Great Creamy Scones {Recipe}

I love baking scones.  I don't know why but I feel rather like an accomplished housewife when I pull freshly baked scones from the oven or maybe it's the endless variations you can make with scones from sweet to savory.

Here is my recipe for a proper British Scone from Elizabeth Germain from Cooks Illustrated.

Cream Scone with Currants

2 cups all purpose flour (make them healthier with whole wheat, spelt or even buckwheat flour)

3 tbsp of sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

5 tbsp of cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1/2 cup currants ( I like to use organic, unsulphured currants, especially if little ones like to nibble on them too!)

1 cup heavy cream

~

 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 425F

2. Place flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl, whisk together

3. Add butter to the flour mixture.  Mix until it resembles coarse meal with a few slightly larger butter lumps.

4. Add currants

5. Stir in heavy cream and until dough begins to form

6. Transfer dough to a dry, floured surface  and knead by hand so it comes to be a slightly stick ball.  Gently pat dough mixture 3/4 inch thick.

7. With a knife, cut into dough making 8 wedges

* If you'd like to have them glazed(I love them like this!), brush the scones with heavy cream and sprinkle some brown sugar on top before placing them in the oven.

8. Back until scone tops are slightly brown, 12-15min.  Cool on wire rack for at least 10 minutes.

I substituted and used white chocolate and organic, unsulphured dry blue berries.  This is beyond delish!

•  like Ginger?  Substitute currants for 1/2 cup chopped crystallized ginger.
• Lemon-Blueberry Scones?  add 1 tsp of grated lemon zest and 1/2 cup of frozen or fresh blueberries

Halls Kitchen

 Fresh, healthy, hand crafted soup, stews and sauces

 

Yum. with love.

You know those days when you just don't feel like making your own soup?

Do you go to the grocers only to be a disappointed with the selection on boxed and canned(loaded with BPA's mind you in the cans lining) soups.  Not to mention other chemicals like MSG and then some.

As a mom sometimes I just want to grab something free of chemicals, quick and easy to make where I can just simmer and feed.

Yes, I normally do cook but sometimes when I am sick or so, who's going to make soup for me? Halls Kitchen is. I love that they support local and organic farming, they use fresh vegetables that are free of chemicals and preservatives.  The whole line is GMO free.

Another key point: Their products are made in small batches and DO NOT use aluminum, teflon or any plastic, non stick cook ware due to the potential health risks.

I was sent some delicious, healthy and vegan ( I do though miss the full fat stock, so you won't find this in their soups as they are vegan ) Halls Kitchen products to review.

 Chick Pea, Tomato, Spinach, Lemon Soup:  Loaded with fibre and super healthy.  You can also add your own seasoning to get acquired taste you like. This was good.

Cravin Comfort Stew: Sweet and savoury with Ontario root vegetables.  I picked this with my son in mind.  I also made some barley with this and this was beyond comfort, we loved it and gobbled it up.

Throw in some pulled pork for more flavour and it is divine with these veggies.

Lemon White Wine Cream Sauce:  Loved that they use one of my favorite dairy farmers, Hewitts this was divine.  I used this on salmon and a little got on the roasted asparagus.  The light tang of lemon in this cream sauce was a perfect blend.  I'm even thinking substituting hollandaise for this!

Such a great local company to come across Ontario, I love all the considerations they put into making their product and Halls Kitchen is a favorite in our household. 

 

Please visit their website for a store near you.  Halls Kitchen is on Facebook and Twitter too if you have any questions, comments and/or concerns,

Kashi- The Seven Whole Grain Company

I was recently contacted by Kashi to try some of their new products and thank you Kashi for finding me!

We love Kashi and my tot loves to snack on the Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal which I have to admit, I like it alot too.
It has whole grains, fibre, iron and all natural ingredients.

In fact I've traded in chips for cereal, once again thanks to this fine line of food.  I can snack better, snack tastier and snack healthier.

I just wolfed down there Kashi Chewy Bars, I got the Dark Mocha Almond follwed my a cold glass of whole milk and for me I am always on the go or forget to feed myself as I try to stuff food into Charlie's picky mouth ( I think it's the teething) so this is nice a product to have handy in the cupboard.

