Apricot Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

I am super backed-up on editing photos and getting blog posts written, but I wanted to take a moment to share with you the cinnamon rolls that I baked for Greg's 30th birthday last week (see, told you I was a bit behind).

I don't bake very often, as we are quite lucky to live in a city with many good and affordable bakeries nearby. However, I do believe that home baked goods = love, so I'll get my hands all doughy for a good cause. Like a birthday.

It started a few years ago, after I took a breadmaking class. And he was hooked. And then I started making them every Christmas. And then for his birthday. And since my guy gets his favorite carrot cake for his birthday elsewhere (his mom), it's up to me to make the cinnamon rolls each year.

(It's a tough life)

Seriously though, I've tried a few different variations and I think this is the best "do" yet.

Since this isn't a foodie blog, and I don't really follow any recipe, I'm not going to give you specifics on the how-tos (unless you comment and tell me you really really want them). At the very least, I will say that I always toast my pecans and use three kinds of sugar (mmm Demerara), and that cream cheese frosting with a bit of orange flavor is a must. I think for Christmas I'll do dried cherries and apricots, but leave the booze out of the frosting and use it to soak the fruit instead. Mmmm yummy.

Who needs a birthday cake when you can have this for breakfast? With coffee of course.

p.s.
All photos taken with my powershot. The Rebel is down for the count (needs repair), but I am really loving how these are turning out. It did set me back on the whole trying new lenses experiment. Ah well...

p.p.s.
My grandmother was a nice Southern lady, so I grew up saying peeh-can. Not peh-kawn. How do you say it? It's quite a matter of contention up here with my Northwestern friends. :)