Quick Homemade Cinnamon Buns

California girl-in-exile that I am, it is always a rude surprise to wake up on a sunny morning, only to realize that it is still winter and freezing. Also we are feeling a little defensive, having let President Obama down in the real men department. Mr. Hunting Creek had a stressful week, having had his car break down in the middle of highway 1 during the morning rush, then after having that car towed to the mechanic, car number two broke down the next morning. Anyone with any sense at all knows that cinnamon rolls are necessary in times like these. These are adapted from Fine Cooking Magazine. They have a weekly recipe newsletter and the original was from there.
(the original recipe was called Coconut-Almond Spice Buns, but my family vetoed the coconuts and almonds, thus the name change)

Quick Cinnamon Buns
Preheat your oven to 400
For the dough:
Combine
3/4 cup cottage cheese (I use 4% milk fat)
1/3 cup buttermilk ( I have also used plain yogurt, vanilla yogurt, Trader Joes Vanana yogurt and sour cream thinned with a little milk)
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons melted butter ( I have also used 2 tablespoons and they were great. Once I forgot the butter and they were very good - not quite as moist but they didn't last that long either)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all this in a food processor until smooth
Then add
2 cups flour ( I have used 1 cup flour and 1 cup King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Mix into dry ingredients in quick on/off of the processor, until dough forms. This is not bread dough, it will be damp and soft.
Place it on a floured surface, knead a little bit.( 3-5 times) and roll out until 12x15 inch rectangle.
For the filling:
1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter - to spread on the rolled out dough
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
(if my son is gone I add pecans. If he is home I leave them out. About 1 handful)
Mix the brown sugar with cinnamon and nuts if you want them. No one in my house will let me add raisins or dried cranberries but I bet they would be good. Spread the melted butter on the dough, leaving outer edges dry (about 1/2 inch or so) Sprinkle with brown sugar-cinnamon. Roll up jelly roll style. Slice into 12 pieces (is it only me who ends up with odd amounts?) And place in greased 9 inch round pan. Bake until golden brown, about 25-29 minutes in my oven (your own may vary)
Glaze with goopy topping of your choice. I mixed 3/4 cup powdered sugar with a little milk and vanilla. Sometimes I use orange juice instead.
Now we are $800 poorer but we are philosophical about it. Coffee and Cinnamon rolls will do that for you. Maybe you need some cinnamon rolls too?
Happy Baking!