Often I read other bloggers after losing someone in their life talk about the fact that their blog was like therapy. And though I did not lose someone in the form of death, it is still a loss. And as you can see through my major posting, the blog is in a sense like therapy to me. Though I have real life friends who are amazingly supportive, the support of my readers is also important to me.
I guess that is why in a way I have been working on trying to build more of a community of sorts on this blog. I will never be a juggernaut (nor do I have the desire to be). I like being that off-beat blog that people come by and say hi, like I’m Norm from Cheers. 🙂 Which is why I have been pushing the Facebook Page as of late. It’s purely therapeutic for me. I love interacting with my readers on a more personal level. I love discussing silly things like me getting excited about 3 boxes of unsalted butter for $5 (because really, who wouldn’t!!!) or asking people what great food finds they have found as of late. Yes, I could do that on the blog, but it is really more instant there. Many people often comment that they wish they were my neighbor (though I know that is purely for the baked goods :P) but the Facebook Page is a really good way to interact, be my virtual neighbor (cue Mr. Rogers…though no weird puppets please and if you stop by I’m wearing sweats, not a sweater). Besides you can learn how really boring and mundane my life is. 😛
If you were my neighbor, I might have you over for breakfast. If you like to eat breakfast at 10-11am. Mornings aren’t my thing. On days I sub, the getting up part is brutal, especially when one is score keeping hockey until 12:30 the night before. Anyway, if you were over for breakfast this week, you might actually be getting one of these beauties. I had several people sad that when I had a picture of the Panera Cobblestone that there wasn’t a recipe. It’s probably best I don’t have that recipe. 🙂 So I figured I would come up with my own version of sorts. But instead of cinnamon and apples, I went with orange and dried cherry. Yeah, these were yummy as well. You could easily use dried cranberries as well, but there is something about dried cherries that just make me happy, and well, they were in the cupboard.
I know there is yeast and that scares the crap out of some of you but really, give it a try. The most important thing for you to remember is to not add your yeast until your milk is the temperature it needs to be. If it is too hot, then your yeast goes flat…just like men’s junk in a hot tub. 😉
Again, thanks for all your kind words and support as I go through this “growing” time in my life. It’s simply making me a better person (or something like that 😛 ).
Orange-Dried Cherry Cobblestones (Rolls)
2 cups plus 3 TBSP milk
6 TBSP granulated sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup dried cherries
For orange sugar:
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of two oranges
Place cupcake liners into large muffin (the oversized ones that only hold 6 muffins per pan).
Make the orange sugar. Rub the sugar and zest together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Place 2 cups of milk in a saucepan over medium heat and bring just to a boil.
Combine 6 TBSP of the sugar, the salt, and the butter in a large bowl, pour the hot milk over it, and let cool to 110-115F.
In a small bowl, mix together the egg and yeast.
Add to the cooled milk mixture, and mix well. Add the flour and mix until the dough is soft.
Transfer the dough to a well-floured board and knead until very smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Yes you can do this in your mixer with the dough hook, I did. If you use the hook, add about ¼ cup flour to the mix.
Place the dough in a large, well-greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Punch the dough down, place on a well-floured board, and roll it small balls, about the size of a ping pong balls. Roll the dough balls into the orange sugar and coat well. Place 5 balls into the bottom of the muffin cup. Sprinkle some cherries in there. Throw a few more dough balls, then more cherries, until you are about 2/3 of the way up. It will make about 9 of them. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise one more time, until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
When the rolls have risen, bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes (watch them…it’s so hard to tell with my crappy apartment oven!) Let cool for about 5 minutes. While rolls are cooling, prepare the icing(recipe follows). Drizzle the icing over the orange rolls and serve warm.
Orange Glaze
2 medium oranges
2 cups powdered sugar
Combine the powdered sugar, and orange juice. Whisk to make sure all is incorporated.
Source: Adapted from Caprial’s Desserts by Caprial Pence and Melissa Carey
Baking Soda says
Repeat after me: yeast is not scary, yeast is not scary, yeast…
Honestly I couldn’t face this one at 7.30-ish but 10.30? Count me in!
D says
Oooh, I wonder if I could make these with well-drained candied marasca cherries? May take out a tbsp of the sugar just to be safe . . .
And side note: yay, the feed is whole again!
Peabody says
But the feed wont be whole again after this weekend on purpose. So be warned.
Felice says
Wow, who wouldn’t love one of these for breakfast? With a cup of Ka’u coffee this would certainly be the highlight of my day. It is funny because I obviously don’t know you, but I imagine that if I did the thing I would appreciate the most is your straightforwardness – no BS.
I know what you mean about Facebook and being able to interact a little better with people. I wish I had more time to do that and the blog. I sometimes try to add a question to my blog to get the dialog going but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Rosa says
Those buns look terrific! I’d love to have a neighbor like you… ;-p
Cheers,
Rosa
Sticky Penguin says
Those muffiny rolls look like the perfect breakfast treat – and they aren’t actually as indulgent as I thought (or as they look!). Those photos are just gorgeous (I’m looking at them on my TV screen while attempting to edit some of my own into submission…). If you were my neighbour, I would be attempting to bribe you with brownies in the hope of learning your secrets! Always enjoy reading the posts of another not-quite-middle-of-the-road blogger 🙂
Sarah says
That looks SO DELICIOUS, and I’m sure is much better for you than Panera’s preservative-filled pastries 🙂 I’d have breakfast or brunch with you anytime!
Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes says
I’ve recently conquered my fear of yeast, so I can actually say that I’d like to try this!!
