A couple cheater recipes... (Monkey Bread, Multi-Grain Pretzels)

I made two snacks today using "cheats" to save some time.  These are always big hits with the kids.  Neither is exactly a health food, but both are vegan and yummy.  Great comfort foods for a dark, rainy day!

MONKEY BREAD (CHEAT)

1 tube refrigerator biscuits

1/4 c. sugar

1 T. cinnamon

12 t. brown sugar (2 t. in each muffin)

2 T. Earth Balance or your favorite vegan butter

Pam spray

Spray a regular size muffin tin (for 6 muffins) with Pam.  Cut the 2 T. butter into 6 equal portions and place in tins.  Sprinkle 2 t. brown sugar on top of the butter.  Place the cinnamon and sugar in a baggie and mix together.  Cut each biscuit into 4-6 pieces and shake them pieces in the cinnamon and sugar mixture until evenly coated.  Portion out the biscuit pieces evenly into the 6 prepared muffin tins.  Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Immediately flip hot bread onto a plate so the brown sugar and butter drizzle over the top.  Serve warm.

MULTI-GRAIN PRETZELS (CHEAT)

(I set these rolls out in the morning to rise and then roll them out and shape them when the kids go down for nap.  I bake them right before snack time so they are warm.  It's really only a couple minutes of work each time, so not labor intensive at all. I'm not sure if these store well because I've never had any leftovers!)

Frozen Rhodes Mult-Grain Rolls bread dough (from the freezer section)

Pam spray

1/3 c. baking soda

5 c. water

Smart Balance Butter and Sea Salt to taste

Each bread roll will be one pretzel.  Place desired number of frozen rolls onto a baking sheet that has been sprayed with Pam, leaving room for bread to rise. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that has been sprayed with Pam so it doesn't stick to the dough.  Let rise about 4-5 hours.  Then roll each out into a long tube about 18 inches long.  Make into pretzel shapes (or letters or numbers or something else fun) and place back on sprayed pan to rise a second time.  Cover with plastic wrap again and let rise about 2 hours. 

In a non-aluminum stock pot, dissolve 1/3 cup baking soda in 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil, and then remove from heat. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Dip each of the pretzels in the baking soda water and then place on a lightly sprayed baking sheet.  Cook about 8-10 minutes or until desired doneness.  Dip in melted butter and sprinkle with salt.