Simple Cinnamon Scones {What's Cooking Wednesday}

On Monday I promised AnnaLynn that we'd actually post something for What's Cooking Wednesday this week since we only shared one post in this series in January (and one post a series does not make!). What can I say, life happens. Anyway, scones seemed like a good recipe to try since they're one of my 2012 Kitchen Goals. Why we've never made scones before is a question without an answer. No reason, really. We just haven't.

Wish we hadn't waited so long! Scones are easy to make and delicious to eat. Our recipe, adapted from Jean Pare's Muffins & More, makes twelve scones. Bon appetit!



Simple Cinnamon Scones
serves 12

2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 c. organic sugar
1 T. baking powder, aluminum free
1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 c. cold butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 - 1/2 c. milk

Topping (optional):
1 - 2 t. milk for brushing tops
Cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Measure flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl.



Stir dry ingredients together then cut in butter until crumbly.






Add milk to egg; pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients. Stir with a fork to make a soft dough.




Ok, this is where it got tricky for us. The original recipe calls for 2/3 c. milk which made a really sticky dough -- we had to add almost a half cup of flour before being able to proceed. We don't have pictures because our hands were too sticky! See, we promised we'd share what worked and what didn't. :)

Pat dough into two 6" rounds on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with a little milk; generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (we keep this on hand for toast -- mix 1/4 c. sugar with 1/2 t. cinnamon).



Score each top into 6 pie shaped wedges (we forgot this step...oops!). Bake for 15 minute or until risen and golden brown. Since we didn't score ours, they came out of the oven looking like giant snicker doodles. :)



The instructions say to split and butter them. We sliced ours with a knife and decided to try them without any added butter.



These really did turn out quite well even though we had to add additional flour. I was concerned they'd be tough, but they really weren't. We'll be baking these again this Saturday while the papa is home so he can enjoy them fresh from the oven, and when we do, we'll be using less milk (according to the measurements I gave in the recipe above). We'll also be more generous with the sprinkling on of the cinnamon sugar as we used it a little too sparingly this time. I'll update this post if the recipe needs it. In the meantime, please let us know if you give these a try or if you have any scone baking suggestions for us. Thanks!




 

Also sharing with the Pennywise Platter

Simple things to smile about...

1. Coffee beans all the way from Rome -- can you say smooth? (Thanks, Jess & Zack!)



2. Enjoying Eggs Benedict this past Saturday morning with our dear, dear friends (thanks, Timothy!).



3. New books. I'm half-way through the highly-inspiring one thousand gifts and am very much looking forward to Lessons at Blackberry Inn (with thanks to authors Ann Voskamp and Karen Andreola).



4. And the most awesome water cup ever (a Christmas present from my amazing husband).



Just the beginning of my own list of 1000 gifts...

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Join me for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers :)

2012 Goals: Knit & Crochet

After sorting through my yarn stash and various unfinished projects, I've decided that my primary knitting / crocheting goal for 2012 is to finish what I've started. Why a person (myself included) is inclined to set a project aside to start another (and another and another), is a mystery to me. Yet, that is exactly what I do. Is it a rare form of A.D.D. for yarn addicts? A lack of follow through? Whatever it is, I've determined to overcome and conquer -- to (finally) finish what I've started.

These three skeins from my yarn stash, each purchased with a purpose, will be knit or crocheted into (from left to right) a pair of slippers, a scarf, and a pair of wrist warmers.





This pathetic-looking UFO was put onto stitch holders long ago. Why? Who knows. What I do know is that it's my attempt at making an adult pair of my Knitted Boots for Babes, and I intend to finish them!



This wrinkly item is a lacy shawl I started so long ago that I can't remember how long it's been. The poor thing was abandoned when I dropped several stitches and gave up trying to fix my mistake. Lord willing, and once I pick this one back up, I'll be able to repair the ruins and complete this beauty of a project.



Daniel's vest. I completed this last year for Easter, but he's grown (tons) since then. I intend to lengthen it so he can wear it again this year. Thankfully, I saved the yarn that was left over rather than tossing it.



Knitted Boots for two sweet babies born to church friends. All that's left is to make and weave a tie into each so they stay on tight. Planning to finish these later this week. :)



Projects I completed a few weeks ago...



Wool slippers for AnnaLynn and Daniel. :)



A cotton bonnet for yet another church friend's sweet babe.



And until this one is finished, the rest will have to wait. It's getting sooo close!



