* Apple Cinnamon Rolls *

I am a terrible food blogger! To the two people who may check this blog, I am sorry! I have been trying new recipes lately and have forgotten to take pictures and I hate posting on a recipe blog without pictures so...I'm lame.

Anyways, onto the yummy recipe. I got this basic cinnamon roll recipe back in Young Women's and tweaked it a little by adding the apples (which I saw my dad do once back in the day). My hubby LOVES it with the apples so that how we always do it now. So, without further ado...

Apple Cinnamon Rolls
*1 pkg. active dry yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp.)
*1/2 c. warm water
*1/2 c. lukewarm milk
*1/3 c. sugar
*1/3 c. shortening, margarine, or butter softened (I use margarine)
*1 tsp. salt
*1 egg
*3 1/2 - 4 c. flour
*2 granny smith apples (or other tart variety)

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl (I use my kitchenaid). Stir in milk, sugar, margarine, salt, egg, and 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth (about 3-5 min.) Place in greased bowl, cover, and let rise until dough has doubled in size (Usually about an hour). You could also use your favorite cinnamon roll dough recipe but try it with the apples, you won't be disappointed :)

While the dough is rising, core and peel your apples. Shred using grater and put into frying pan. Add a little margarine and cinnamon and fry apples until soft. Set aside to cool.

Sweet Roll Filling
*4 Tbs. margarine or butter softened
*1/2 c. sugar
*4 tsp. cinnamon

After dough has doubled, roll dough into a rectangle on lightly floured surface. Spread with softened margarine. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the entire dough rectangle (I don't use the entire cinnamon/sugar mixture...I probably only use about 1/2 of it). Sprinkle shredded, cooked apples on top of cinnamon mixture. Roll up tightly. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Cut into 1 1/2 inch slices using floss, thread, or serrated knife. Place slices onto cookie sheet and let rise again til double (30-45 min.). Bake at 375* for 20-25 minutes. Spread tops with frosting or icing. We just use an icing glaze because Heathe is not a huge frosting fan. I make my glaze using powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.

Enjoy!!!

* Easy Sweet Pork Roast (Cafe Rio Knockoff) *

I LOVE Cafe Rio (yummy Utah-based Mexican food)! I crave them all the time and we just recently got a Cafe Rio up here in Idaho which is so great! Before we got the restaurant up here, I had to make do with a homemade sweet pork roast. This recipe is my favorite because it is so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. It doesn't taste exactly like Cafe Rio pork roast but it is very yummy! **I've had a few people tell me that you can add a can of Coke or Root Beer and it will taste a bit more like Cafe Rio/Costa Vida pork...I haven't tried it but let me know if you do!

Sweet Pork Roast
*2-3 lb. pork roast
*2 c. salsa
*1 c. brown Sugar

Place pork roast in crockpot. Sprinkle brown sugar and salsa over the top. Cook on low 7-8 hours. Shred and let pork simmer in the juice for another hour. (At this point, I add in a few more spices, although the recipe doesn't call for it. I add a little bit of garlic salt, cumin, and taco seasoning.) I use this in tacos, burritos, on salads, etc. So yummy!

* The BEST Banana Bread Ever! *

My mom seriously makes the best Banana Bread EVER! I don't want to brag but I won a contest in Young Women's with this recipe (haha I'm so lame...) You definitely want to try this recipe...it is SO SO good!

Banana Bread
(Not the greatest picture...sorry! But it's still the best!)

*1 1/3 c. vegetable oil
*3 c. sugar
*4 eggs
*6 ripe bananas
*1 c. sour cream
*1 T. vanilla
*4 c. flour
*1 1/2 t. salt
*1 1/2 t. soda
*2 c. chopped nuts (opt.)

Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased and floured pans. Sprinkle sugar over the tops of the batter. Bake at 325* for 45-60 minutes. Cool completely and cover. Store in the refrigerator. (Makes 4 loaf pans)