Berryful Scones

Felt the urge to bake… in the hopes that I would come out of my Holiday funk. So I pulled out the ‘ole Joy of Cooking to make some truly yummy buttermilk scones.

PreStuff: Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees F. 

First… Dry Stuff: Sieve all the dry ingredients together.

2 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons baking powder (make sure it is fresh and not that old stuff that has been sitting in your pantry for years! Unless of course you like flat hockey puck scones.) 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (again, not the stuff that has been sitting in your fridge absorbing all the onion smells, FRESH).

 

Second… Wet Stuff: In a separate bowl whisk together:

1 large egg (fresh, fresh, fresh, check the expiration date on those eggs, it DOES matter) 1 cup low-fat buttermilk

   

3 1/2 tablespoons warm melted butter (Warm… not boiling… don’t want to cook that egg!).

1/2 cup dried fruit. (I used cherries, cranberries, blueberries and golden raisins) I chopped them even though it was not in the recipe… I was shooting for more fruit per bite.

 

Pour the wet into the dry and mix together with a rubber spatula. Just until all the dry ingredients are moist. Don’t mix more than you have too. The more you mix the more gluten you create… that makes for a tough scone. Blech. If it is looking a bit dry add more buttermilk. Use your judgement, don’t leave alot of dry flour in the bowl… but don’t make it soupy… should be a fairly stiff batter when you are done. 

Now… the Fun Stuff:Scoop out the batter with an ice cream scoop or a soup spoon and drop on a baking sheet (or in my case a piece of aluminum foil… since I broke mine and have not replaced it). Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake for 12-15 minutes.

   

 

Remove from oven and burn your mouth trying to eat one that is too hot, put the rest of them on a rack to cool. 

 

Enjoy with a nice cup or Earl Grey or your favorite coffee! 

Holiday Food

So, here I am. The gal that loves to cook. And wouldn’t you know it… I am stuck in a family full of folks that would rather go to Luby’s for Christmas dinner. Every year it is a battle between me and my Mother “but it is soooo much work!” she says… I say “but I like doing it!” and she mumbles something about the work again and wanders off. Between me and my brother…” Why can’t we have some thing normal!? I just want ham and Macaroni and Cheese!” he says… This little gem after I suggest that I make (and pay for) Standing Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding. ACK! What is a girl to do!

She makes what the diners want of course! So this year the menu is as follows:

Appetizer:Crab and Pequillo Pepper dip with Toast points

Entree:
Brown Sugar and Honey Ham
Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with toasted pecans (for me)
Green Beans with Bacon
Waldorf Salad
Scalloped Potatoes
Mac and Cheese

Dessert:
Is up to my brother so I am guessing Apple Pie and Ice Cream.

However, even a humble meal such as this… can be awesome.

The crusty exterior on a perfectly cooked ham… YUM.

Green beans cooked perfectly with the smokie flavor of bacon and the extra yuminess that onions give.

Perfectly caramelized brussel sprouts with toasty pecans are soooo…. good. I can’t believe that anyone that has ever had them this way could turn their nose up at the often dis’ed sprout.

Waldorf Salad, the tart crunchiness of apples, the sweet burst of grapes, the lemony creaminess of the dressing… uh.. yeah, I can’t believe we don’t eat this more often.

Scalloped potatoes with gruyre and bacon… creamy, cheesy goodness. I don’t care what 1950’s housewife came up with it… I want some NOW.

Mac and Cheese with: mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan… heavy cream… ummm yeah. Sorry not complaining on that one either!

Well the appetizer is not so humble… but it is simple to make and loverly to eat. Pequillo peppers, lump crab meat, and manchego cheese. Decadent and AWESOME.

So, yeah… Merry Christmas to ME!