Before The Clock Strikes 21

Imagine it is your last day as a 20 year old. What would you do? I have known plenty of people who would have a “‘last day alcohol is illegal’ drinking party”. I have known many people who would be on their way to Vegas right now so the fun can begin at midnight. And then there is me. What did I do on my last day as a 20 year old? I baked bread, crocheted, and worked out. I like to think that these kind of activities would go in my personal ad for friendship. If you are interested in any of these things and want to be my friend, call for a good time. And by good time, I mean, we will be covered in flour and will have successfully stayed in our sweatpants all day. Any takers?

Or if you live far away from me, you could just make bread at home and tell me about it. In this case, please refer to the recipe I have stolen from The Pioneer Woman and made my own.

Homemade Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-½ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
• 2 whole Eggs
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 3-½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ⅓ cups Sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Instructions

1. Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don’t boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
2. Combine flour and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.
4. Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.
5. Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it’s warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours. (The warmth is really important in order for the bread to rise! If your house is really cold, like mine, then get creative! And yes, that is a plastic bag. We were out of plastic wrap.)
6. Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you’re going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.
7. Smear loaf pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
9. Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.
10. Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon toast or French toast with it.

Now I ate too much bread and my stomach hurts. You think this would be a lesson I would have learned by the time I turn 21… but hey, I still have like, 6 more hours!