all the work he has has put into rehearsing us would not be put into performance. It is all in God’s hands and I am looking forward seeing what happens. I mean think of me singing at 40 weeks pregnant in a choir dress? I think I would have a nice story to tell my daughter. 🙂


    Keep us in your prayers!



    Are you tired of pumpkin recipes yet??? I am not! I have a huge can I have been trying to use up and I decided to bring out my recipe for Pumpkin Pecan Cinnamon Rolls, the ones I made last year. Well actually, I have made them several times and this time I decided to add pumpkin to the icing.


    Ryan and his colleagues have mid-terms this week and I decided to make a pan of these lovely rolls as a treat. I hope they like them! The more I make this recipe the easier it gets to make them. I should sell them next year! How about that?


    Anyway, the addition of the pumpkin to the icing makes the recipe prettier in my opinion and depth. The icing looks like butterscotch icing but do not be fooled. These babies are all pumpkin and spice and that is all nice ya know!


    Make them, try them, and go to pumpkin heaven. Add a cup of pumpkin-flavored coffee while you’re at it.


    Looking for a GLUTEN-FREE version? Check out Manifest Vegan’s recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.

    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing

    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls 
    with 
    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing



    makes 16 rolls


    Dough:
    1/4 cup warm water (not hot, about 110 degrees)
    1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
    1/3 cup warm So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk (or non-dairy milk)
    1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed meal + 3 Tbsp water (equals 1 egg)
    3/4 cup pumpkin puree, either fresh or canned
    2 Tablespoons melted Earth Balance buttery spread
    2 cups (approximately) All-Purpose Flour
    1 1 /4 cup Whole Wheat White Flour (Bob’s Red Mill)
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
    1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

    Filling:
    3 Tablespoons Earth Balance buttery spread, softened
    1/4 cup white vegan sugar
    2/3 cups brown sugar
    2 teaspoons cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon each of allspice and ginger
    1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    1/8 teaspoon cloves
    1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

    Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing:
    4 ounces Tofutti cream cheese or regular cream cheese, softened
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    2 Tablespoon So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk

    4 Tablespoons pumpkin puree


    In a large bowl, stir yeast into water to soften. Let rest for 5 minutes before stirring. Mix flaxseed meal and water in a small bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add milk, pumpkin, butter, 1 1/4 cups whole wheat white flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to yeast mixture. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.

    Gradually add remaining flour (all purpose), a little at a time, until you have a dough stiff enough to knead. Start with about 1 1/2 cups and increase if necessary. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough.

    Put dough into an oiled bowl. Turn once to coat entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.



    Combine the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in a small bowl, set aside. Transfer the risen dough to a lightly greased work surface, and pat or roll it into a 16″ x 12″ rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. 


     Roll the dough into a log the long way; it’ll stretch to about 20″ long as you roll. Using a very sharp knife, slice the log into 15 slices.




        In order to cut down on drag, it helps to rinse the blade in hot water, and wipe it off, between slices. Place slices in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan (or in two 8 or 9 inch round cake or pie pans). Cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.


    Bake in a preheated 375°F oven. Bake the rolls till they’re brown around the edges and beginning to turn golden brown across the center, about 20-30 minutes.

    While rolls bake, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the cream cheese, vanilla, milk to a small food processor or use an immersion blender.  Blend until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, blending in between, until well mixed and desired consistency is reached. Add the pumpkin puree and blend until mixed well.
    Frost warm rolls with the cream cheese frosting and serve immediately and enjoy with your favorite coffee.

    Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing

    20 Comments "

    So Delicious Giveaway Winners

    October 17th, 2011
    SO Delicious Greek-Style Yogurt
    Thank you to everyone who entered this wonderful giveaway! 
    You should be on the look-out for another giveaway in the near future.
    The winners for the coupons are
    Lisa Rogers and Coriwestphal
    Please email me your mailing address so I can get these coupons to you ASAP!
    Thanks!

    1 Comment "

    {Pure Michigan Cookbook} Bacon-Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits

    October 14th, 2011
    Bacon-Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits 



    This morning I woke up to news that a family friend has her baby this early morning. I had been talking about her to Ryan on our way back from choir rehearsal in Holland and WHAM, here she had her baby! It makes everything so realistic and it is hard to imagine that I am 8 days away from the due date. In reality, it could happen any day!


    We have a visitor coming in this weekend. Ryan’s brother from Milwaukee will be visiting us and will be attending the MSU vs UofM football game. It is going to be a crazy game with lots of college kids running around. As I speak, I am sure there is some boozing happening! 😀



    Ryan tried to convince me to go to the game but after I attended the 1st game of the season, I really regretted going. I was SO sore the rest of the day and in pain because the bleacher seats were awful and at a weird angle. I had even taken a pillow to sit on and still that did not work out. Even so, I want to prevent from anything from happening since our seats our pretty steep in the stands and the crowds will be awful. Got to be safe ya know!

    38 weeks and in Holland, MI

    So I embraced the sunny days we have had this month because apparently we have had record sunny days than any other October. The last 2 days have been gloomy and rainy. It all seems in mighty preparation for a true fall and upcoming winter. 


    Breakfast has been very important to me through this WHOLE pregnancy. I wake up really hungry and as I am nearing the end of this pregnancy I am really wanting more of my smoothies I have enjoyed before pregnancy. Somehow the smoothies were not staying in my tummy but the last two days I have enjoyed Orange, Pineapple, Banana, and Coconut Smoothies blended in my Vitamix. An hour later, I supplement with some sort of protein.

    DSC_0025



    I recently checked out a NEW cookbook from the library called Pure Michigan: Eating Fresh and Local in the Great Lakes Shore. I was very intrigued and as I flipped through the book I really enjoyed reading the stories and recipes shared by chefs at great area restaurants in addition to in-season recipes.


    I have been eating eggs since I got pregnant and even before when my naturopath suggested I add different protein to my diet. I feel like it has given me energy in addition to all the vegetables and other types of vegetarian protein I have been consuming. 


    I made some scrambled eggs with asparagus and then made a wonderful recipe from the Pure Michigan cookbook that Ryan and I were both pleased with. I know I have been on a biscuit rampage but you will not be sorry when you take a bite from these biscuits. They are the perfect consistency and so quick to make. They are easy to veganize and can be eaten with just vegetables if so desired. 


    I hope you try this recipe! We loved it!

    Bacon-Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits

    Bacon-Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits

    makes 18 biscuits

    1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup cornmeal
    1 Tablespoon baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/4 cup Earth Balance margarine
    3/4 cup cheddar or Daiya vegan cheddar shreds
    5 slices of bacon or tempeh bacon, crispy and crumbled
    2/3 cup milk or non-dairy milk
    1 egg or flax seed “egg” (1 Tbsp flax seed meal + 3 Tbsp warm water)
    2 Tablespoons chives

    Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment.

    Stir the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Cut the cold margarine into the flour mixture until butter is the size of small peas.

    Add the cheese, bacon, milk, egg and chives into the mixture and stir until lightly moistened.

    Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead by gently folding dough four to six strokes. Pat into an 8-inch square that is 1/2 inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cut into sixteen 2-inches biscuits and place on the baking sheet, 1 inch apart.

    Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.

    I served with scrambled eggs and sauteed asparagus.
    Bacon-Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits2

    11 Comments "

    Reverse Trick-or-Treating Campaign and GIVEAWAY

    October 13th, 2011

    I find it quite exciting to be able to present to you different opportunities in the next couple of weeks before our baby girl is born. Even though cooking and baking has been quite simple around our home we have been keeping quite busy! Even though recipe posts might not be quite as frequent, news about the new addition to our family will be current.

    In the meantime, I would like to continue to share with you all another one of my favorite companies called Equal Exchange, a company that “partners with co-operatives of farmers who provide high-quality organic coffees, teas, chocolates, bananas and snacks from all over the world.” They started out with fairly traded coffee from Nicaragua, but eventually branched out and now support small farmer co-ops and empower farmers and consumers. 

    Coffee

    We are very much coffee drinkers and not just any coffee but GOOD coffee. Ryan is VERY particular when it comes to beans and it took a long time to be able to find the perfect blend and roast until we found a lovely coffee shop in Holland, Michigan that serves Equal Exchange coffee. In time both Ryan and I knew we really liked the Organic Mind, Body, and Soul:

    Aroma: butterscotch, vanilla custard, pecans, milk chocolate 

    Flavor: balanced, cocoa, caramelized sugar, malt 

    Mouthfeel: weighty and thick 
    Acidity: light sparkle 
    Aftertaste: dark chocolate, walnut, brown sugar 

    We then found out that our coffee shop sold it in 5 pound bags which turned out to be more economical. Here we were supporting a good cause AND enjoying delicious coffee. 

    chocolate 
     I also enjoy Equal Exchange’s Organic Very Dark 71% Chocolate which I either eat or melt down to make treats like my Raw Chocolate Coconut Cashew Truffles along with their amazing cocoa powder.

    Not only did I want to introduce you to this company but I also wanted to share with you an idea and campaign that Equal Exchange has been a part of for 5 years now. They started a campaign called Reverse Trick-or-Treat Halloween Drive to end forced child labor in cocoa countries which involves handing out informational cards along with organic, Fair Trade chocolates from West Bridgewater, MA-based Equal Exchange when they go trick-or-treating. This allows participants to bring attention to the thousands of children who have been trafficked and forced to work in exploitative conditions on West African cocoa farms.

