Orange and Dark Choclate Buttermilk Scones

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons orange zest

2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 large egg yolk

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold buttermilk

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1. Place rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. I use my fingers to rub the butter and dry ingredients together.

3. In another bowl, combine egg yolk and buttermilk and beat lightly with a fork. Add to flour mixture all at once, stirring enough to make a soft dough. Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Turn out onto a floured board and knead about 15 times. Roll or pat out into a 1-inch thickness. Cut into 4 large or 6 small squares. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. These are best when served immediately with butter and jam!

Free Form Bread

Here is the basic recipe, we have had fun adding all sorts of stuff, cloves of garlic halved, fresh chopped rosemary, kalamata olives halved, handful of asiago cheese, substitute 1/2 cup flour for freshly ground wheat flour, really whatever you can think of!
But i usually just make it as is:

1 package dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
4 cups flour
0il
corm meal
melted butter

Place yeast water and sugar in bowl stir until warm and let stand 2 mins. Add flour and stir until blended, do not knead. cover and let rise 1 hr or until double in size. Flour hands remove from bowl and place in two rounds on oiled baking sheet that has been dusted with cornmeal. let rise an additional hour. brush the top with melted butter being careful not to deflate. Bake at 425 for 10 mins. reduce oven heat to 375 and bake an additional 15 mins. remove from oven brush with butter and sprinkle with salt. serve warm.

Scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs!??!?! Yes! I know what you are thinking, BUT unless you are perfectly satisfied with you scrambled eggs every time you make them, PLEASE give this a try and I guarantee you will be impressed.

I love scrambled eggs, but have found that mine are very unpredictable, so i have been experimenting and found that this works EVERY TIME!

I have put together a bit of a tutorial,

Wisk together:
4 eggs
2 tbsp water
1/4 tsp salt
and a little pepper if you please

Heat skillet over med heat melting 1 tbsp of butter.
Pour in eggs and cook until edges are starting to set. (as seen in my lovely picture)
do not touch, stir, or bother in any way.

once edges are set,using a silicone spatula using long strokes "scrape" up egg curds

continue doing so until eggs are set.

and they look like this

DO NOT over mix or stirr, just scrape the bottom, and do not over cook. once they are set they are done! serve immediately!

Good luck let me know how it works out!

Better than KFC Biscuits

These are SOOO good. I did not make the butter, just served them with eggs and Bacon!! Loved it, thought I would share!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/buttermilk-biscuits-recipe/index.html

Crunchy homemade granola

I modified this recipe from one that a friend gave me. We love it and eat it all the time with vanilla yogurt and fresh blueberries.

DRY:
3 cups rolled oats (NOT quick or instant)
3/4 cups whole roasted almonds chopped (roast your own raw almonds or find ones with no added salt)
dash salt
2 Tbsp brown sugar packed
2/3 cup UN-sweetened coconut flakes

WET:
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp water
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp almond extract

Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, stir
In med sauce pan combine all wet ingredients over high heat. Boil about a minute stir constantly, will foam.
pour wet over dry.
Bake on greased metal baking sheet for 25 mins at 325 stirring half way.
remove from oven, cool completely and immediately transfer to air tight container.

SUGAR COOKIES

Valentine's Day version...

Some I made a few months back for our YW Night in Excellence...

1 lb margarine (4 sticks)

3 eggs

2 c. sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. lemon extract

*Cream margarine and butter, then add rest of above ingredients and mix until smooth.

ADD:

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

6 c. flour

*Mix well. Chill in refridgerator at least 3o minutes.

*Roll out dough onto a floured surface, cut into desired shapes.

*Bake @ 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

*If sticky when rolling add more flour.

Plain Frosting:

1/4 c. shortening and small amount of margarine (1/3 stick)

~ 4 c. powdered sugar

milk...~1-2 TBSP

cap full of vanilla. Whip all until smooth, then frost cookies.

Cream Cheese Frosting: (by, Melissa Wolthuis)

1 stick butter

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

*Mix till very smooth, then add:

~4 c. powdered sugar

I also add a tiny bit of vanilla

FROST AND DECORATE COOKIES....THEN TRY TO EAT JUST ONE!