But! Before I sign off, I just have to share this...



Two shelves of worsted weight, one shelf of cotton, one shelf of fine to chunky, and one shelf of misc. On top is a bin full of hooks & needles and two others with various other UFOs.

Goal #2: I won't be buying any yarn this year. :)

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Sharing with Fiber Arts Monday

On my needles...

It's been a while (a little over a month ago) since I shared what's on my needles. Remember this project? A lacy scarf for my daughter that I started knitting back in July?



I was finally able to pick it back up after all the busyness of the holidays and am happy to report that it's about 3/4 of the way done. I really would like to send this lovely scarf off to England, so I won't be working on any other projects until this one is finished. (Hang in there, Jess, I WILL finish it soon!)

On the nightstand (and being read while waiting at the dentist and during music and art lessons) is Ann Voskamp's one thousand gifts. I've only just begun reading it, so I don't have much to say other than her writing style is unique, poetic, and different than any author I've recently read. More later...

On another note, I've been busily sorting through my pattern notebook, my yarn stash, and my UFOs. Next week I'll be sharing with you my knitting and crochet goals for the year, so stay tuned. :)

What projects have you been working on?

Sharing at Ginny's Yarn Along :)



PS: I'm curious to know if any of you regular readers have read this book; please leave me a note in the comments. Thanks!

On holiday...

Celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary (it was in August) only a few months late...





We drove about an hour and a half to McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon.



Each guest room in what once was a "home for the aged and infirm" is named after a former resident. Our room (yes, Room 222 -- haha!) was named after Aldie Howard who, apparently, was responsible for bringing alcohol to what was a "dry" Forest Grove. He's not our hero...just sharing. :)



After checking in and dropping off our bags, we enjoyed sipping on a good red wine (me) and a Hammerhead (the husband) -- in honor of Aldie, of course. We also enjoyed a side of McMenamins famous Cajun tots. Nummy.



Whimsical artwork is everywhere...



Hammerhead.




Tile work in the basement...



Looking forward to this year's anniversary -- our 20th!






Holiday:  

1. A day free from work that one may spend at leisure, especially a day on which custom or the law dictates a halting of general business activity to commemorate or celebrate a particular event.

2. A religious feast day; a holy day.

3. Chiefly British A vacation. Often used in the phrase on holiday.

[from the Free Dictionary]

Yeah, so I know we're not British. I figure that since Jessica is living in Oxford that I'd take the liberty of borrowing a phrase. Besides, I'm just practicing for when we visit!

What are you thankful for today?

Join me for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Cranberry Almond Muffins {Muffin Monday}

This year we're trying to be a bit more purposeful in how we cook and in what we eat, so our plan is to share from time to time what we're learning along the way. Not only do we want our food to taste good, we want it to nourish our bodies as well -- there is sooo much to learn!

I always knew the benefits of drinking cranberry juice to treat or prevent urinary tract infections, but I was unaware of the multitude of other health benefits they provided. Did you know that cranberries contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease, cancer, and even cavities? [Read more here!] Today's muffin provides at least one way to get more of this important and nutritious berry into your diet -- enjoy!

Cranberry Almond Muffins
makes 18-24 muffins
recipe inspiration here :)

3 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 c. organic sugar (or rapadura)
2 t. baking powder (aluminum free, please)
1 t. sea salt
1 t. baking soda
2 c. sour cream or plain yogurt (we used sour cream)
1/3 c. milk
1/4 c. butter, melted
1.5 t. real almond extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1.5 c. fresh cranberries (we used dried and they worked great!)
2 T. sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 375F and line muffin pan with paper baking cups. Mix together dry ingredients (including cranberries) in a large bowl.





In a separate bowl, blend together the eggs, milk, butter, almond extract, and sour cream.



Add wet mixture to dry ingredients stirring only until just blended -- don't over mix your muffins. :)



Evenly distribute batter to make 24 small muffins or 18 larger ones; sprinkle sliced almonds on top of batter.



Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until lightly browned (check with a toothpick to be sure they're done).



Cool slightly before removing to a wire rack. Enjoy these moist and delicious muffins warm for breakfast or as a nutritious snack on the go. Bon appetit!



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For more healthy muffin recipes, please visit our Muffin Monday page!

Proudly sharing this week's muffin here:  Mouthwatering Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Far Above Rubies Titus 2sdays, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Pennywise Platter, Prov. 31 Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday