Scones for the Workweek

The first time I ever had a scone, it was while walking around the Market held on the Capital Square in Madison Wisconsin. I was amazed. How could this have been hidden in my life so far? Why hadn't scones and I crossed paths before? You could say I was awestruck, but that might be a bit much.

It wasn't until years later that I even ventured into making my own scones, but that being said, I'd like to share my recipe. This last batch I made with the help of a large cookie cutter, and just flattened out a pile of dough with my palm, squashed it with the cookie cutter, and tore away the remaining (outside) dough.

Here is my Cranberry and Spice Scone Recipe.

Makes 8 scones.

Combine:

1 3/4 C flour

4 t. baking powder

1/4 C sugar

1/8 t salt

1/2 t nutmeg

1/2 t allspice

With hand mixer, add:

5 T. margarine, until uniformly combined

Mix together:

1/2 C milk

1/4 C sour cream

Add to other ingredients with hand mixer

Stir in :

1 cup cranberries, or combination cranberries and raisins

At this point I usually press the dough into the bottom of the mixing bowl until it is uniform and even, then cut with a knife into 8 equal portion triangles.

Remove each from the bowl and place on a cookie sheet 2" apart.

Wash with 1 egg white and 1 T milk.

Let rest while you go sort the laundry or something for about 10 minutes.

Sprinkle the tops with sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. Tops may or may not turn golden.

These are excellent warm out of the oven, or with coffee or tea for your break at work.

I have yet to hear from husband if he likes this batch...but he might be distracted by the lemon bars I made for dessert last night! hahahaha

Try it and Enjoy!

Sunday Morning Muffins

Ah, there is nothing in the world like a giant fresh-baked muffin making the kitchen smell truly like home on a Sunday morning. The margarine melts in your mouth like sunshine...even if there was none to be seen outside, it's not so bad with a giant muffin!

I have one of those 6-muffin rubbery pans that claims to have an easy extraction feature (not for me). It does wash up pretty quick though.

This oatmeal recipe isn't perfect, but, the muffins come out really good, and in the end, isn't that what's really important? It's also heart-healthy :)
My husband loves to take them to work for coffee-break.

Giant Sunday Morning Muffins
Ingredients:
1 1/2 C old fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1 C milk (I use 2%)
1 large egg
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C margarine, melted and cooled (I use Blue Bonnet Light)
1 C flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 C dried fruit
1 t. cinnamon, or double for more of a cinnamon kick!

In a small bowl, soak the oats in the milk
In a larger bowl, combine the egg, sugar, and margarine
Add the cinnamon
Mix in the flour, salt, baking powder and soda
Add the bowl of soaked oats and milk (oats will not have absorbed all the milk, that's OK, pour it all in)
Now add the dried fruit (I used a half split of dried apple which I chopped and raisons)

Pour into greased muffin cups, sprinkle the tops with cinnamon and sugar for that wonderful sweet top
Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes, cool in pan
If you try to remove them too soon, they will crumble apart, so if you are set on having hot-warm muffins, use cupcake papers instead.

I made these again with dried cranberries, raisons and used cinnamon, a little bit of nutmeg and a tiny pinch of ground cloves, Mmmmmm. Husband approved-hahaha. I think we'll fight over the last one!