Sweet Berry Bruschetta

Perfect Valentine's Day Breakfast!

**Recipe from Melinda Christensen**

10 slices french bread, 1/2 inch thick

5 tsp sugar, divided

6 oz. fat free cream cheese (I did the 1/3 less fat kind)

1/2 tsp. almond extract

3/4 c. fresh blackberries

3/4 c. fresh raspberries (I substituted both berries for strawberries because that's what I had)

1/4 c. slivered almonds, toasted

2 tsp. powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting

Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet; lightly coat with cooking spray.

Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar.

Broil 3-4 inches from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned. ***I WOULD RECOMMEND WATCHING THE WHOLE TIME, it doesn't take long at all..... TOTALLY BURNED MY FIRST PAN WHILE I WAS CUTTING STRAWBERRIES!**
In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, almond extract, powdered sugar, and remaining sugar.

Spread over toasted bread. Top with berries and almonds; dust with powdered sugar.

Chicken and Israeli Couscous

This dish is crazy good, in fact I can't stop thinking about how good it was and will probably make it again next week! AND it is a one skillet meal!

Israeli couscous can be bought at one of the 2 Mediterranean markets in Hilliard (one is next to the Olive Tree)It can also be called Mediterranean couscous. I have heard that Giant Eagle also carries it but am yet to confirm that.

This Serves 2 people.

2 fresh (not frozen)chicken breasts
1 shallot (about three TBSP) chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced and zested
3 TBSP olive oil
3/4 cup Israeli or Mediterranean couscous
1 1/2 chicken stock
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup or 6 oz package feta
1 bag baby spinach about 6 cups

heat oven to 200. Heat 1 TBSP olive oil in 12 inch skillet over med-high heat until barely smoking. Pound chicken until even thickness. Dry chicken with paper towel. Season with salt and pepper, dip in flour and shake off excess. Place in skillet and cook 6-9 mins on each side (depending on how thick your chicken is) until done or instant read thermometer reads 160 to 165. When done place on oven safe plate tent with foil and place in oven to keep warm.

Wipe skillet with paper towel. heat 1 TBSP olive oil over med heat add couscous and toast until golden brown about 2-3 mins. add shallot,1/8 tsp of the red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp lemon zest, and garlic reserving 1/2 tsp for later. Sautee until fragrant, about 1 min. Add chicken stock, bring to light boil and reduce heat to low. simmer until al dente, about 10 mins.

Meanwhile, combine 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp zest, 1/2 tsp garlic, 1/8 tsp red pepper flake

When couscous is done, stir in one large handful of spinach at a time until all is incorporated and cooked down. Stir in remaining of lemon juice, and plate onto two plates. top each plate with the feta and stir in. Place chicken breast on top and drizzle with vinegarette.Serve.

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded

2/3 c. salsa (I used 1 c. maybe more)

1/2 c. green onion sliced

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp crushed oregano

1/2 tsp salt

8 med flour tortillas

1/4 c. melted butter (1/2 stick)

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

*I cooked chicken ahead of time in crockpot so when it came time to make the chimichangas it went really fast. Put frozen chicken in crockpot first thing in the morning w/ 1 c. water and a chicken bouillon cube. Cook on low 7-8 hours then shred.

*Combine shredded chicken, salsa, onion, cumin, oregano and salt in a saucepan and simmer 5-10 min till most of liquid is gone (there's not a lot to begin with).

*Brush one side of a warm tortilla with melted butter. Flip over and fill the opposite side with 1/3 c. chicken mixture down the center, and about 2 TBSP of cheese (or more as desired).

*Fold up ends of tortilla, then lift/roll sides (parallel to chicken mixt) till overlapped. Place seam side down in 9x13 pan. Brush any extra butter on tops of rolled tortillas in pan.

*Bake @ 475 degrees for 13 minutes or till crispy, golden brown.

*Top with guacamole, sour cream, or salsa....or all three if you're indecisive like me!

*Recipe can be doubled and frozen.