You know how sometimes, after you’ve been with someone for a while, you kind of stop expecting any surprises. And I don’t mean like oh hey here’s a no-reason gift kind of surprise ~ those are definitely still welcome, although maybe you do stop expecting those eventually too.
What I mean is, you think you know everything about them, what they’re like when they’re happy, sad, stressed, tired and hungry… and especially how they react when they find you’ve put a red sock in with the whites. But most of all you think you know all of their skills and what they are capable – or incapable – of.
So imagine my surprise when the boys’ turn to cook finally rolled around and Panu turned into something of a budding pastry chef and knocked out not just one, but two serves of sweet thangs.
Check it out: delightful little cinnamon scrolls and the very appropriately timed Christmas star.
Wow.
Cinnamon scrolls are deliciously fragant buns, rolled in layers of cinnamon and butter. I’m pretty sure that they’re standard issue Finnish fare, and I’ve deduced this from my vast experience with my Nordic pseudo family ~ Panu’s dad used to churn these babies out by the dozen at Christmas time; we spotted some at the Finnish fare a few weeks back; and they sell these scrolls on steroids in Helsinki.
So really, I shouldn’t have been that surprised that when Panu decided to come out of the baking closet, he did so with his miniature army of infinitely adorable cinnamon scrolls.
Maybe I’m not surprised. Maybe I’m in awe. Maybe I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I have a boyfriend who bakes. F*** yeh!
Anyway, as if that wasn’t enough for me to contemplate proposing matrimony right then and there, Panu continued pottering around in the kitchen after the delicious cinnamon-y scents of the scrolls already filled our little apartment.
Apparently churning out the cinnamon scrolls weren’t quite sufficient, he then proceeded to breathe epicurean life into the festive season with more Finnish treats ~ a set of jam filled Christmas stars.
Yum.
What can I say? I’ve hit the jackpot, right?
Darn right, I have, but I’m not the only lucky one. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about what my friend David made for dinner that night ~ home made mutha effin’ gnocchi. I am humbled.
I mean really, dating a rockstar is like so 1990. I’d much rather have a boy who cooks!
cinnamon scrolls |
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Pastry: 500mL milk, room temperature 50 grams yeast 1 egg 150-200mL sugar 1 tablespoon cardamom 1.5 – 2 teaspoon salt 1kg wheat flour 150 grams butter, melted 1 extra egg for glazing Filling: 25 grams butter, melted 50mL sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon (the more the yummier) Topping: Sugar Cinnamon |
Alternatively, you can use supermarket grade puff pastry, which is a lighter, flakier (though less traditional) alternative. |
Makes 35-50 small buns. |
Christmas stars |
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750 grams puff pastry 250 grams soft prunes 300mL water 2 tablespoons sugar (or less, it is quite sweet anyway) 1 egg for glazing |
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Makes 24. |
oh sweetness. look at you go girl 🙂 it’s always great to realize what u have is fab anyway and stop wanting what’s just not realistic or really not right for you.
send me a cinnamon roll – share the love! 😀 jokes. x
Nothing wrong with a guy that bakes. I used to use the rice scooper from the rice cooker and the pot within the rice cooker to mix my batter in. Ghetto, but it works! 😛
diva: thanks honey and I’d be more than happy to share a cinnamon scroll ~ stay tuned i think he’s making more at Christmas time 😉
Kung Food Panda: you’re definitely Chinese. And resourceful LOL! good work!
Totally agree with you. For me, who needs a musician (although I still don’t mind if it comes in the package) when I have a talented programmer for a hub at home who deals with all the technology for me. 🙂 I’m so spoiled these days.
Love your cinnamon rolls. 🙂 Your BF rocks!
You are so lucky… mine nearly burns down the flat to make scrambled eggs. I could eat cinnamon rolls all day long.
Oh you’re so lucky! They looks so delicious, i wish my husband could cook or bake or fold bedsheets!
Yummmmmmmmmmm! Lucky you!! I love Finnish cinnamon buns!
xox Sarah
The Cooking Ninja: LOL my bf is also a tech guru so YES that is soooo much more valuable than a musician, I mean you can only be serenaded so many times right but when my laptop crashes I NEED HELP! 🙂
Beth: LOL oh i remember that story!! Classic 😀
Jane: Haha I know, I am very much spoilt 🙂
Sarah: They’re great aren’t they? The more cinnamon the better!
i am impressed!
Yuuuuum!! AWESOMENESS is all i can say! i may print that recipe out and leave it lying around to see if mine takes the hint and comes roaring out of the baking closet! well done and go Panu! xxx
Cinnamon buns! I love them and could eat them all day. Or until I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore. 😛 I think making them into stars was a great idea.
Isn’t it great having a man who can cook/bake? I remember R being so bored when I was studying for finals that he decided to bake his first cake ever… and it was pretty good as well!
mc: me too 🙂
TheLittleWelsh: LOL lemme know how you go on that one, you never never know!
Su-Yin: The stars were a whole different thing – those are jam filled stars. But yes I agree – cinnamon scrolls are divine 🙂
OMG. They look even better than the ones I adore at the Nordic Kitchen! I am SO printing out this recipe for my boyfriend’s attention!!
Yum! It is great having a man that cooks, isn’t it? Mine does, and does it so well might I add.
Can’t wait for you gnocchi post. I remember the first time I ever had hand made gnocchi (Sydney Cafe, actually – gosh I love that place!) I thought I’d just arrived at food heaven. So I had to make it of course. And there’s nothing like home made gnocchi.
Greedy Diva: LOL yeh same as what TheLittleWelsh is going to go – print it out and leave it in the kitchen as a HINT for the bf 😉 Let me know how it goes!
Mowie: Men who cook are sexy, no? And oh yes home made gnocchi! That post will be up in the next few days 🙂
wowww impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!those yummy delights look so good!!! i want! i want!
Oh my, they do look impressive. Lucky you to have someone who bakes like that 🙂
grace: I know, right? I was really impressed too LOL…
George: I do know I’m lucky. Super lucky.