One year ago today, I pushed the publish button for the first time not knowing what I was getting into nor where this would lead. A year later I am pushing that same button for the 203rd time, looking back at a wonderful journey from there to here.

A journey that taught me many lessons..

• Instead of trying to imitate other people, find your own voice, be yourself. As John Jakes puts it:

• Always challenge  yourself. Push the limit and try something new. The sky is the limit to what you can do and achieve so dream big
• Slow down, open your eyes and enjoy the gift of ordinary days: most of us wait for events or people to make us happy. I have heard so many people say “I will be happy WHEN…” X,Y or Z happens.We wait for a great job, a long vacation, to get married, have kids, wait for the kids to grow.Stop waiting and enjoy the simple joys, the pleasures of ordinary days. A good meal, a great book, a walk with a friend, bed time story with your kids, a blooming flower, the feeling of rain on your face. Stop waiting and start living.

Before I get to the cinnamon bread recipe I would like to thank each and every one of you for being part of this journey, for being my motivation and inspiration.Whether you are a supportive friend, a silent reader or one who leaves me comment, a blogger friend who supports and inspires or a loving parent who is always there with a smile and words of encouragement. To you all, from the bottom of my heart… Thank you

I have been thinking about what recipe to share today for some time and I decided on this one  for a simple reason. At first glance it looks complicated and time consuming but if you break it down, you’ll find out it is a really simple and easy recipe. I believe that the same rule applies to any challenge in life. No matter how hard it may seem on the out side, if you take it step by step with enough determination and passion you will make it through every time. 🙂

This cinnamon sweet bread is a true treat. Warm out of the oven with a cup of tea it makes a wonderful breakfast or a great way to entertain friends. The cardamom in the dough is optional but I strongly recommend you give it a try. You won’t be able to taste it as such in the final product but it compliments the cinnamon beautifully.

Cinnamon sweet bread

1/4 cup (60 ml) warm water

3/4 cup warm milk

1 egg

1/4 cup (57 gram) butter, softened

1/4 cup (50 gram) white sugar

1/2 teaspoon (2 grams)salt

3 1/4 tp 3 1/2 cups ( 416-448 gram) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons (8 grams) dry yeast

1/4 teaspoon (1 gram)cardamom optional

For topping

1/4 cup (60ml) of milk

1 tablespoon (14 gm)sugar

Between the layers

4 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

For drizzling

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

In a bowl whisk the egg with milk, water, sugar, butter and yeast.

Set aside

In another bowl sift the flour with the salt and the cardamom .

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and knead until you get a smooth dough.

Place it in a bowl you have brushed with some oil and cover it with a wet cloth and leave it in a warm place to double

(If you are tight on time you can heat your oven to 200 C then turn it off and place your dough in a glass bowl and place it in the warm oven with the wet cloth covering the bowl)

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface

Divide the dough into 4 parts

Roll each part into a circle

Brush the first layer with butter then sprinkle sugar and cinnamon

Place the second layer and repeat the brushing and sprinkling and then do the same with the third layer.

Top with the fourth layer, this time only brush it with butter.

Using a knife make cuts that divide the dough circles into 8 triangles

Then make cuts that go 2/3 of the way in the middle of each triangle

Take the tip of each triangle and insert it into the cut you made and pull  it from the underside

Arrange the triangles in your baking pan

Pinch the two angles at the base of the triangle together

Using a brush, brush the dough with milk

allow to rest for 15 minutes during which you would heat your oven to 270C (500F) (rack in the middle)

Bake for 5 minutes on 270C (500F) then lower the temperature to 200 C (400 F) and bake for 15-20 more minutes (ovens do differ greatly, so the time may differ..what you want is to bake it until the under side is golden brown)

Turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes until it is golden brown on top

Take it out of the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rick and drizzle with sweetened condensed milk while it is still warm