Neglecting my blog, but not my kitchen

I feel so badly.  Things have just been so hectic that it feels like it's been forever since I've added a new post to my blog.  My, luckily for my family at least, I've been hard at work in the kitchen!  I have been processing apples the past week or so - applesauce, apple butter and apple juice are all prepped and stored.  I have about 1/2 a bushel of apples to go but I need to get to the store to get more jars for canning. 

My fall garden crops have been coming in nicely...especially the swiss chard.  It's so beautiful!  I blanched and froze a batch of it last week and it's getting to be time to do it again.  Especially since there is SNOW ?!? on the forecast for tomorrow.  I hope that the parsnips and turnips survive because they're not ready for harvesting.  Fingers crossed there big time!!

And my obsession lately has been pumpkin...pretty much anything pumpkin will do.  In the past week I've made pumpkin scones, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin roll, pumpkin muffins....you name it, I've made it!  I have a pumpkin gratin recipe that looks pretty awesome that I'd like to give a try once I get my hands on some more fresh pumpkin.  As well as this tantalizing looking pumpkin candy I keep seeing recipes for.  It's not fall around here until we're sick to death of the taste of pumpkin.  And even then, I'll keep making it.  I actually was thinking of making pumpkin rolls as gifts this year, maybe even instead of cookies...gasp!  The horror of no cookies.  My husband's coworkers might revolt.  Maybe I'll make them cookies and everyone else gets pumpkin rolls.  :-)

So, I'm here, busy cooking, baking, running, as well as keeping overly busy with the child care.  The group I have right now is wonderful but requires a lot of planning and activity to keep them focused.  And all of that adds up a very tired Sheri!
 

Cranberry Brie Scones

Cranberry Brie Scones, Pumpkin Scones and Pumpkin Muffins.  All delicious!

So, this is a recipe I dreamed up a few months ago and finally think I found the right combination of ingredients that came together in just the right way.  My first attempt was much more muffin like, the second was too wet, but this time I think it was just right. 

Cranberry Brie Scones

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 T baking powder
1/4 t ground nutmeg
pinch of ground ginger
1/4 t salt
1/4 cold butter, chopped for incorporating into flour
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 lb brie, cut into 1/4" cubes.  I remove the rind but whatever is your preference is fine.
1/4 cup sugar, for coating brie, not for including in recipe
3/4 cup of cream
1 egg


Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients (not the white sugar), and then using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture looks like crumbs.  This step can be done in the food processor with a pastry blade as well (my personal choice!)  Set aside and mix all cream and egg until well blended.  Toss the brie cubes in the sugar until coated,  set aside.  Mix the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.  Fold cranberries and brie cubes into mixture.  Form a round and cut into wedges.  Bake for about 20 minutes, about 15-20 minutes.  Put on cooling rack when done baking.   

These scones are truly amazing!  I love brie so much that I would eat it in just about anything, and I feel pretty similarly about scones.  Combining the two loves has been a fun experiment.  The brie just oozes enough from a hot scone to make it impossible for all of the scones to make it to cool, because I can't resist sampling.  Enjoy!

I should add that the above pumpkin muffins are from a recipe by Smitten Kitten that I have made several times and can't seem to screw up even though I am not a muffin person.  I ALWAYS mess them up somehow, someway.  It's nice when you find something that works so well. 

Back to Reality

This past weekend, I headed to Ocean City, MD with several friends for our annual Winefest weekend.  It was a fantastic time.  We sampled wine all day Saturday by the beach and were blessed with beautiful weather.  Then, Saturday night, a friend, Lisa, and her mom, Karen, treated us to a beautiful fondue spread worthy of any special event.  It was a beautiful cap to a beautiful day.  We had two bouillons, two cheeses and two desserts.  Yummy stuff!!!  I wish I could say I had recipes to share, but trust me, it was fantastic.  I will have to ask Lisa for recipes to share with you.  Her mom and her are the masterminds with fondue pots!

So, forgive me for not blogging sooner.  I got hit with a cold on our return and have been struggling to get "back to reality" while recovering from a cold and missing our ocean view.  Last night I did finally get up and make dinner.  Italian Chicken Subs.  I thought it was pretty impressive given the level of "cold-weary" I felt.  Tonight Spaghetti is on the menu and I am thankful for an easy to cook but comfort food sort of meal.  I am feeling so much better but not 100% yet so it should be a nice evening.  I would love to get out and run this cold out of me, but I'm just not sure that my legs would cooperate!!

Hope everyone is having a great week!  Hopefully I'll make something blog-worthy in the coming days.  :-)