My Favorite Scone Recipe

I love a good scone recipe. And it's taken me a few years, but I have found the perfect scone recipe. And it can be easily adapted to pretty much any type of scone you could want! I've listed a few of the ones I've tried and liked. 

• 2 cups flour
• 6 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 stick (½ cup) cold butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• course sugar (optional)
• heavy cream, milk or buttercream (for brushing) - Also optional.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper, set aside. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in your stand up mixer. Add the butter, piece at a time. Slowly stir in heavy cream, egg and vanilla. Mix just until incorporated. Roll out into an 8 inch circle. Brush with heavy cream, milk or buttermilk and sprinkle with course sugar. Cut into triangles and place about ½ an inch from each other and bake for 12-16 minutes, or until set and edges are starting to brown. Let cool 5-10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes 8 scones.

Recipe adapted from:

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2014/05/18/strawberry-lemon-poppy-seed-scones/

Make these delicious scones using the above recipe:

Cranberry - Orange Scones

To the flour mixture (before adding butter) zest 1 orange into the flour. Add butter. After adding the liquids, add the juice of the orange and blend well. You might need to add more flour if your orange is super juicy. Fold in 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (I've also used dried cranberries and actually prefer the sweetness of the dried better). Bake as normal.

Maple Pecan Scones

Add ¾ cup chopped pecans to the flour mixture (after adding the butter). Follow directions above. While baking make the maple icing: blend 4 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk, 4 Tablespoons butter, melted, 1 Tablespoon brewed coffee, and 2 teaspoons maple extract until well blended and lump free. Once scones have cooled completely ice with maple icing and top with pecans. Let icing dry completely before storing in an airtight container.

Strawberry Lemon Poppy Seed Scones

To the dried mixture (before adding butter) zest in one lemon and add 2 teaspoons poppy seeds. After you've mixed everything together slowly fold in 1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen). Then bake as normal. Drizzle cooled scones with lemon glaze (if desired): Juice of 1 lemon, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon heavy cream. Mix together until well blended, adding more powdered sugar as needed to get a good drizzling consistency. 

Cherry Almond Scones

After scones have been mixed, carefully fold in 1 cup (fresh or frozen) cherries (halved is a little easier to work with) and bake as normal. While baking make the Almond glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 Tablespoons milk or cream, ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix until well combined. Drizzle over cooled scones and top with sliced almonds. 

Orange Chocolate Chip Scones

Just like the cranberry orange scones, except fold in mini chocolate chips instead of cranberries. 

Caramel Apple Scones

To the flour mixture (before adding butter) add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. After scones have been mixed with wet mixture, fold in 1 apple that's been chopped into bite size pieces. Bake as normal. After scones have cooled drizzle with your favorite caramel sauce. I like to use my homemade salted caramel recipe.

More scone ideas to come! :)

Slow-Cooked Chicken Curry w/ Coconut Rice

This is another family favorite. I usually do a little less curry than the recipe calls for, just so it's not too spicy for my kiddos. The best part is topping it! The topping possibilities are endless. 

• ½ onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup tomato paste
• 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons curry
• ¾ cup water or chicken broth
• 2 pounds of chicken (I usually use thighs, but breasts work too)
• 1 ¼ cups jasmine rice, uncooked
• 1 (13.5oz) can coconut milk
• Toppings of your choice: chopped mangoes, pineapple, mandarin orange, almond slices, sunflower seeds, green onion, coconut, raisins, cranberries, cilantro, crispy rice noodles, etc...

To your slow cooker add the onion, tomato paste, ginger, garlic, curry and water or broth. Mix well. Add the chicken and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Make your coconut rice: bring coconut milk to low boil over low heat. Add rice and stir. Cover and let simmer on low for 20 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Serve warm with chicken on top, topped with your favorite toppings.
Freezer directions: I usually double the recipe. Split the chicken between two gallon size freezer bags. Top the chicken with the chopped onion and then mix the tomato paste, ginger, garlic, curry and chicken broth and split up between the two bags. Write on the bags what it is and the date and freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to cook just thaw and throw in the crock pot.

Potato Leek Soup w/ Bacon & Dill

This past week I received 3 very large leeks in my bountiful basket. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. This is one of our favorite soups. We usually top it with bacon, fried onions, and cheddar. But you can top it however you like.

• ½ pound of bacon, chopped
• 2 yellow onions, diced
• 2 leeks, chopped thin
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• ½ cup white wine, I used a cooking sherry
• 1 (32oz) box chicken broth
• 1 Tablespoon fresh dill
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add a splash of olive oil and the chopped bacon. Cook until bacon is crispy. 5-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon. Remove bacon to paper towel lined plate. To the bacon grease and the diced onions. Cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the leeks and potatoes. Add the wine and let simmer until reduced by half. About 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and salt and pepper. Let simmer on low until potatoes are soft. About 30 minutes. Add the dill and blend the soup, either with an immersion blender or in batches in your blender (carefully, it's hot!). Add heavy cream and serve hot topped with fresh dill and bacon. 

Freezer Directions: cook through and let cool before putting in freezer friendly storage containers. 

Vegetarian option: skip bacon and add extra olive oil or butter to cook onions in. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. 

Happy Margarita Day!

Did someone say it's margarita day? I'm in! And this recipe is perfect way to celebrate.

• 3 cups tequila
• 2 cups triple sec
• 1 ½ cups lime juice
• 2 Tablespoons agave nectar (more or less to taste)
• Lime and lemon wedges to garnish
• Crushed ice

Stir all ingredients together in a large pitcher. Pour over crushed ice with salt-rimmed glass.
Yields about 8 servings.

Apple, Bacon & Gargonzola Salad w/ Candied Pecans

I love a good salad. Especially when it's loaded with bacon and cheese! Oh and the homemade candied pecans are amazing and way cheaper than buying them in the store.

• 4 cups of your favorite greens (I like to use a mixture of baby spinach and a spring salad mix
• 1 green apple, cored and sliced
• 4 slices bacon, chopped and fried until crispy
• Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• Dried cranberries
• Candied pecans (recipe below)

Apple Cider Poppy Seed dressing:

• ¾  cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 teaspoon dry minced onion

Combine all the dressing ingredients together in a mason jar or small bowl and mix well. Set aside. Or make ahead of time and keep in fridge, up to 1 week. Combine the remaining salad ingredients and top with dressing. 

Candied Pecans

• 2 cups pecans
• 3 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons water
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Mix the brown sugar, water, vanilla and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In a large frying pan over medium heat cook the pecan halves until fragrant and roasted, about 4-5 minutes. Add the brown sugar mixture to the pecans and stir until evenly coated, remove from heat. Lay out pecans on parchment paper to cool. Store unused pecans in a airtight container.

Sautéed Zucchini w/ a kick!

This is one of my favorite ways to cook zucchini. I've also made it with corn and bell pepper. A family favorite!

• 4 cups diced zucchini
• Olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped into small pieces
• Queso fresco
• Cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat up a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook until browned. Add jalapeño, tomato and lime juice. Cook for 1 more minute before removing from heat and topping with cheese and cilantro. Serve immediately.

Southwest Chile Stew

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 onion
• 1 small can tomato soup
• 1 large can of chopped green chilies
• 1 small can chopped tomatoes (or 1 cup chopped fresh)
• 2 cups (or more) pinto beans
• 1 small can of black beans
• 1-2 cups of beef broth
• 1 small can of mexicorn (corn with bell peppers)

Brown meat with onions. To a big bowl add the meat mixture along with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Freezer directions: before adding it to the pot to cook separate the soup into two gallon size freezer bags. Freeze up to 6 months. Thaw and cook.