Elizabeth says
Oh man those look good. And panera inspiration is fine by me! I’m glad I’m your “neighbor” Peabody!
Michelle says
Y.U.M!
Samantha says
I, too, would be excited about 3 boxes of butter for $5. 🙂 The rolls look awesome!
Amanda Joy says
These would be great to make for neighbor gifts. Our neighborhood has many widows and this would be something nice to take to them for Valentine’s Day, or just because:)
Samantha says
I need to get over the yeast thing. These look incredible! I love orange anything. =)
Amanda says
Wowzers!! Those look amazing and have two of my favorite flavors 🙂 I LURVE cherries, yum yum yum. And I would want to be your neighbor even without the baked goods, i make enough of those on my own. It was great meeting you, you are totally fun and genuine 🙂
Erika says
I don’t have access to Facebook as I use my work computer to check your blog (shame on me!), but I’ll definitely keep checking out your posts!
I, too, loathe mornings. Breakfast at 11:00 sounds fabulous. and I’m jealous of the deal you got on butter; I have a friend that makes fun of me for the amount of butter in my fridge at all times!
Alana says
Those look amazing, Peabody! I think it’s probably for the best that you and I are not neighbors. We wouldn’t have a chance of weight loss or even of maintaining weight loss. 🙂
Sarah Farley says
Those look soooo good. It’s torture to look at all the things you bake when I first get up in the morning…especially as I sit here and eat my fruit and granola:( Haha
Frieda says
Sure, I’ll be your neighbor! Like you, I get up at the crack of noon….
Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says
This is definitely a growing period. I didn’t go through a divorce, but within the last 14 months I lost a job and my husband lost two jobs. On top of having no income we found out we were going to be parents for the first time. There were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of tears but I feel like we are finally starting to come out on the other side. It has made me stronger, both as a person and in my faith and it opened up a lot of doors for for me that I may not have pursued otherwise. Don’t mean to type a whole book here because I know you and I don’t know each other, but I do know about how going through a major life change can scare the sh*t out of you.
Peabody says
Oh goodness Lisa, that is a lot to handle in 14 months. Way to stay strong!
Nancy @ Roving Lemon's Big Adventure says
Hey! Just to say thanks for stopping by my blog–so nice to come across another food blogger/hockey player! I just started in a new league; maybe I should bring these and get myself a couple dozen new best buds….
Annestrawberry says
I’m going to make these right now, they look amazing and will be a good excuse to use my jumbo muffin tins that have sat unused for too long lately.
I get what you are saying about google reader and clicking over so I’m going to try to be more diligent about it. You’ve been my favorite food blogger forever and you’re with the extra clicks (i think reader is making us all lazy!) I ‘liked’ you too, can’t wait to see more!
hobby baker says
Okay. Yum. I need to meet my neighbors now, I need people to feed.
Darlene says
Yum, must make.
3 boxes of butter for $5???
Where do you shop?
Obviously not in Calgary…
Regina says
I don’t eat bread or baked goods, but this is why I want to be your neighbor: “…your yeast goes flat…just like men’s junk in a hot tub.”
avasmommy says
I’m in the middle of a divorce right now, and yes, it is a loss. It may not be death, but it still deserves grieving just the same.
I’m enjoying your recipes and getting to “know” you through this blog.
wendyywy says
The first picture of the cobblestone looked so sexy, hahaha!
Amy says
Looks yummy!
Sarah says
Question, Peabody: I’ve baked granola before with the dried fruit mixed in ahead of time, and it came out way hard and chewy. I notice the cherries on the outside/top of the bun look a lot darker than the ones that stayed tucked in the middle of the dough – did you notice anything different about their texture?
Peabody says
@Sarah- yes, the ones on top get more crunchy, though not too bad. If you soak them in hot water beforehand that can help. I was just in a rush and skipped that step.
Mrs. L says
Oh I wouldn’t want to be your neighbor just for the baked goods…there’s the hockey too! 🙂 Baked goods while watching a hockey game totally works for me!
Erin says
I would love you as my neighbor. And OMIGOD those look good. Shall have to make them at some point.
Melissa says
Oh. My. Word. These look incredible! I bought some “clearance” oranges the other day, intending to zest them for a recipe. I know I just found the recipe! 🙂
Lynn says
You read my mind – thank you for the recipe, even if it’s not the exact same. These look wonderful!
Jamie says
The cobblestone looks ah-maz-ing! I will fear no yeast and forge on (attempting) to make these. Yum!!
Laura says
I love the fact that you’re posting so frequently these days. It’s great to come “visit” you and see what’s new with you! And, of course, check out your recipes. 🙂
Melinda K says
These look yummy!
Debbie says
If you were my neighbor we could share sweets but I have a feeling yours would always be better!!! Oh and I do LOVE the oreo! Way to go!!!!
ErinsFoodFiles says
I should have you know, last weekend, while lunching with my mom at Panera before shopping for wedding dresses (well, more like the “anti” wedding dress), I bought a Cobblestone to share! It was all because of your post! And it was delicious. 😀
Natasha P. says
Love the blog. Sorry, I don’t do fb or I would be a fan, but to me, fb is the devil. 🙂
Lori says
Peabody,
Stumbled across your blog through Michelle’s Brown Eyed Baker. I will visit often now that I’ve found you. I know what you mean about rink rats. I’m the equipment manager in my family. I live with three USA Hockey Refs. My husband and sons keep me plenty busy. You’d think I’d know the game better but I guess it’s like the “Shoemakers kids don’t have shoes” lol. Stay well and stay strong.