RIP Ms. Nicholas

Here's the best obituary I've read in a long time. The late Helen Nicholas of Petaluma, Calif. taught Home Economics for decades. Her obit concludes: "In lieu of flowers, please bake and enjoy Mrs. Foody's Petaluma Junior High Cinnamon Rolls with your friends and family..." and then proceeds to print the entire recipe! Fantastic! 

A good obit can be a treasure. "The Economist" magazine used to specialize in interesting, graceful obits of ordinary people who did extraordinary things (I still remember one about a watchmaker that made him sound like the Rembrandt of gears and springs). The fact that Ms. Nicholas's family marked her passing with a cinnamon roll recipe tells me more about her than another thousand words could have.

Mrs. Foody's Petaluma Junior High Cinnamon Rolls

Preheat oven to 425

Bake time 10-15 minutes

Rolls

2 C flour

1 T baking powder

1 t salt

¼ C shortening

¾ C milk

1T melted butter

Cinnamon and sugar mixture

Frosting

1 t melted butter

1 C powdered sugar

1 T water

1 t vanilla

Instructions

Stir flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Cut shortening into the bowl and mix until crumbly. Stir in milk with a fork. Roll out dough, spread melted butter over the dough. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar all over. Roll up and cut into 1 inch slices and place in a cupcake pan.

Frosting: mix all ingredients together and drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls.

I have no idea if these rolls are actually good. If anybody tries the recipe, please report back!