    Instead of kids coming to the door to RECEIVE candy consider having the kids HAND OUT candy to the adults opening doors in order to better inform and to raise awareness of child labor, forced labor, trafficking and more!

    ORGANIZE your group of families or other volunteer trick-or-treaters who would like to participate and then consider ordering a kit from Equal Exchange that includes the following:
    • 1 box of 150 Organic Dark Chocolate “minis.”
    • 150 Reverse Trick-or-Treating cards
    • 150 glue dots
    • 1 instruction sheet

    Last year, Equal Exchange was able to reach 200,000 households and they would love to reach even more this year. Why not do something different? 

    Read more about what is happening”
    Yet again, please consider doing something different this year if you celebrate Halloween or not, but anyone can still work this in their community or church. Check out the kit and consider organizing a group in your neighborhood. 

    If you are a school, a non-profit or other organization order a kit from HERE

    If you are a faith-based group or current Equal Exchange Interfaith customer, order your kit from HERE


    GIVEAWAY!


    Equal Exchange has generously donated a Mini Chocolate Basket to be won by one of my readers. This basket is filled with 12 ounces of Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate Minis. Imported from Vietnam by Ten Thousand Villages, these fairly traded smoked bamboo baskets are sourced from Craft Link, a non-profit that works with artisans in an effort to generate income, with a focus on ethnic minorities, street children, and artisans with disabilities. Vegan & gluten-free. 

    How to Enter?

    1. Like Equal Exchange on Facebook
    2. Follow Equal Exchange on Twitter and tweet the following “Reverse Trick-or-Treating and GIVEAWAY- hand out chocolate on Halloween & raise awareness of child labor on cocoa farms http://bit.ly/rej1HD
    3. If you purchase a kit, leave a comment saying you did.
    4. Like Opera Singer in the Kitchen on Facebook.
    5. Follow Opera Singer in the Kitchen on Twitter
    Giveaway ends Monday, October 17th at midnight EST. Giveaway open to US readers. Thanks!

    40 Comments "

    So Delicious Greek-Style Coconut Yogurt Review {Giveaway}

    October 12th, 2011
    SO Delicious Greek-Style Yogurt

    Do you know what product is hitting shelves very soon?

    Are you lactose-intolerant and really have not been able to find a great tasting yogurt?

    Do you miss adding that yogurt to your morning granola or muesli?



    If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are up for a wonderful surprise! So Delicious has come out with a fantastic line of Greek-style coconut yogurt that is creamy and that comes in 6 flavors.

    • Blueberry
    • Chocolate
    • Plain
    • Raspberry
    • Strawberry
    • Vanilla
    Now before you go on saying that coconut milk or anything coconut is high in fat, let us analyze what kind of fat we are talking about. Coconut milk is rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids which are plant-based fats that the body processes differently than other fats. The liver breaks them down and converts them into energy as opposed to storing them as fat in the adipose tissue.

    They are SLOW burning fats that provide energy to the body! Who does not want that? They are also high in fiber which is a great way to start any morning.

    Another wonderful fact about So Delicious’ cultured products is that it contains 40-50% less sugar than other cultured products. For any of you who have been asking for lower sugar in products you can start looking to these delicious and creamy yogurts.

    I really have to say that all the flavors were my favorite. There were so thick and creamy that one morning I ate the blueberry yogurt with fresh figs and shredded wheat. Talk about my fill of fiber for the day!

    I used the Plain Greek-Style yogurt in a smoothie I want to share with you. It kept me energized and it kept my system moving of you know what I am talking about!

    Creamy Fig Smoothie

    Creamy Fig Smoothie

    serves 1

    10 fresh black figs
    1-6 ounce container So Delicious Greek-Style coconut yogurt (Vanilla)
    1/2 cup So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk
    1/4 cup water
    1 Tablespoon flax seed oil
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/2-3/4 cup ice

    The figs are naturally sweetened but feel free to add stevia or any other sweetener if you want.

    Blend all the ingredients in a high-powered blender and enjoy!


    Giveaway Time!!

    The folks at So Delicious want you to have a chance to taste these products or any other So Delicious / Turtle Mountain products on shelves.

    Two people will receive one FREE product coupon for their new Greek yogurts or any other So Delicious products PLUS some coupons for other products.

    Leave an entry for each item;
    1. Follow me and tweet this giveaway: “I want to win coupons for @So_Delicious Vegan Greek Yogurt from @singerinkitchen http://bit.ly/nv2PK9 “
    2. Like Opera Singer in the Kitchen on Facebook
    3. Get Opera Singer in the Kitchen recipes by email
    4. Like So Delicious on Facebook
    5. Follow So Delicious on Twitter
    The winners will be chosen at random. Contest is only open to US readers. Giveaway entries will be chosen Monday, October 17, 2011.

    90 Comments "