Cranberry Orange Scones

Well, now that I know how easy scones are, I kinda want to have them every week! Probably not a good life choice if I want to loose weight. These ones are easy and super yummy! Try to restrain yourself though...

Cranberry Orange Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
10 teaspoons sugar, divided
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup cold butter
1 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup half-and-half cream
1 egg

GLAZE:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

In a large bowl, combine the flour, 7 teaspoons sugar, orange peel, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the cranberries, orange juice, cream and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.

On a floured surface, gently knead 6-8 times. Pat dough into an 8-in. circle. Cut into 10 wedges. Separate wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with milk; sprinkle with remaining sugar.

Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients if desired; drizzle over scones. Combine orange butter ingredients; serve with warm scones. Yield: 10 scones.

Source: Taste of Home

Sweet Potato Biscuits

 I'd be dishonest if I said that I made these. Actually, my husband has made them twice, and they have been great! He is the biscuit maker in the family, and has it down to an art. I can't say I mind that one bit. :)


Sweet Potato Biscuits

2 3/4 c. flour
4 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 c. cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (you can use pumpkin as well)
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
1 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 450°F. In medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate mixing bowl combine sweet potatoes, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Combine wet mixture with dry ingredients. You can either do it the easy way and make drop biscuits, or you can kneed it 4-5 times, roll out, and cut with a biscuit cutter. Bake at 450 for 12 mins.

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

This is a recipe I created by combining Michele's Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe, and a pumpkin bread recipe from my mom. It turned out really well. I was surprised at how moist it was. Especially since I used whole wheat flour. Anyway, here it is:

WARNING: this recipe makes 4 loaves. I used my own pumpkin puree for this recipe. I froze them in bags of 4 cups each, and I didn't want extra puree sitting in my fridge. We like pumpkin bread at our house and I usually freeze some to keep for later so this is not a problem, but you may want to half it.

4 c. (or two 15 oz cans) pumpkin puree
6 eggs
2 c. brown sugar
2 c. sugar
2/3 c. canola oil
4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. sour cream
3 1/2 c. whole wheat flour (made from red wheat)
4 c. white whole wheat flour (made from white wheat)
2 tsp. baking soda
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
2/3 c. cocoa
2 c. chocolate chips
Cranberries, to taste (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 4 loaf pans with PAM and set aside.

Place flour, spices, soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a large bowl and whisk to combine. (Because it is all whole wheat flour, it is important to make sure that it is whisked well so that the bread will not be super dense.)

In a large bowl, beat oil, sugars, and eggs until combined and slightly fluffy with an electric mixer (1-2 minutes). Add vanilla, pumpkin, and sour cream and mix until combined.

In a small bowl combine chocolate chips and cranberries. Take a spoonful of the flour mixture and stir in with the chocolate chips and cranberries (that will help keep them evenly distributed. Something I didn't know. Thanks Michele!)

Stir remaining flour mixture into batter and mix just until combined. Add chocolate chips and stir to combine. (When making any quick bread, be careful not to stir the batter too much or it will be tough, and not turn out light and fluffy.)Divide the batter between the pans.

Bake in your preheated oven 50-60 minutes, checking for doneness after 45 minutes.

Remove from oven and let it cool on a rack for 5-10 minutes and then remove from pans. (Many people...(mom)...don't let their bread cool a little before they try to take it from the pan. When they try to remove it immediately, it cracks and they are extremely lucky if they get a loaf in one piece. So...let it sit there for about 8 mins. and viola! you get a whole, perfect loaf.)

The recipe turned out great! I do think next time I will add a little more spice and chocolate though.

Sister Horn's Banana Bread

This is another recipe from Sister Horn that is delicious!

2/3 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. smashed bananas
1/2 c. sour milk (regular milk works well too)
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. chopped nuts
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350* F. Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and bananas. Add sour milk. Mix. Add flour and soda. Stir in nuts and vanilla. Pour into greased and floured bread pan. Sprinkle some sugar and nuts on top, if wanted. Bake 40-45 minutes for bread pan, or 20 min. for muffins.

Makes: 1 loaf, or 12 muffins

Corn Bread

This is a great recipe. It can be used as a side for baked beans, or pretty much anything. It is yummy.

2 c. water
4 eggs
1 c. cornmeal
1 c. sugar
1 c. oil
3 1/2 c. flour
4 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Beat first 5 ingredients, until well blended. Add rest of ingredients all at once. Mix together only until flour is just moistened. Will be a little lumpy. Pour into greased 9x13 pan or evenly distribute between 2 muffin tins. Bake at 350* F for 25-30 minutes.

Zucchini Bread

3 beaten eggs
1 c. oil*
2 c. sugar
2 c. grated zucchini (firmly packed)
1. Tbs. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. nuts (optional)
1/2 c. raisins (optional)

*For a lower fat version, try 1/2 c. oil and 1/2 cup applesauce. This also makes it a little more moist.

Mix ingredients in the order given and mix well after each addition. Bake at 350* F for one hour.

Makes 2 loaves