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Roasted Parsnips & Red Potatoes

I wouldn’t dream of complaining about the fact that it’s bitterly cold here in the coastal Southeast because so many of you are still buried under literal feet of snow. But I think we can all agree that, despite a late entrance, winter has arrived in full force. And she seems angry? At least from where I’m sitting. I need more flannel lined jeans.

 

parsnips potatoes 1

 

I’m partial to the potato year round, but in winter it really shines. The potato is an easy and versatile root vegetable that, when served with its skin on, is a wealth of vitamins and minerals that our nutrient deprived bodies so desperately need. And when paired with another, lesser admired root vegetable, the parsnip, things get even better. This recipe can go two ways- chopped and roasted parsnips and red potatoes with olive oil, rosemary, garlic, and salt. Or, if you’re in the mood, taken one step further and mashed. Either way it’s delicious. Either way it’s good for you. Either way it goes well with that steak you’re eyeing at the butcher’s counter.

 

parsnips potatoes 2

 

Roasted Parsnips & Red Potatoes

 

4 large parsnips

6 red potatoes

4-6 sprigs fresh rosemary

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp sea salt

3 cloves garlic, minced

 

Heat oven to 375F. Chop the parsnips and potatoes into large chunks and place in a roasting pan. Toss with olive oil, salt, minced garlic, and rosemary. Roast for about 1 hour, or until parsnips and potatoes are tender. Mix well and serve hot.

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Lovely Internet 1.22.16

1. We had flurries this morning and have now settled into a nice freezing rain. Some weather indeed.

2. An Instagram performance piece.

3. This is everything.

4. How to observe Whiteness History Month.

5. On blending in and not fitting in.

6. I’m on a high horse about this one lately- there is no “first world.” There is only one world.

7. The new American dietary guidelines. The TL;DR: get to know your fats.

8. Get your daughter(s) a skateboard.

9. A fast food biscuit taste test. (I have been craving Biscuitville all week long. Someone bring me a fried bologna sandwich!)

10. Macklemore, examining his privilege.

 

For more tidbits from Elena the person, follow me on twitter (@elenabrent or @biscuitsandsuch), instagrampinterest or facebook. Subscribe to my bloglovin’ feed to make sure you never miss a post. Follow along with MissElenaeous for thoughts on everything other than Southern food.

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Caramelized Cinnamon Rolls

This year for Dan’s birthday we had a birthday brunch. I figured 31 is a good time for a low key celebration (but still a celebration because come on), and Dan agreed that putting a candle in cinnamon rolls was as good as any cake. So a birthday brunch it was!

 

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cinnamon rolls 6

cinnamon rolls 3

 

The cinnamon rolls we made for The American Cookbook was hands down my favorite recipe in the book and perhaps my favorite recipe from 2013. The secret is that they’re baked in caramel sauce. Or, as Dan kept putting it, they’re cinnamon rolls poached in caramel sauce. Because what does a cinnamon roll really need other than a rich and decadent sauce?

 

cinnamon rolls 4

cinnamon rolls 2

cinnamon rolls 1

 

When I was testing this recipe for the cookbook Dan and I would each eat one, and then the rest would be gifted out to others. I was glad to have a table full of people to eat these at our brunch, because otherwise I can tell you right now I would have curled up in front of the fire with the whole dish. Which probably would not have been great for my overall health. Physical, at least. Mentally I would have felt GREAT!

 

cinnamon rolls 9

 

Caramelized Cinnamon Rolls

from The American Cookbook by Elena Rosemond-Hoerr

 

buns:

 

2 1/2 tsp dry active yeast

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup whole milk

1 stick butter

Pinch of salt

1 egg

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

 

for caramel sauce:

 

1 cup light brown sugar

1 stick butter, cut into cubes

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream

 

for filling:

 

1 stick butter

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

 

for icing:

 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp whole milk

 

Dissolve the yeas in 1/4 cup warm water with a pinch of sugar. Set aside for 5 minutes. While the yeast is going heat milk and butter over low heat until the butter has melted. Remove immediately and mix with the yeast mixture, remaining sugar, salt, egg, and half of the flour. Stir to incorporate and then add the remaining flour a little at a time until the mixture comes together to form a dough.

 

Knead the dough for 5 minutes, adding flour as needed to keep the dough from getting sticky. Turn into an oiled bowl and cover loosely with a towel. Allow to rise for 1 hour in a warm spot.

 

While the dough is rising make your caramel sauce. In a heavy frying pan melt the sugar, stirring constantly with a whisk. The sugar will clump, but continue to stir. Once the sugar has melted and reached a dark brown color, add the butter. Continue to stir as the butter melts and incorporates. Add the vanilla extract and the cream, and continue stirring until the boiling has stopped. Remove from heat and let cool.

 

Heat oven to 350F. Place the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out to a thickness of 1/2″. Make the filling by softening the butter and mixing it with the sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Spread the filling evenly over the dough. Roll to form a tight spiral.

 

Pour the caramel sauce into a 9×9 pan. Cut the dough into 9 equal slices and press into the caramel sauce. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. The center of the buns should remain slightly gooey. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk and pour the icing over the buns. Serve hot.

 

make this gluten free:

 

-Substitute equal parts all purpose flour for King Arthur’s baking flour*

-Add 1/4 cup of milk to the recipe, bringing the total up to 3/4 cup.

– Gluten free dough comes together differently than wheat dough. Because of this, it takes a little bit more finesse and work for the perfect end results. You can’t over work the dough like you can with wheat flour, so feel free to pat, fold, and pat the dough out as many times as it takes until a pliable dough forms (5-6 times in my experience). Be gentle, but it’ll come!

– You can see in the pictures, but these didn’t roll quite as much as the gluten cinnamon rolls I made for the book did. That’s okay! I was able to get the dough patted down to 1/2″ and then I used my sil-pat to help me form the roll. Worked like a charm and they were delicious.

 

*this post isn’t sponsored by KA, but I’ve found that their baking blend is the best option for most yeasted doughs

 

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