Sunday, January 13, 2013

January

The Holidays are over and all the kids have gone home. It's quiet now. 
I've scrubbed the house clean, emptied my closet and dresser, purged and organized.  It happens to me every January. Some people make resolutions, try to get healthy, reflect on the past year. Me - I clean up and get organized with a vengeance.  After weeks ( months, maybe ) of build up -  shopping, baking, decorating, going to parties and entertaining at home; after all the expectation of having the kids home again and all together, having the kids home and in and out at all hours, I'm so intoxicated by anticipation and excitement that by New Years Eve I'm near ready to burst. I'm scrambled. It's true - there's nothing else to do but enjoy all the fabulous mayhem because I know I'll miss this when it's over,  but I have used up all my patience not worrying about the mess so by New Years Day I just HAVE to clean up.  
It's also a nice distraction from all the quiet :-) 
 So today I baked.

Sweetly spiced scones with cinnamon and cardamom from this recipe.  I left out the blueberry jam and the drizzle but they would be delicious with both.  
When we were in England, scones were served with clotted cream. Sounds questionable ( clotted ???) - but it really was a treat.  






And then I found this recipe for Oatmeal Muffins. I added one chopped apple. 





Best Apple Oat Muffins ever. 
You should try them.

Have a great week! 


10 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, your scones look Amazing! and Delicious! I bet you're a fantastic cook.
    Mary Alice

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  2. Both of these treats look yummy. I've never made scones but yours look light and fresh. :)

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  3. Yikes, my comment has failed and here is the repeat: I've been peeking at your blog, hoping to find one exactly as wonderful as this new one is! I'd like the recipe for the scones please.

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  4. thank you Kathryn! here's the recipe... i didn't add the blueberries or the glaze and they were still yummy . Happy baking!

    450g of plain flour (2 cups) plus more for dusting
    110g caster sugar (1/2 cup) or granulated sugar
    2 tsp baking powder
    1/4 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp ground cardamom
    1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
    6 TBS unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
    225ml of double cream (1 cup heavy cream)
    wild blueberry preserves (I like Bon Maman)

    For the dizzle:
    225g of icing sugar, sifted (1 cup)
    pinch ground cardamom
    1 TBS lemon juice
    hot water as needed

    Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment paper. Set aside.

    Sift the flour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the sugar, baking powder and salt. Blitz a couple of seconds to mix. Drop in the butter cubes. Blitz until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a medium sized bowl. Stir in the cream with a fork, mixing it in until the mixture forms a soft dough. Knead several times to bring it all together. Lightly dust the countertop. Tip out the dough. Pat out to a large circle (about 10 inches in diameter) and 1/2 inch thick. Cut out with a sharp 3 inch round fluted cutter. Place onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving soem space in between each for spreading. Reroll any scraps and repeat until you have used up all the dough.

    Gently make an indentation in the centure of each with your thumb. Spoon about half a teaspoonful of blueberry preserves into the centre of each.

    Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden brown and they are dry and golden brown on the bottoms. Remove from the oven and let stand for about five minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling.
    Sift the icing sugar into a small bowl together with the ground cardamom. Whisk in the lemon juice and enough water to give you a smooth and drizzable consistency. Drizzle this icing across the cooled scones. Let set for 30 minutes before serving or storing.

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  5. These look droolworthy!!!! Ohhh I'd love a scone now! :)

    Hugs,

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  6. Hey Karen ~ how did I miss this post? Do you have any left, if so, I have my coffee in hand ;-) I'm drooling all over my keyboard

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  7. OH MY WORD!!!!!! THOSE MUFFINS!!!!!!!! they look so rich and yummy!!!! I love the fact that you've but chopped apples in them!!!!! My sister makes a really delicious apple cake, I really miss it now that I'm away again!!!
    Have a great day!
    Much Love
    Chari t (deep fried stilettos) xoxo

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  8. Your scones and muffins look delicious! Baking is one of my favorite relaxing things to do. :-) Such pretty photos too!

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  9. Oh I go to university in Trinidad!! have a fantastic weekend
    much love
    Chari T

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