"Naturally, you won’t find any partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial anything but what you will find in their chewy granola bars is just what you’d expect from Kashi—minimally processed, pure ingredients, and natural goodness you can see as well as taste."

Because of the samples they sent me, I am convinced I will try more Kashi products, in fact I just picked up their box of crackers.  Kashi all the way in our household, something I can feel good about and trust when I'm shopping at the grocers.

Quaker Journey Blog Tour

For the past month blogger, Lynn from www.walkingwithsissors.com has been documenting her families journey to healthy living, making better dietary choices and the challenges they've experience together as a family.
The Quaker Journey to Wellness is following Lynn and one of the best parts is there will be prizes for you along the way.

What would be my path to better health?  Well exercise is important and I am doing that through Fit Chicks, diet is extremely important as well.  I always buy organic foods for my family, I try to get in as much veggies as possible but the one change I'd like to see are our snacking choices as we don't often eat together as a family so I prepare breakfast/lunch/dinner for my toddler, hubby leaves for work and doesn't get home til late so he ends up eating leftovers and at a later time.  I always make sure he takes digestive enzymes when he's eating that late (11pm) and then heading to bed.  I snack on Miss.Vickies, the wonderful saltiness from a bag of her chips gets my cravings salivating and I have to give in.
Those are the changes I'd love to see change but with my husbands schedule it's not possible but I need to take care of myself and make better choices because it's so easy to make those choices for my son and husband. 

Check out Quaker Journey for yourself, what healthy choices have you made recently?  They are also on Facebook so you can share tips, get coupons and leave your comments on Lynns journey.

Disclosure - I am participating in the Quaker Journey to Wellness program by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Co. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Fancy Macaroni-Courtesy of Tasty Kitchen

I was in awe as I mixed in the cheese with the bechamel.....Holy Macoroni Batman this is a recipe and a half for good ol' Mac N' Cheese.
Do you know Ree yet? Pioneer Woman? Hello, what planet are you on. If you're a new mom, you're excused.
My sister introduced me to The Pioneer Woman and I had no idea that it was a blog.  That was 3 years ago. I only learned about blogging a year ago and after watching Julie & Julia.
I went baby blog first, then skin care and now food.

Okay, who cares about me here's the recipe:
* Now to be honest, I only used Fontina and OKA and it was sooooo cheesy and soooo yummy.  I also used Brown Rice macaroni.  I just throw stuff when I cook and estimate measurements, so I'd day a cup if each of the above mentioned cheeses.

The Goods

• 4 cups Macaroni
• 8 Tablespoons Butter (Salted Butter)
• 2 whole Medium Onions, Cut In Half And Sliced Thin
• 10 slices Regular Bacon
• 1 Tablespoon Bacon Grease (reserved From Bacon Slices)
• ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
• 2 cups Whole Or 2% Milk
• ½ cups Half-and-half
• 2 whole Egg Yolks, Beaten
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• ½ cups Grated Gruyere Cheese
• ½ cups Grated Fontina Cheese
• ½ cups Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
• 4 ounces, weight Chevre (soft Goat Cheese)

The Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni for half the time of the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Fry bacon until slightly, but not overly, crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve grease.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and then saute onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown and soft. Set aside.
In a pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter (and add 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon grease for good measure!). Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 minute. Pour in milk and half & half, then cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt & pepper to taste. (Do not undersalt!)
Beat egg yolks and drizzle 1/4 cup hot mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into sauce and cook for another minute.
Add cheeses and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings and add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni and stir to coat.
Pour into a baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until sizzling and hot. Serve with red meat or a green salad.

My ever so professinal pictures in my messy kitchen.  Who am I kidding?  I have a toddler and a small kitchen with dishes everywhere.  What I would do for a dishwasher. I have to wait 3 more years.  I think Charlie will be old enough, LOL.  Hopefully we'll be in a house by then and not in Toronto!

Mmmm......cheese

Now melted goodness into the bechamel sauce.....look at the oooey goodness!

