Meyer Lemon Blueberry Scones and Meyer Lemon Curd

We started off our morning with these delicious scones and curd.  I have been trying to figure out how I can blog from my phone since our computer crashed and I think I finally figured it out! We've been at my sisters house in DC and she happened to have some Meyer lemons that I couldn't resist using.  I used a basic lemon curd recipe from Martha Stewart and if I can figure out how to put the link to the scone recipe I will.  Happy New Year!

Grapefruit Honey Yogurt Scones

You should make these beautiful babies as soon as humanly possible.

Go now and gather the ingredients. Throw them together and you will not be sorry.
Especially if you enjoy grapefruit and/or scones.
You will not find another scone that is this light and full of flavor. These things are perfection.

Just ask my brother who devoured 1/2 of them in a matter of minutes.
They really are amazing.

That is all.

Here is the recipe for Grapefruit Honey Yogurt Scones from Joy the Baker

* I used 0% Fage Greek yogurt

A Variety of Mini Scones

On Mother's Day, we had a brunch and program for all the women at church. When we were discussing the menu, we decided to keep it simple. I suggested scones and volunteered to make a few varieties.
I apologize for the bad photos, but they were taken in a rush, on my way out the door to church.

I made a few recipes that I have made before- like these rhubarb and cranberry ones (Yes, I had one last bag of cranberries in the freezer that I used). And I tried a couple new recipes, like the Cherry Chocolate Scones and the Ginger Scones- both were very popular.

I also made a gluten-free scone, but used a gluten free mix and just had to add butter, buttermilk, dried blueberries and lime zest.
I used the Pioneer Womans' directions found in this post, to cut all my scones into minis, making them all much more figure friendly. Each recipe yielded about 30 or so mini-scones.
I also shaped and froze most of the scones ahead of time and just baked them straight from the freezer (just add a few minutes to the baking time)- a tip that Bridget shared on one of her posts about scones.

Recipe for Cherry Chocolate Scones
* I used milk chocolate chips
* I made a glaze with half&half and powdered sugar for these scones

Recipe for Ginger Scones
* I used milk, powdered sugar and ground ginger for the glaze

Recipe for Rhubarb Scones
* I used fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar for the glaze

Recipe for the Cranberry Scones
* this time I left out the egg yolk and used 3/4 cup buttermilk instead of heavy cream
the scones were much easier to shape because the dough wasn't as wet
* I used fresh orange juice, zest and powdered sugar for the glaze

Rhubarb Scones with Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb.
I grew up eating it. My grandpa grew it in his huge garden and so did my dad.
Every spring my mom would make giant amounts of rhubarb cooked with a little sugar and lemon juice. We ate it by the bowlful, spread it on toast- we ate it on just about everything.
My mom makes a scrumptious rhubarb cake- oh so good. It is also wonderful in crisps, cobblers, and pies.

I always get excited when I see rhubarb and realize that it is in season. I bought a bunch and then the hard part was deciding what to do with it.
I saw a recipe in Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine that featured biscuits with "rhubarb jam". The rhubarb jam was basically the same thing that my mom makes all the time, but it had quite a bit more sugar.
I didn't want to make the biscuits that were featured with the recipe, mostly because I made some cream biscuits a couple weeks before and wanted to try something else.
I thought about my mom's cake or muffins, but then I saw Bridget's scones, (she is pretty much the queen of scones) and they looked amazing, so I made those. I have made multiple scones from her site, so I knew they would turn out perfectly.

I made these scones while my mom, dad, and younger brother were visiting from Utah and they were loved by everyone. They disappeared in minutes! I really miss having a teenage eater around.

I reduced the sugar in the rhubarb jam and added some chopped strawberries, so that more people could enjoy it. And because I found some beautiful strawberries.

If you have never tried rhubarb- I recommend giving it a try. It is really so versatile and delicious!


Recipe for Rhubarb Scones from The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Rhubarb Jam adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray

• 1/2 cup sugar(I used a couple Tbls less than this)
  
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 pound rhubarb, sliced 1/2 inch thick (2 cups)

In a medium nonstick skillet, combine 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and the lemon juice over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Add the rhubarb and simmer until very thick, stirring to break up the rhubarb and scrape the skillet sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Pumpkin Spice Scones

Every time I open a can of pumpkin, I know exactly what I am going to do with it. Well, at least part of it. The fun thing is figuring out what to do with the sometimes 1/3 cup or so, of pumpkin puree that I have leftover.

