Six Little Monkies...

Well, actually, there was only one almost grown up monkey, and she was in the kitchen making bread... Monkey Bread! She even enlisted her little sister to help her! Then there were six little monkeys who sampled the wonderful results!

Monkey bread is new to me! It is something I have never before heard of or seen... EVER! Naomi and her friends got together one afternoon and did some baking together. Within days, Naomi, with the recipe in hand, was busily working in the kitchen with Breanna's help. Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for pan
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 3/4 pounds , room temperature Yeast Dough

DIRECTIONS

1. STEP 1

   Generously grease one 10-inch Bundt pan with melted butter. Set aside. In medium bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar mixture into prepared Bundt pan.

2. STEP 2

   Cut dough into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll into balls. Coat in melted butter, then roll in sugar mixture, and place in prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

3. STEP 3

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once dough has doubled in size, place in oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool in pan 15 minutes. Invert onto serving plate, and let cool 20 minutes more.

It's funny how many ways you can put together bread dough, sugar and cinnamon! I think there are days, lots of days, that have the same three key elements, yet, mixed with the unexpected, we have the opportunity to put those things to work for us in different ways. Often they result in wonderful and glorious experiences. We just can't let go of the basics or there is nothing left worth working with. In life the basics are most likely love, service and gratitude. When those basics are mixed in with opportunities to forgive, or moments of selflessness, the result is delightful and the blessings are abundant. I wonder how many ways we can find to put love, service and gratitude into our lives. I know that the abundant blessings that come will be very joyful... every bit as joyful, as that Monkey bread was delicious!