Cinnamon Rolls

Alright, I've been trying to think of an introduction and I finally figured it out. I'll write some words below and call it good.

Ok. These are words. I know they're words because they're groups of letters. These particular words are English words. Yep.

____________________

CINNAMON ROLLS

INGREDIENTS:

Dough:

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm (105 - 115 degree) water
• 2/3 cup plus 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2/3 cup butter
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 7 - 8 cups flour

Filling:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts, optional
• 1 1/2 cups raisins, optional

Pan Coating:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/4 cup sugar

Glaze:

• 2/3 cup (1 stick plus 2 Tbsp.) melted butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 - 8 Tbsp. hot water

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the yeast, water and 1 tsp. sugar in a small bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, stir the remaining 2/3 cup sugar, milk, butter, salt and eggs. Then add the yeast/water/sugar mixture and half the flour. Beat the dough until smooth. Continue adding the remaining flour, just until it is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky). 
2. Turn the dough onto a floured bowl and kneed for 5 - 10 minutes. Place the dough in a well-buttered bowl, cover and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled.
3. When the dough is doubled in size, punch it down and let it rest for 5 minutes.
4. Put the dough onto a floured surface and roll it into a 15 x 20 inch rectangle.
5. Melt the butter and spread it over the dough. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle it over the buttered dough. Add the walnuts and raisins if desired.
6. Roll up the dough in jellyroll fashion and pinch together to seal. Slice it into 12 to 15 pieces. Coat the bottoms of a 13 by 9 inch baking pan 8 by 8 inch pan with 1/2 cup of butter. Once the pans are evenly coated, sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.
7. Place the cinnamon rolls in the pans. Let rise for about 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.
8. Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 25 to 30  minutes, or until the rolls are browned. Let the rolls cool slightly.
9. While the rolls are cooling, prepare the glaze by first mixing the butter, sugar and vanilla together in a bowl. Add the water 1 Tbsp. at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
10. Spread the dough over the rolls and enjoy!

Recipe slightly adapted from cooks.com.

____________________