I don't even remember how I happened upon this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Scones,
from Pinch my Salt. But I read that the recipe had been triple tested until it was just right and I loved the spices that were included in these scones. Also the two different icings, cinnamon and ginger-molasses had me intrigued.
These scones were absolutely amazing. I don't know if it was the fact that these had cake flour in them, but they were so soft and delicious. I can't even explain the texture, it was unbelievable. Cathy and I were tweeting about these and we completely agreed, so its not just me that raved about these.
The spices were absolutely perfect too.
I left out the raisins, just because I felt like it. I love raisins, but I really didn't want them in these for some reason.
I can't wait to make these again over the Christmas break. Perfect for breakfast, brunch or a snack.
I will use any excuse to make these again.


I made a little bit of a change on the icing-- I poured a little bit of molasses in a bowl- added some ground ginger and about 1 cup of powdered sugar. added skim milk until I could get it to come together. More ginger and molasses, until it had that spicy bite.


Recipe for Pumpkin Spice Scones

Cranberry Orange Scones

A couple of weeks ago, Bridget of The Way the Cookie Crumbles, posted a bunch of scone recipes, one after the other.
I had been looking for another way to use my fresh cranberries and had seen lots of scones with dried cranberries, but fresh are so much better!
I made some scones with fresh cranberries last year, which were really good, but I always like trying new recipes and I loved that this recipe had 1 1/2 cups of fresh cranberries.
Bridget noted that the original recipe calls for lemon zest to be used in these scones, but she used orange instead and I wanted to use orange too, because cranberry and orange is a classic combination in my mind.
I was curious if I could make these work using low-fat buttermilk instead of heavy cream, just to make them a little bit on the healthier side.
I did it and they worked.
I reduced the amount by about 2 Tbls and the dough was still very soft, but it worked.

I also made a quick glaze with powdered sugar, fresh orange juice and orange zest.
These were delicious!
My girls and my nephew each gobbled one down, which kind of surprised me since the cranberries are very tart.
I froze a couple, which were already baked and shared them with my sister when she came to visit.
These would also make a great holiday breakfast or brunch item. Very seasonal and festive.

And besides, cranberries have more antioxidants than almost any other fruit. That has to make you feel good about eating one of these scones.


Recipe for Cranberry Orange Scones

Mothers Day Tea Party

I saw this really cute idea for a Mothers Day Tea Party in the May issue of Family Fun Magazine and decided it was the perfect way to celebrate this upcoming holiday with my family and friends. We made the wrapping paper hats, the fans and the cute little tea party foods. It was really fun.

Our party was for girls only and everyone had to make their own hat. I made the petit fours, tea sandwiches, lemon scones, and strawberry lemonade. I made Dorie's Perfection Pound Cake the day before our party and wrapped it up really good overnight and cut it into shapes the day of the party. The icing for the petit fours was the most difficult part because at first it was too thick and hard to cover the cake pieces with and then I thinned it out so much that is was nearly non-existent. It didn't really matter- the kids and adults loved them anyway. We had alot of fun.

We ate our fun little foods (the lemon scones would make a great Mother's Day breakfast or brunch item), played some games and enjoyed each other's company.

This was the perfect way to celebrate. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mother's Day Tea Party from Family Fun Magazine

Pastel Petits Fours
Dainty and sophisticated, these cakes (adapted from "Pink Princess Tea Parties" by Barbara Beery) are a real showstopper -- especially for a special occasion like a Mother's Day Tea Party. And since they're made from store-bought pound cake, they're surprisingly easy to prepare. You can decorate the tops with sprinkles, colored sugar, or candy flowers.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 (16-ounce) pound cake (I used Dorie's Perfection Poundcake)
9 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Liquid food coloring
Decorations, such as sprinkles, colored sugar, and candy flowers

1. Cut the entire cake into 1-inch-thick slices. Then use 1-inch-wide cookie cutters or a knife to cut round, square, and diamond shapes from each slice. Place the cake pieces on a wire rack set on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the powdered sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup water, and vanilla and almond extracts until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool for about 5 minutes. As the icing cools, it may start to stiffen; if so, stir in a spoonful of water to keep the icing smooth and flowing. Divide the icing equally between two or three small bowls. Stir food coloring, a drop at a time, into each bowl until the icing is the desired shade.

3. Working with one piece of cake at a time, spoon on the icing to cover it completely, then add sprinkles, colored sugar, or a candy flower before the icing sets. Let the cakes stand, uncovered, until the icing is dry, about 30 minutes. Store them in an airtight container for up to three days.

Makes about 30 cakes.

