Citrus-Cream Cheese Pull-Aparts

Okay, Friends. Merry Christmas!

Ingredients

1 (25-ounce) package frozen roll dough (24 rolls)
Cooking spray
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (such as Craisins)
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
2/3 cup (6 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 large egg
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind (I use the rind from both the lemon and the lime)
1 tablespoon grated orange rind (I use lime - I like it better)
1 cup powdered sugar
5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (however much you get from the lemon and the lime works just fine)

Preparation

Thaw roll dough at room temperature 30 minutes.
Cut rolls in half. Place 24 halves, cut sides down, in bottom of each of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Brush butter evenly over rolls. Cover; let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 30 minutes. Sprinkle with dried cranberries. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cream cheese, orange juice, and egg; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over rolls. Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and rinds. Sprinkle evenly over rolls. Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Cover with foil. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until rolls in center are done. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over rolls.
Overnight Variation: After pouring the cream cheese mixture over rolls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours. Gently remove plastic wrap from rolls; sprinkle with rind mixture. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes or until dough has doubled in size. Proceed with recipe as directed.

Yum!

The Waiting Game

We've put a bid on a house, and it's been a whirlwind. We've been looking. Kind of. So many things have to fall into place for us to be in a position to buy a together home, but we look and see what's out there. And there was this one house that kept grabbing our eye, so we made an appointment to look at it. Cowboy just called the realtor listed on the sign, and she showed it to us. It was awful. So that was good. At least we no longer keep looking at it, and wondering if it's the house for us.

That realtor asked us what we were looking for, and we told her the areas and the price range, and that we aren't really in a serious position at the moment, but are looking. Cowboy also mentioned foreclosures. Hence, our current situation. She found one.

This one:



And it's as wonderful inside as out.

Although, being a foreclosure, there are problems:

a lot of the windows are knocked out. These A/C has been stolen. The dishwasher and stove have been stolen. No washer/dryer. The back door has been broken in (Hence, the stealing). And it needs piers. But still... it's SOOOOO beautiful inside. Oh - we'd want to knock a wall down, add a bathroom, etc. But, still...

So - we made an offer. There are multiple offers... we dont' get a second chance.

But, there is peace. We did what we felt was the right offer, and if it's the house for us, then that will be our house, and if not, then it will not.

But... it's really pretty. But, surprisingly, I really am at peace. I have no idea how long these deals take. Two weeks, two months, two days...

Seriously

Why in the heck have I not been blogging?! Too busy, bad computer, no good pictures...

all lame answers.

So, to re-cap the last four months before the bell rings for 7th hour:

Tomorrow will mark four months of marriage - WOW!

Yesterday was perhaps one of my top favorite five days with Cowboy - because we slept in, and it was just us. Breakfast at I hop (not a normal deal for us), grocery shopping together (not a normal deal for us), a relaxing afternoon on the couch, watching a movie for which I stayed awake (not a normal deal for us),and a really yummy dinner made by me (fairly normal).

I'm busy at my job, and I like it, but I'm ready for Christmas Break. I do more than I would normally do as an accompanist, but I like it.

We finally rented my house in Broken Arrow, and it seems as if the renter is not only a great tenant, but would love to buy the hosue. She has a daughter who has already made a friend in the bneighborhood, so we'll see. Certainly not holding our breath, but seems like a win-win for us.

We're ready to start looking for a house to call OURS. We'll see when that happens.

There goes the bell!

Love you all!