Sticky Buns!

On the final day of Christmas I was able to fulfill a family tradition.  Sticky buns were made with the kids.  They were up early in anticipation of the exciting baking day.  Marie kept asking when we would start to make the cake, because breakfast buns are not found in Belgium.  A cake was as close as she could understand sticky buns before we finished them.  Before the baking could begin ingredients needed to be translated and found.  The one ingredient that was not found was corn syrup, which is necessary for the sticky topping of the buns.  Luckily we found a replacement in brown sugar syrup. 
Baking began with ingredients piled on the table with bowls and measuring cups (luckily with US measurements as well as metric!).  The kids all crowded around and took turns adding ingredients to the bowl.  I was in charge of the electric mixer.  A short recess was taken during the first rise.  The kids were confined to playing the kitchen, because the cleaning lady was upstairs.  After I had rolled out the doubled dough the kids gathered around again to help spread on the center sweets.  I asked who wanted to get messy, intending to divide the final three ingredients between them, like in my family.  Neither Marie or Thomas showed any desire to get dirty, so Camille was brought to the front to help with the butter.  When I slopped the semi-melted butter onto the dough and squished Camille's hands through it, the other two wanted to get involved.  We continued to share spreading the final ingredients over the dough.  I finished the process while the kids were given a treat; to watch television.  I was left to clean up my mess before the cleaning lady finished in the kitchen.
The smell of baking sticky buns brought back so many memories.  And even though Thomas is the only child who has tried, and liked, the sticky buns, I enjoy the delectable sweet that is my childhood Christmas favorite!

Camille, Thomas, and Marie with the sticky buns before their final rise.