scones revisited

I know, I know- I've already posted about our family's favorite scones.  But since I made a huge batch the other day (some for the freezer!), we have been having scones and tea in the afternoon. 

 It's so cozy!  Especially on a snowy afternoon like today.  

We just snuggle up on the couch with our treat and a few books, cover up with a quilt and we are set.

 Don't have any scones in your freezer ready to heat?  It's ok- it only takes a few minutes to mix the dough and then your house will smell heavenly and warm while they are baking.  My girls like to help my roll out the dough.  Enjoy!

Brynn's Specialty OR Paper Bag Apple Pie

My sister Brynn is an excellent baker.  Her confection of choice?  Pie.  

 She has perfected the crust making, made the fillings the most delicious and bakes them golden brown.  I have her recipes, but I somehow cannot replicate the perfection that she achieves.  Brynn always makes the pies for Thanksgiving and this year was no different.  I enjoyed a slice of each kind, topped with soft whipped cream.  It was Thanksgiving, after all.  Many different pies have been perfected by her- but the apple is always one of my favorites.

 

I happened to have a few apples left from my produce basket last week and decided that a pie was in order.  One pie that I have got down pat is our family's Paper Bag Apple Pie.  A yummage pat-in-the-pan crust, simple apple filling and a crumble topping- then baked in a paper bag!  You really should let it cool before slicing, but I can never wait.  The girls and I cut a generous slice to share with a cold glass of milk.  Hot apple pie on a cold afternoon- could life get any better?

PAPER BAG APPLE PIE

Crust:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 Tbs. milk

Combine: pat into pie plate.

Filling:
5 cups sliced apples
2 Tbs. flour
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together; pour into crust.

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chilled butter

Mix until crumbly; sprinkle over the top.
Place the pie in a brown paper bag and close with paper clips.  I like to put mine on a baking sheet for transferring into the oven.  Bake 1 1/2 hours at 350.

the drip catcher idea OR popsicles

My girls love popsicles.  Any flavor, any shape. 

Our freezer is on the bottom, so from a young age- the girls have been able to open the frosty door and check out all the goodness inside.  I have a shelf devoted to all their chilly treats right inside the door.  A few favorites include frozen grapes, little dollops of yogurt and homemade popsicles.  They sit out on our back deck under the umbrella with red or purple sticky streaks running down their arms.  Then they "wash" in the kiddie pool on the lawn and really soak in what it means to be a kid in the summertime. 

After several stained favorite shirts, they asked for a "drip catcher" solution.  Mine?  Buy pink, yes- they must be pink, paper muffin cups.  Cut a small slit in the bottom.  Slide the popsicle stick in and enjoy a dripless treat!

Oh yes, I occasionally buy the fancy kind of pops from the store.  The one's with shapes or lots of colors, but the girls get such a kick out of helping me make popsicles- I stock up on molds and we let our imaginations run wild!  Here are two of our favorites.

Nutella Fudgesicles

1 1/2 cups chocolate milk
1/2 cup Nutella

1.  Whisk ingredients thoroughly- I use my blender.  Chill for one hour.
2.  Pour  chocolate goodness into popsicle molds, leaving a slight headspace for freezing.  Freeze until solid. 


Mango-Peach Yogurt Pops

2 ripe mangos, chopped
2 ripe peaches, peeled and chopped  (I use my bottled peaches)
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt  (We like greek)
1/2 cup milk

1.  Blend ingredients until smooth in the blender.
2.  Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until solid.