Scones

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I make scones almost every day. Scones create a lot of discussion in the food world, from the way the word is pronounced or what shape they take or even what constitutes a scone.

Strawberry

To us Americans the easiest way to describe a scone is a baking powder biscuit with a little bit of sugar in it. Most people add some kind of fruit. When we lived in England I had scones for the first time at cute little cafe in Mildenhall. They were plain scones served with strawberry jam and whipped cream. I was in heaven!! Now traditionally they use clotted cream, but as a yank, I loved having the thick whip cream.

Lavender

I tried making scones a few times but they were never quite right until I found a recipe in a kids magazine that was the perfect recipe.  I've been making them ever since! I put all different kinds of things in this recipe. In the last month I've made chocolate chip scones, eggnog scones, cranberry orange scones, salted caramel scones, maple nut scones, candied ginger scones, cinnamon scones, chai scones, strawberry scones, apricot walnut scones, apple cinnamon scones, raspberry chocolate scones, lavender scones...well, you get the idea. Basically you can put just about anything in a scone. We've even done bacon and cheddar cheese scones. The key to remember is that if you use some very moist you need to adjust your liquid mixture.

Double Chocolate

Here is my basic recipe:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 T sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Mix thoroughly and add 4-6 oz of cold, diced butter. Use a pastry blender or fork to work it in the dry ingredients. Add 4-6 tablespoons half and half. Shape into your desired shape and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Depending on what flavors I use, if I think the scones may be a bit dry sometimes I add a quick powder sugar glaze on top. If I use fresh fruit that may be a bit wet I might sprinkle powder sugar or cinnamon sugar.

Birthday Cake

If you make scones and they don't turn out the first time, don't give up. Scones are kind of like pie crust, the more you make it the more familiar you are with how the dough should feel, how they should look while they bake, etc. If you make this recipe send me an email or post on here and let me know how they turned out. I would love to hear!

Happy Scone Making!

Makers not Consumers

It's funny odd, coincidental that in the last couple of weeks I keep seeing and hearing things about people being makers and not consumers, meaning that we need to be contributing to society more than we take out. But I also think that this means we should be making more of our own stuff and not just buying things out of convenience. Why? Well for one reason I think we need to know how to make things because someday we might not be able to buy it. Or maybe you could make things just for a sense of self-satisfaction that you're not dependent on others for everything that you have. And sometimes it's just nice to know that you can do something that your grandparents did!

I was trying to think what this might look like in my own life. Obviously for people who know me, baking might be the answer. I bake every single day. From muffins, scones and breads to pies and pizzas depending on the day. But..what about the not so obvious things?  For each of us it will vary because we have different needs.

At my house things that can be made instead of bought could be garden produce canned and frozen for future use. It could mean cars repaired instead of replaced. Opening windows in the summer instead of air conditioning. Oh, and I love drying clothes on the line, especially towels!

So, what could you do to become a maker and not a consumer? Or what do you do to contribute to society rather than take from it?

What's Up with Washi Tape?

I'm getting my stuff ready for a scrapbook weekend. I realized the last time I scrapped was the summer of 2017?!?!  Kind of sad when I used to get together once a month with friends and scrap the evening away. 

Things have changed a lot since I first started scrapbooking. It used to be you had a good pair of scissors, some cardstock and a few packages of stickers and you were good to go. Now the girls that go scrapbooking carry several loads of stuff in, as well as computers, dvd players and anything else they need to pass the time. I'm still a pretty basic scrapper. As I was looking online at scrapbook supplies I keep seeing washi tape. It's gorgeous! It comes in all sorts of designs and colors! Look at the examples below:

Glitter and Gold!

Geometrics!

CACTUS! 

Ooh, VanGogh!

 See? Lots of pretty designs and patterns! But I still have no idea what people use it for. Borders? Maybe. I see that people are using it in their planners too. I don't know why though. Guess I'm a plain jane planner kind of person too.

So, if you use washi tape, tell me what you do with it.

Taking the Slow Lane

It's been almost 2 years since I've posted anything. Let me tell you, I am loving my little business downtown but it's definitely taken some time to adjust to working full time.

Slow Lane Coffee

A peek at the the counter

This has become my home away from home. For awhile I was spending almost as much time here as I was at home, but I think I'm finally figuring out a healthy balance.

We are a small town coffee shop and I bake fresh muffins and scones and miscellaneous things every weekday. I bake bread as often as I can. We serve specialty coffees and blended drinks as well as serving light lunches. And yes, we even serve plain brewed coffee. It amazes me how many people come in and ask if we have plain ol' coffee! LOL

If you would like to check out our Facebook page, you can find it here.

I'm hoping to get back to blogging more regularly. Time will tell just how much spare time I can find. Until then, Happy January!