scones don't have to be dry

I never had a scone that wasn't dry!  Until... I started getting them from Starbucks 6 years ago.   Any time you think of scones you think of this dry tasteless bread pastry that is never #1 on your guilty pleasure list...until you've had one from Starbucks... warmed! I would get my coffee before work once a week from Starbucks as a treat to my day of insurance.  blaaah!  And that fateful morning where I met my new guilty pleasure...the scone.  I ordered by grande macchiato as always from Jen, yes we were now on a first name basis now(this is when you know you go too often), and I ordered a raspberry scone with it.  Then those words which I will never forget, Jen asked, "Do you want it warmed?" "Warm? Yeah!" I didn't know you could warm anything there.  As I checked out, she handed me that warm brown bag, my mouth was already watering! This was in no way a scone, it was moist and sweet with pretty decorative sugar on top.  When I bit into it there were these delicious pockets of raspberry jam or some kind of raspberry filling chips.  After that day my trips went from once a week to the occasional two or three times a week for coffee with a warmed raspberry or cinnamon chip scone.   Yum!

Once I quit my job to stay home I missed my specialty coffees and warmed scones so I decided to find a recipe to make my own scones.  I've gone through a few recipes over the years picking things I've liked from one and carrying it on to the new recipe and so on until I came up with my own moist warmed cinnamon chip scone! Once you make these you won't have to go to Starbucks you can make them in minutes in your own kitchen!

Cinnamon Chip Scones

2 C. flour
1/3 C. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 C. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 C.-1/2 C. buttermilk (measure out the 1/2C but you may not need all of it)
1/2 C. cinnamon chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1. Mix first 5 ingredients on low in mixer with paddle attachment
2. Cube the cold butter and mix into the dry mix until you get the crumbled look
3. Add egg and vanilla
4. Start to add the buttermilk slowly until the mixture looks wet but not runny! You may not use all the buttermilk which is ok.
5. Lastly add the cinnamon chips folding them in until they are mixed in well but do not over beat or your scones could be tough (but they will still taste good)
6. Scope your dough; 1/3 cup; onto the tray 2 inches apart.  Slip into the oven for 15 minutes (if you mixed more buttermilk than you should have you may need to keep them in for a few more minutes to cook the inside) Then take them off the tray promptly onto a cooling rack.

You can find a good icing recipe to top them with, but I like them without, so I never perfected an icing.

I hope you enjoy these scones as much as I do!

live.love.eat

Back to School Sale!

It's almost that time again. Yes, Summer is quickly coming to a close and soon the kids will be heading back to school. It's never to early to stock up on the latest in stylish hair accessories for that first day of school or even for you Moms that want a little extra flair in your hair. Check out my etsy shop; Serenity Shoppe BACK TO SCHOOL promo and sale. We certainly hope you like our products as much as we enjoy seeing the smile on that child or teens face when they find that perfect accessory!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SerenityShoppe

Summer Sweets

I was rushing through Costco last week and grabbed 2 quarts of heavy whipping cream instead of half n half.  What was I going to do with 2 quarts of heavy whipping cream!?!?  All I could think of was ice cream, but we don't have an ice cream churn. My husband emailed me this recipe for homemade ice cream that doesn't need to be churned.  So my daughter and I tested this out.  All we needed was 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk.  We made 2 batches separately then added 1 peach to one batch and added a Starbucks VIA blonde roast packet;instant coffee; to another to make our Ice cream a little more delicious!!  The only thing I'd change is if you are making the original recipe you may want to add less sweetened condensed milk.  I though the peach ice cream was very sweet, but the coffee was a perfect balance. The coffee ice cream reminded me of the Turkey Hill Coffee Ice Cream.  We grown ups really liked that.

No Churn Ice Cream
Recipe By Everyday Food on Yahoo.com

Ingredients 
 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
2 cups cold heavy cream 

Directions 
 In a medium bowl, stir condensed milk and vanilla. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream on high until stiff peaks form, 3 minutes. With a rubber spatula, gently fold whipped cream into condensed milk mixture.Then add any extras like peaches, strawberries,or 1 Starbucks VIA Blonde Roast Packet. e Creative!  Pour into a 4 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch loaf pan. Freeze until firm, 6 hours. 

Enjoy a cold treat!