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Chive and Cheese Scones

September 10, 2016

What do you do when you have tons of cheese and your chive plants go crazy? You make savory scones! For me, the kitchen is a place to relax and when life seems a little crazy.  I know I can go to the ovens and whip something up that tastes good and makes everyone feel better after a busy week. This will be the first weekend my husband and I have been home in almost a month!! So, I’m ready for a calm weekend of comfort food, good books, and relaxation. This recipe for scones is a great, fool proof recipe for when you need to get rid of extra stuff in the kitchen. You can use whatever cheese you have although cheddar is the best and any combination of herbs like rosemary or basil which also seems to be growing at a rapid pace in my garden. So whip it up, let it bake, and enjoy with a good soup for dinner or even for a breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon.



 

Ingredients:

2½ cups flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup butter

2 large eggs

⅔ cup buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk on hand mix together 1 tablespoon vinegar and ⅔ cup milk and sit for 5 min to thicken)

⅔ cup grated sharp cheddar

¼ cup chopped chives

    1. Sift together Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, and Salt.
    2. Add 2 Eggs and Buttermilk
    3. Lightly mix in Chives and Cheese
    4. The dough will be a little sticky, but don’t over mix! Spread some flour onto a clean surface and gently kneed the dough.
    5. Pat the dough into a round circle about 10 inches in diameter and into 8 triangles.
    6. Optional: egg wash the tops of the scones before baking
    7. Place the dough triangles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes till golden brown!
    8. ENJOY!



 

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The Cake Blog: Eton Mess Cake

July 29, 2016

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We recently celebrated my husbands, 24th birthday and instead of buying a cake (which is what I would usually do) I decided to make a cake. Personally, baking isn’t something I enjoy that often but the occasion called for me to pull together every ounce of baking I had in my body to make something edible.

I came across this delicious cake blog called The Cake Blog… I know behind the curve. Recognized by almost every lifestyle magazine, it’s a collaboration of bakers from around the country who share their recipe secrets with the world. I was so excited by all the delicious recipes I bookmarked about fifteen of them. My husband loves fruit and neither of us are big icing fans. It was about 100 degrees outside the week of his birthday; so whats better than cool whipped cream and refreshing fruit paired with a delicious sponge cake.

It was so fun to bake and honestly, one of the tastiest things I’ve ever made.  The Cake Blog is definitely a keeper and a super helpful resource for recipes. Below is the recipe from the Cake blog! Try it out and enjoy! 

 

Inspired by the classic dessert, this Eaton Mess Cake combines crisp meringues, sweetened cream, fresh berries – layered between a light and airy sponge cake. A refreshing dessert for spring and summer celebrations.

Source: Eton Mess Cake

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Tagged: baking, home, lifestyle, recipes

Jumpstart Health: 3 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

April 20, 2016

breakfast

Healthy eating begins with making healthy breakfasts. If you’re like me, eating carbs is one thing I do best, but carbs aren’t always good for you and definitely don’t help you get ready for summer swimsuit season. A healthy breakfast can help jumpstart healthy eating and help you have more energy throughout the day. Breakfast, overall, is so important and can help kickstart a diet or at least improve your future eating habits throughout the day. Eating fruits, dairy, and protein instead of carbs for breakfast help keep you fuller longer and speed up your metabolism. So before you head to Panera for an Asiago Cheese bagel with cream cheese, try something a little more healthy and resist the temptation. (I know… its difficult….) Here are a few of my favorite ideas for the perfect healthy breakfast!

Greek Yogurt Parfait

Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Shredded Coconut- unsweetened

Peanut butter Old-fashioned Oats

Cut Strawberries and blueberries

  1. The night before take 1/2 cup peanut butter and melt in the microwave. take 1 cup old- fashioned oats and add to the melted peanut butter. Stir till throughly combined.
  2. set in refridgerator overnight or for at least 2 hours.
  3. For breakfast pile on as much of the peanut butter oats as you like, add coconut shreddings, strawberries or whatever fruit you like onto your vanilla yogurt and, Voila!  The perfect sweet yummy breakfast parfait.

  Sunny-side eggs and peppers

Egg

Bell Pepper

Cheddar Cheese

this is the easiest recipe ever…and tastes so good.

  1. Take a green, red, or yellow bell pepper, slice into 1/4 inch rings.
  2. spray a medium sized skillet with oil, and add the pepper. cook for several minutes then add the egg inside the pepper ring.
  3. let cook as long as you like, season with salt and pepper and top with cheese…YUM!

Breakfast Smoothie

This recipe is perfect for when you’re on the go. Rich and creamy, its perfect to help you stay full and happy all morning long.

1/2 cup Strawberries

1/4 cup frozen blackberries

1 cup greek yogurt

1 to 2 tbsp. peanut butter (depends on how much you want)

Hand full of spinach (about 5-8 leaves)

2 tbsp. old fashioned oats

  1. add all the ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth.
  2. Enjoy!

 

 

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The Best Pie Crust Recipe

March 16, 2016

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One of my favorite things are pies … I could  probably eat pie for breakfast any day (actually everyday). To me, pies have the feeling of nostalgia and bring up so many memories of growing up. Pies are in our roots and have been part of our culture since colonial America. Known for their adaptability, pies can be made from just about anything and can be both savory or sweet. My grandmother makes pies all the time and her crust recipe is unbeatable.  Every time I bake a pie, I think of her and it takes me back to her kitchen and the good times we had there. Enjoy!

Recipe:

3 cups flour

1 1/2 cup shortening

1 tea spoon salt

1 egg

5 1/2 table spoons cold water

1 tea spoons vinegar

1.  The key to an easy crust to roll out is making sure your eggs, vinegar, and water are cold- this will ensure it mixes better and doesn’t stick to your counters when rolling it flat.

2.   Mix egg, cold water and vinegar together in a small dish and set aside. (don’t forget the vinegar- this is what makes your crust flakey).

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3.   In a large mixing bowl, add 3 cups all purpose flour and salt, sift together

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4.   Add 1 1/2 cups shortening and mix together using a pastry knife or a butter knife until its well mixed.

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5.   Add your egg, vinegar, water mixture and work dough into a ball

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6. Take your ball of dough and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour (this will help it roll our easier).

7.  Take your dough out at cut into 4 parts. (with this you can make 2 top and bottom pies or 4 just buttom pies). Pyrex now makes a deeper pie dish and so I find it hard to make 4 anymore (grandma’s pie dish isn’t has deep so it goes a lot farther).

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8.  Roll our your dough as thin as you can without it ripping (this will make it crispy and even more flakey!) and place in your pie dish.

9.  Wash your bottom crust with egg (this helps it cook fully even though the filling is on top).

10.  Add your fruit or savory filling, my favorite is peaches with some sugar and cinnamon.

11.  Roll our your top crust (again thin as you can get it) or get creative with designs and place on top of your pie, Secure the edges with a fork, spoon, or your fingers  Again, wash with egg and sprinkle with sugar  and even some cinnamon(just a pinch) and your ready to bake!

*BUT WAIT! THERES MORE: if you want to avoid getting the edges burned wrap the edges with tin foil and remove when there is about 15 minutes left on the timer!

Bake at 425 degrees for 35-40 minutes

 

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Tagged: baking, home, pie, recipes