Sunday, October 16, 2011

Harvest Pumpkin Scones ~ Fall Comfort

With summer behind us, Fall begins with all it’s glorious down-to-earth colors,
cooler temperatures and hearty foods.
Scones are one of my favorite quick breads. The addition of pumpkin in the
Harvest Pumpkin Scones recipe (by King Arthur Flour)
lends to a denser texture. Since I love anything with pumpkin, I looked forward to baking these.
Best of all, scones are quick and simple to make.
I stopped by Terhane Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey to take photos of pumpkins and buy macintosh apples. Visited several farmers markets this summer of which Terhane Orchards was a vendor. I plan on visiting farms more often. There is nothing better than buying local produce. Stop by your local farms, you’ll love it…and your farmers will love it too!

Terhane Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609.924.2310
Email: mailto:info@terhuneorchards.com

You can also find Terhune Orchards at the following farmers markets:

As a tribute to Steve Jobs, I took a macintosh apple, which I bought at Terhune Orchards,
 photographed it and added Steve Jobs’ seven success principles
on the photo using photoshop. I used a black background symbolizing death.

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was Apple’s Visionary.
Mr. Jobs died Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.


I’d like to share a few links from other bloggers who have made the
Harvest Pumpkin Scones by King Arthur Flour.



Harvest Pumpkin Scones
By P J Hamel of King Arthur Flour
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen


Hands-on time: 15 to 20 minutes
Baking time: 22 to 25 minutes
Yield: 12 scones

INGREDIENTS:
2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 cup cold butter
1 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 large eggs
½ cup chopped pecans

MILK WASH:
Milk

TOPPING:
¼ cup sugar
½  teaspoon cinnamon
½  teaspoon pumpkin spice
¼ cup roasted chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1.      Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.
2.      Add the butter and mix until the mixture is unevenly crumbly. Some larger chunks of unincorporated butter can remain.
3.      Stir in the chocolate chips.
4.      Stir in chopped (roasted) pecans.
5.      Whisk the pumpkin and eggs till smooth in a separate mixing bowl.
6.      Add the pumpkin/egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until all is moistened and holds together. DO NOT OVERMIX.
7.      Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8.      Scrape the dough onto the parchment and divide it in half.
9.      Round each half into a 6" circles. The circles should be about 3/4" thick. Slice each circle into 6 wedges. (Use a knife or bench knife that you've run under cold water)
10.  Brush each circle with milk.
11.  Sprinkle scones with topping mixture: cinnamon, sugar, pumpkin spice and chopped pecans.
12.  Place wedges on a parchment lined baking pan. (about 1/2" space between them)
13.  Place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered, for best texture and highest rise
14.  Preheat the oven to 425°F.
15.  Bake the scones for 22 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean, with no wet crumbs.
16.  Remove scones from the oven.
17.  Serve warm.
18.  Wrap leftovers airtight, and store at room temperature.
19.  Reheat very briefly in the microwave, if desired.

Yield: 12 scones.

STORING LEFTOVER PUMPKIN:
Scoop pumpkin into a small container or plastic baggie and freeze.

MY BAKING NOTES:
I use pumpkin spice instead of ground ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
I always roast nuts before using in a recipe.
I added roasted chopped pecans to batter.
Topping was a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and chopped pecans.

 

Recipe Photo Tutorial by baking is my zen

Harvest Pumpkin Scones
By P J Hamel of King Arthur Flour
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen


DIRECTIONS:

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.

Add the butter and mix until the mixture is unevenly crumbly.
Some larger chunks of unincorporated butter can remain.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Stir in chopped (roasted) pecans.

Whisk the pumpkin and eggs till smooth in a separate mixing bowl.

Add the pumpkin/egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until all is moistened and holds together. DO NOT OVERMIX.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Scrape the dough onto the parchment and divide it in half.

Round each half into a 6" circles. The circles should be about 3/4" thick. Slice each circle into 6 wedges. (Use a knife or bench knife that you've run under cold water)

Brush each circle with milk.

Sprinkle scones with topping mixture: cinnamon, sugar, pumpkin spice and chopped pecans.

Place wedges on a parchment lined baking pan. (about 1/2" space between them)

Place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered, for best texture and highest rise.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Bake the scones for 22 to 25 minutes,
or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center
of one comes out clean, with no wet crumbs.
Remove scones from the oven.

Serve warm.

Wrap leftovers airtight, and store at room temperature.
Reheat very briefly in the microwave, if desired.

Yield: 12 scones.

STORING LEFTOVER PUMPKIN:
Scoop pumpkin into a small container or plastic baggie and freeze.

MY BAKING NOTES:
I use pumpkin spice instead of ground ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
I always roast nuts before using in a recipe. This, however, is optional.
I added roasted chopped pecans to batter.
Topping was a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and chopped pecans.

The melted chocolate chips combined with the pumpkin flavor make for a great combination.
Great recipe!


Peace in baking,

Carmen
Baking is my Zen…sweet nibbles for the soul



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Egg-in-a-Hole ~ Not Just For Breakfast


Have you ever had an Egg-in-a-Hole? This was my first time trying this and it was fabulous.

