Thursday, June 13, 2013

Cream Scones

Ingredients
2 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter or other shortening
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk, well beaten
1/3 cup light cream
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 lemon, finely zested
1 egg white, slightly beaten

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Sift the flour, and then add the baking powder, sugar and salt and sift again. In a large mixing bowl, cut in the butter or shortening. Add the egg, egg yolk and cream all at once and stir until all the flour is dampened. Mix in the dried cherries and lemon zest. Then stir vigorously until the mixture forms a soft dough and follows a spoon around the bowl. Turn out immediately onto a slightly floured board and knead 30 seconds. Using a rolling pin, roll out until the dough is about 1/2-inch thick, and then cut into triangles. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush the tops lightly with the egg white, and sprinkle with some sugar. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

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Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting, recipe follows, optional
Sprinkles, for garnish

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Add the eggs, vanilla extract and rum extract, beating until combined. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until combined. Wrap the dough in heavy-duty plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a 4-inch pumpkin cookie cutter to cut out the dough. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the edges are very lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the pans for 2 minutes. Then remove and cool completely on wire racks. Spread the Cinnamon Cream Cheese frosting on the cookies if using. Garnish with sprinkles.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
3 cups powdered sugar
In a medium bowl, whisk together cream cheese, butter and pumpkin pie spice with an electric mixer. Add in the powdered sugar in thirds. Makes about 1 1/2 cups frosting.

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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Fruit Salad with Honey Dressing

Ingredients
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus the juice 1 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 apple, cored and diced
1 banana, sliced
1 avocado, peeled and sliced
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions
For the dressing, combine the honey, orange juice, oil, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt, and mustard in a jar with a tight lid; cover and shake well. Toss the apple, banana, and avocado with juice from 1 lemon to prevent the fruit from turning brown. Combine the fruit, raisins, and nuts in a glass bowl. Add the dressing and stir gently. Serve on red leaf lettuce.

SOURCE