Now mixing it all in!

Pop in the oven and enjoy the best comfort food!

Ryvita Snack Bread, snacky goodness!

I love, love, love Ryvita snack bread!
I came across this at Sobeys Market, with 6 slices equaling only 120 calories I thought why not.
Ryvita Snackbread is a light and crispy alternative bread, 3 g of fibre and 27g of whole grain.
Yum!
But what is one to do with such a delightful crispy toast?
Here's my new love.

Recipe du Jour


2 Ryvita Snackbread
1-2 Farm Fresh tomatoes (or just pick up Kumatoe's)
Monforte or your other favorite cream cheese product
Olive Oil  for drizzling
salt and pepper

Soooooooo yummy!

Farmers Market at Christie and St.Clair West

Saturdays 8:00 am to 1pm
Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St.
(St.Clair West & Christie)

Well, lets just say I was blown away and thank god they are open year round at the Art Scape Building.
Dammit that I work Saturdays! Well, I have to get up early and be there for 8am and get to work in time for 9:45am.
I'll have to bring groceries with me to work which is fine because we have a great kitchen and there's no way I can drag Papa Ash with me, especially if that means he has to wake up at 7am.
An awesome playground is there, performers and good food cooked for you as well, so grab a coffee, shop and play with your little ones when all the shopping is done.

 Why I love Farm Fresh!
Fresh, Fresh, Fresh ='s Good Food
I open the fridge door and I smell, fresh organic meat.  I look at my kitchen and I have fresh, tasty vegetables for my family to enjoy all grown in Ontario!  Properly picked and cared for.

I've interacted with farmers, I'm supporting them and that's just one of the reasons I treasure that I can go to Farmers Markets.  The food tastes sooooooo good, try for yourself and there is a difference when love is put into the Earth by these farmers.

If you haven't experienced shopping at Farmers Markets, what's stopping you?
It is not that expensive( $2.00 for potatoes, $5 for farm fresh, organic eggs, veggies and fruit cost anywhere from $2-$6 and the amount is not small)

I went with $100 cash (no interac at the Market) and came home with $35! 
I would say this is one of my favorites, I'm dying to go to Brickworks and this Wednesday I'm going to go to the one downtown in Nathan Phillips square.

So what did I buy?

I wish I had a camera to take pictures (hubby has it as he's in New York, lucky S.O.B) but anyways I bought the freshest, yummiest, organic heirloom tomatoes, beautiful organic potatoes from Everdale Farms ( I cooked with them twice today, I got a lot for $4!), fresh not frozen nitrate free side bacon and Charlies favorite Honey Garlic sausages from Green Gate Farms, I got farm fresh eggs and hormone free, organic chicken bones for stock from a Mennonite family farm called Schefter Family.  Delicious carrots that came in purple, yellow, reddish and orange...organic as well from Woolerdale Farm, St. Johns Bakery bread(my fave!), Baby Ash had a brioche for breakfast!
I bought colorful string beans, Monforte Cheese sheeps milk cream cheese and the best French Lavender oil from Earthly Paradise.
Now I am safe in the kitchen from burns and a couple of drops on the diffuser in Baby Ash's room and he's in sushy bye sleepsville!

What did I make pray tell? 

Well for breakfast I used the salt free/nitrate free bacon so my sweet boy could have a bite, I sauteed onion and spinach and used the farm fresh eggs that I bought and added some of the Monforte cream cheese and with some of the potatoes I bought well....home fries were in order!  Lightly boiled then fried gently in olive oil, sprinkled some paprika, salt and dried rosemary.  They were delish'!

Dinner....

Yummy farm fresh Honey Garlic sausages and again more potatoes!  Only this time I mashed 'em.

Here's my recipe for mashed potatoes.


Mama Ash's Mash

8-10 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
a decent splash of organic 18% cream 
a dollup of butter
and a few tablespoons of cream cheese

Oh, that's some serious goodness!

Here's a list of Ontario Farmers Market.
I hope you go and when you taste the difference compared to the produce at the super store chains you will become a foodie snob like me and you'll understand.