Tea Sandwiches
Any sandwich can be a tea sandwich, as long as it's sliced into neat, nearly-bite-size pieces. Here are some of our favorites -- adapted from "Pink Princess Tea Parties" by Barbara Beery -- to get you started. For extra fanciness on a special occasion like a Mother's Day Tea Party, use a cookie cutter to punch out shapes from your sandwich bread.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
FOR SANDWICH NO. 1:
Wheat bread
Cream cheese
Walnuts
Honey
Pears
FOR SANDWICH NO. 2:
White bread (I used the rest of our baguette)
Herbed cream cheese (I used vegetable cream cheese)
Tomatoes
Black olives
FOR SANDWICH NO. 3:
Baguette
Nutella
Bananas
FOR SANDWICH NO. 4:
Mini pita breads (I used plain pita chips)
Hummus (We had 2 kinds of hummus-roasted red pepper and plain)
Cucumber and tomato
FOR SANDWICH NO. 5:
Wheat bread
Sliced turkey
Provolone
Basil pesto

1. Spread wheat bread with honey-walnut cream cheese (made by combining 1 package of softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts and 2 tablespoons of honey). Top with sliced pears and a second slice of bread.

2. Cover white bread with herbed cream cheese, tomato slices, and minced black olives.

3. Top thin slices of baguette with Nutella and sliced bananas.

4. Fill mini pita breads with hummus and slices of cucumber and tomato.

5. Sandwich sliced turkey and provolone between two pieces of wheat bread spread with basil pesto.

Glazed Lemon Scones
Light and lemony, these biscuit-like cakes will make a refreshing addition to any Easter brunch menu. Plus, they're a fun and easy pastry for kids to help prepare, particularly when it comes time to pat and slice the dough and drizzle on the glaze.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Scones:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup heavy or whipping cream, plus a little for brushing
1 egg yolk, beaten slightly
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 tablespoons heavy or whipping cream

1. Heat the oven to 400°. Grease a large, heavy baking sheet (preferably not a dark one) and set

it aside.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon zest and toss the mixture with your hands.

3. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the cream, the yolk, and the vanilla extract and use a fork to blend the liquids within the well. Then use a wooden spoon to combine all the ingredients, just until the dough holds together.

5. Scrape the dough onto a flour-dusted surface and then, using floured hands, knead it gently three or four times to form a ball. Flatten the ball into a disk about 3/4-inch thick, then cut it as you would a pie into 8 wedges. Transfer the pieces to the baking sheet, leaving at least 1/4 inch between them. Brush the tops lightly with cream.

6. Bake the scones in the center of the oven until golden brown, about 16 to 18 minutes. Allow them to cool on the sheet for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack.

7. While the scones continue to cool, make the glaze. Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk them until the mixture is smooth. If necessary, you can thin the glaze with water, stirring in no more than 1/2 teaspoon at a time. When the scones have cooled for another 10 minutes, drizzle each one generously with glaze.

Makes 8 scones.

Coming Monday- Vegetable Frittata and Flaky Biscuits

Pumpkin-Parmesan Scones

I really like pumpkin and since it is easy to use and find (thanks to canned goods), I have decided that I am going to try and use it more frequently, year-round. I saw this recipe in Cooking Light Magazine a couple of months ago and I have made it quite a few times in the past few weeks. Mine don't really look like scones- it came out looking like more of a round pumpkin loaf, which was fine because it tasted good and everyone liked it.
This is a really quick recipe to throw together and I don't think that you can mess it up. We really, really like it.
I have served it with soup, salad, and as a side with just about everything. Yummy!

Pumpkin-Parmesan Scones from Cooking Light

6.75 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)

2.375 ounces whole wheat flour (about 1/2 cup)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt

2 large egg whites, divided

2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon pumpkinseed kernels

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine pumpkin, yogurt, and 1 egg white, stirring with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 4 times with floured hands. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut dough into 12 wedges, cutting into but not through dough. Brush remaining 1 egg white over top of dough. Sprinkle dough with cheese and pumpkinseeds, pressing lightly to adhere.

Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden. Slice scones along score lines with a serrated knife. Serve warm.

Coming Tomorrow- Coconut Curried Chicken

TWD-Cheddar Apple Scones

This weeks Tuesday's with Dorie recipe was chosen by Karina over at The Floured Apron. I have to be honest and say I was glad when I saw it was a recipe of a less intensity. It was quick and easy to throw together and was ready in a short amount of time. We were split right down the middle on this one. The hubby didn't like it because it reminded him of cornbread and the kids weren't really fans, but the other adults who tried them, loved them, with jam, honey and unadorned, served along side Orange Julius. So as usual they disappeared quickly and I thought they were great. Check out Karina's blog for the recipe and go to the TWD blogroll for everyone else's take on this one!