Saturday, November 20, 2010

Mmmm... More Uses for Pumpkin


This white chocolate pumpkin scone recipe has the great flavor of pumpkin with pockets of white chocolate to accent the taste.

Yield: 16 small scones

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flower
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup chopped white chocolate
1/3 cup buttermilk (or sour milk)
1/2 cup fresh or canned pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoon milk or cream
Sugar crystals or Turbinado sugar for sprinkling the tops of the scones 

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and place rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.
Step 3: Stir in the chopped white chocolate.
Step 4: In a medium bowl mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin puree and vanilla and then add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix the dough.
Step 5:Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and divide dough in half. Pat the dough into a two circles about 6 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut circles into 8 pie-shaped wedges (triangles).
Step 6:Place the scones on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with the milk and sprinkle a little sugar.
Step 7:Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. 


Monday, November 15, 2010

our thankful list

Every night this month we've been asking our kids what they are thankful for.  Thought my friend over here might appreciate this... 

Last night...

Mom: What are you grateful for today?

Boy: Bees

Mom: Why bees?

Boy: Because they make honey.



BTW, we think The Bee Movie should be inducted in some kind of hall of fame. We also love, love, love Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
 


This is one of our favorite scenes.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

School Lunch

One brave  teacher has had it with the food served to Illinois school kids and she has decided to do something about it.

Since the beginning of January 2010, an anonymous teacher has been eating the school lunch every day. On her blog 
Fed Up with School Lunch, she posts a photograph and shares her thoughts on the lunch fare du jour.



Check out her blog today (11/13/10) and see if her open thread question looks familiar ;) Hint: Read my last blog post titled "Spinach Garlic Toast."

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Spinach Garlic Toast

For all of you who are looking for new ideas using spinach. Try this. My kids love it. 
P.S. Only use 1/2 of the garlic...and don't be afraid to cut back on the butter.


True story of the day: My second-grade daughter was a lunch helper at school today. With that she earned a treat. I think it is great that she earned a reward for helping in the lunchroom. It was 2 cookies and a chocolate milk. So guess what she chose to eat for lunch? The "treat" or the home-packed turkey sandwich, cucumbers (which she typically loves), and grapes? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bugged. How would you feel about that situation?


Another P.S. She loves working in the lunchroom. The very act seems to be reward enough.
What do you put in your kid's lunchbox that they love (and is healthy?)

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Leaves

I love when it rains on dried leaves and stains the sidewalk...


I love this vintage camera iphone app that took this photo... Hipstamatic