Melissa Bread/ Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c lukewarm water

1 T yeast

1/3 c oil

1/3 c honey

1 T salt

6-7 c flour
1/3 c softened butter
1/2 c white granulated sugar
2 T cinnamon
1/2-3/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

FROSTING:
6 c powdered sugar
3 T softened butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c milk ( or less....depending on desired consistency)

In a large bowl. pour in the water. Add yeast and a sprinkle of white sugar. Allow the top to puff 5- 10 minutes. 

Add oil and honey. Add 1 c of flour and salt and stir. Add the rest of the flour slowly (use a bread hook if using a kitchen aid). You want SOME stickiness. Press your finger into the dough and if it sticks but you can pull it out with only slight stickiness, you're golden! Knead for 8 minutes. Spray bowl and place dough inside. Spray the top of the dough so that it doesn't get hard. Cover and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size. 

*****If your kitchen is too cold or you need it to rise faster, preheat your oven to 200' and then turn it off. Boil 2 cups of water. Pour in a shallow cooking dish and place in the bottom rack of your heated oven. Put your dough inside. Dough should rise within an hour. 

*****

Punch down on a floured surface. Roll into a rectangle (about 15"x9"). Spread soft butter over the surface. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF THE SUGGESTED MEASUREMENTS! Just until they are all over the dough. You don't want too much butter (too thick), sugar or chocolate chips. Sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon and spread chocolate chips evenly across surface. Starting at the top or bottom, roll the dough into a log. Using a long piece of dental floss, slide it under one end of the log, go in 1 1/2", cross the pieces of floss over one another a pull, slicing off a piece. Place on a cookie sheet. Repeat process until all of the pieces are on the sheet, slightly touching.

Spray with cooking spray, cover and allow to rise 1 hour.

***Repeat rising trick in oven if desired*****

 Bake at 350' for 20-30 minutes until golden. Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before frosting.

Frosting directions:
Mix sugar, butter and vanilla together until blended well. SLOWLY add milk, 1 T at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. YOU DON'T WANT A GLAZE! But you do want it to spread semi-easily so as not to pull the bread when you are spreading it on.
 Spread evenly on the cooled cinnamon rolls and ENJOY!