Honey-Glazed Bunny Rolls-Great For Easter

Honey-Glazed Bunny Rolls
Recipe courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

1 cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast, or 2 1/2 teaspoons
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons and at room temperature
2 large egg yolks
4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt

For glaze:
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 stick unsalted butter
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
12 dried currants, halved

In a small saucepan heat milk with honey, stirring, over low heat just until lukewarm and remove pan from heat. Stir in yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add softened butter and yolks, whisking until combined well. Transfer milk mixture to bowl of a standing electric mixer (or to a large bowl if kneading by hand). Add flour and salt gradually to milk mixture, stirring until incorporated. With dough hook knead dough until smooth, about 2 minutes. (By hand, knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled large bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm place, until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Make glaze: In a small saucepan heat glaze ingredients, except currants, over low flame, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Remove from pan and keep warm and covered.
Grease two baking sheets. Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into and egg shape and transfer pieces to prepared baking sheet. Form a bunny tail on each roll by holding scissors, points down, perpendicular to baking sheet, and making a 1/2-inch long snip at base of wide end. Form 2 bunny ears by making a 2-inch long snip on each side, starting near wide end and cutting toward narrow end. Form eyes on each piece by making 2 holes in narrow end with a wooden toothpick and pressing a currant half firmly into each hole with pick. Brush half of warm glaze on rolls and let rise, covered loosely with plastic wrap in a warm place for about 45 minutes (or until doubled in bulk).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat remaining glaze and brush rolls. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching positions half way through. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown, and transfer to racks to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Valentine's Be-Mine Cupcakes Recipe

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to share this recipe with you, courtesy Parent's Magazine online:

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups red melting wafers
2-1/2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 can (16 ounce) vanilla frosting
Pink icing color
18 cupcakes, any flavor
Red fruit slices or any soft, chewy candy, halved
Red licorice strings
Sprinkles

Directions
1. In bowl, combine red melting wafers and vegetable shortening. Microwave on medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and combined, about 2 minutes.
2. Pour mixture into a foil-lined baking pan, and spread out into an 8" x 10" rectangle. Refrigerate for 3 minutes, or just until set.
3. Using a 1-1/2" heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out as many hearts as you can. Place scraps of wafers back into the bowl, and microwave again to melt. Pour into baking pan, and spread into a 6" x 8" rectangle. Follow previous directions for chilling and cutting.
4. Tint frosting pink with icing color, and frost cupcakes. Place two hearts at angles, points together, in center of each cupcake to make butterfly wings. Place a fruit slice or candy between wings for body. Insert 2 small pieces of licorice strings for the antennae. Top cupcakes with sprinkles.

Who Doesn't Love Pizza!

The kids and I made little pizzas last night for dinner and they were delicious and so quick and easy to make. I gave each child a flour tortilla and let them dress their pizza with cheese, sauce, and turkey pepperoni. Normally I would also offer green pepper, mushrooms, black olives, and onion, but I was low on ingredients. If you like thin crust pizza, you will love these! Just bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and tortilla is crisp!

Just for fun, here is a list of pizza toppings from around the world. Just memorize it and you can impress your friends!

Australia-Eggs

Bahamas-Barbecued chicken

Brazil-Green peas

Chile-Mussels and clams

Colombia-Guava

Costa Rica-Coconut

England-Tuna and corn

France-Fresh cream

Guatemala-Black bean sauce

India-Pickled ginger

Japan-Squid, mayonnaise, potato

Pakistan-Curry

Russia-Red herring

Here are America's favorite toppings, according to the Book of Lists: pepperoni, mushrooms, extra cheese, sausage, green pepper, and onions.