Monday, January 30, 2012

LIME COCONUT SCONES ARE WONDERFUL!

Last week I spent quite a bit of time reading Hoffman Media's new book "Scones and Tea" and even googled a number of the tea rooms they featured.  I also became enamored with the Lime-Coconut Scones recipe in the Gluten Free Section of the book.  This morning I baked them - only with regular flour!  You will find this recipe on  page 83. 





My new bouquet of dried hydrangeas came from my sister-in-law -Vivian's garden in Des Moines, Iowa.  My husband brought them back in December and some were 12" from top to bottom.  






I found these scones easy to bake before work this morning - I used a 2 1/2" scone cutter and rolled the dough out onto a pastry cloth. It made 16 scones.  I used more key lime zest than the recipe called for and was GLAD I did. 




 They are wonderful!  I highly recommend this book: "Scones & Tea".

I love this Scottish "Mrs Bridges Lemon Curd" because it was just the right "tartness" for these scones.  I sell several types in my store and  would recommend this one for this scone - rather than a more "butter" based curd.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

FIRESIDE TEA FOR ONE


The wind begins to howl
as the trees in rhythm bend -
a copper kettle whistles on
as heat my wood stove sends.

A cozy spot is set nearby
where warmth is found in measure
with quiche and salad waiting there
and a teapot full of  treasure!
Bernideen Canfield



The song "In The Bleak Midwinter"  comes to mind lately!  My yard is so brown and dreary.


 We need moisture here in Colorado and I am well aware I will need to water on some warmer days to feed any perennials that cry out for a drink of water.  I think we loose perennials here unless we understand that.



The recipe for the quiche is so easy:


Preheat oven to325 degrees.  Boil a bunch of broccoli till tender- 
 about 1 1/2 cups chopped -  drain - set aside

Butter a pyrex glass pie plate. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup bisquick baking mix, 1 cup milk, 2/3 cup sour cream, 2 eggs 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup colby cheese and 2/3 cup sour cream. 
Bake for 1 hour but watch as could be less 

Friday, December 9, 2011

"CHRISTMAS PRESENT"


Christmas is always the time
to decorate the home.




Welcome to our home where the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas filling the air!  Time to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus!



This years tree is a White Fir like the last 2 years - this seems to be our favorite type of tree.



In a way "Hark The Herald
Angels" seems like a good theme
here at our house.  It is also a
perfect time to enjoy Old
Country Roses china.




I love Nicole Sayre and added
 a new angel to my collection.


When we come home each evening, the
first thing we do is fire
up our wood burning stove.





These decorations may be
a little over the top but they
sure bring me joy.



Saturday, December 3, 2011

A TIME TO BAKE


If there ever was a time to bake and
cook that would be now at Christmas
time.  The house should smell delightful
and there should me Christmas
music filling the air.

We had an event at my store
so I made numerous dishes like
this Cranberry Apple Crisp.


And we always have English Trifle:


Sugar Cookies with Ribbon Candy below:



Sugar Cookies with Ribbon Candy: You will need to purchase one box of ribbon Candy!

Ingredients: 1 cup of butter, 1 tsp vanilla,1 ½ cups of sugar ( in high alt.
Decrease 1 1/2 Tb), 3 eggs, 3 1/2 cups sifted flour, 2 tsp cream of tartar,
1 tsp soda (in high alt reduce ¼ tsp), ½ tsp salt

This recipe will make 24 large or 36 med-large cookies or more smaller!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (400 high alt)

Cream butter & vanilla and add sugar gradually till fluffy.  Add eggs
One at a time and beat after each.  Sift dry ingredients together.
Add this to creamy mix.  Chill for about 30 minutes

Roll on floured surface –sprinkle with candy which
Has been crushed with a mallet.

Cut to desired shapes and bake on ungreased sheet for
About 8 minutes.  No need for icing here as the
Candy makes each cookie colorful!





Bernideen’s Aspen Mulling Spice
Apple Cranberry Crisp

For the Filling you will need:
1 Carton Original Aspen Mulling Spices, 5 Large Granny Smith Apples or other baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced, 1 cup chopped cranberries, 2 Tb Light Brown sugar, 2 Tb melted butter
For the Topping you will need:
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour, 1 cup rolled oats, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed light brown sugar, 1 ½ sticks of cold unsalted butter, cut into bits.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Make the filling by combining ingredients in bowl and put into 9 x 12 Rect ovenproof dish which has been buttered.

To make the topping:  Combine all ingredients until crumbly and sprinkle over first mixture. I like pushing some of it down into the filling too! Bake 35- 40 minutes – watch for browning Let cool – it will thicken as it cools! 

Olde English Trifle
made with English Devon Custard

In a glass bowl or compote layer the following:
Split lady fingers turned sideways around the edge of the glass bowl or cubes of pound cake, fresh fruit of your choice or according to seasonal availability, raspberry jam and Devon Custard (repeat layers again to the top)
At the top of the bowl, pile on the lovely
**whipping cream (cool whip could work too) – maybe maraschino cherries on the very top!

**To 2 cups whipping cream – whip in ¼ cup of powdered sugar till stiff