Mind you, it’s only an egg and bread.
I know. You know. We all know. (SMILE).
But, it’s the way it’s presented on a plate that makes it so special.
It’s actually pretty to look at!

I post baking recipes on my blog. Once in a while, I go “maverick” and do something different. You can bake your own bread. But, I won’t be posting about bread baking yet. So, I’ve done the next best thing. I bought the bread from the supermarket.

I first learned of this dish from a new Food Network show called “The Pioneer Woman” by Ree Drummond. The show is very casual, down to earth…just like Ree. She shares her stories about her family as well as her recipes.
(Photo from Foodnetwork website)
“Ree Drummond is a writer, photographer, ranch wife and mother of four. Her blog, ThePioneerWoman.com, attracts more than 20 million page views per month and was named Weblog of the Year at the 2011, 2010 and 2009 Bloggie Awards. Ree is also the author of the #1 best-selling cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl and the 2011 memoir Black Heels to Tractor Wheels — A Love Story, which debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Sellers list for nonfiction hardcover. Ree’s children’s picture book, Charlie the Ranch Dog, which chronicles the adventures of her much-beloved basset hound, also premiered at #1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Drummond has appeared on numerous national talk shows including Good Morning America, TODAY, The View and Fox & Friends.”

Who says eggs are just for breakfast? You can make this for dinner accompanied with a salad. Simple, fast and delish!

Here is Ree Drummond’s recipe followed by my slightly adapted version with a photo tutorial.

Egg-in-a-Hole

Prep Time: 3 min
Inactive Prep Time: --
Cook Time: 2 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 1 egg-in-the-hole

Ingredients:
1 slice of your favorite kind of bread
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1.      With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread.
2.      Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt in the butter.
3.      When the butter is all spread out, place the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of the hole.
4.      Cook until the egg sets a bit on the bottom, 30 to 45 seconds.
5.      Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper.
6.      After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side.
7.      Move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the glorious butter.
8.      Let it cook until the yolk feels soft.
9.      Here's the key: golden brown toast, white (not brown/burned) whites, soft unbroken yolk.
10.  Perfect.


RECIPE PHOTO TUTORIAL

EGG-IN-A-HOLE
Adapted by Carmen Ortiz of Baking is my Zen


1 Use a cookie cutter or rim of glass to cut out a circle.

2 Press cutter down to make a hole in center of bread slice.

3 Place bread slice and round in hot buttered pan.

4 Sauté bread slice & round in butter on medium-low heat.
Remove bread ‘round’ from pan.

5 Use one egg.

6 Crack egg into center of hole.
Season with salt & pepper.

7 Turn bread & egg over with a spatula.   
(Sauté other side of bread round).

8 Place egg & bread on a plate.

9 Cut into runny egg yolk. Enjoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As you may know, I sing and play guitar. I used to sing and play guitar for wedding ceremonies and for church services for many years. As a result of being surrounded by spiritual music, I’m glad to have found STAR 99.1 FM, a radio station that plays contemporary Christian music.

You can follow Star 99.1 FM on Facebook or Twitter.

Johnny Stone is the Program Director for STAR 99.1FM.
I took this photo of him while he was in Chester, NJ in 2010.


While listening to STAR 99.1 FM the other day, I heard this song called

I loved it. If you like Christian music, you may like this one.
I like that Jaime plays guitar in the video.


HOLD ME
by jamie grace featuring tobymac

INTRO:
[TobyMac:]
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me) x 3
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way Ya, the way Ya)

VERSE 1:
I’ve had a long day, I just wanna relax
Don’t have time for my friends, no time to chit-chat
Problems at my job, wonderin’ what to do
I know I should be working but I’m thinking of You and
Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down
That’s when Your smile comes around

CHORUS:
Oh, I love the way You hold me, by my side You’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love the way You hold me, in Your arms I’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can’t imagine even loving You less
Lord, I love the way You hold me
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh,
Oh whoa, I love the way You hold me
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh
[TobyMac]:
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me) x 3
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way Ya)

VERSE 2:
Well Ya, took my day and You flipped it around
Calmed the tidal wave and put my feet on the ground
Forever in my heart, always on my mind
It’s crazy how I think about You all of the time
And just when I think I’m ’bout to figure You out (figure You out)
You make me wanna sing and shout

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE:
I’m so grateful and thankful for all You’ve done
Wish I could tell You in a short story or poem
But, all I have is my voice and this guitar
And You have my heart
CHORUS 2:
Oh, I love the way You hold me, by my side You’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love the way You hold me, in Your arms I’ll always be
You take each and every day, every day, every day
Oh, I love the way You hold me, by my side You’ll always be
You make each and every day, oh-so-special
I love the way You hold me, in Your arms I’ll always be
You take each and every day, make it special in some way
I love You more than the words in my brain can express
I can’t imagine even loving You less
Lord, I love the way You hold me

Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh whoa, I love the way You hold me
Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh I love
[TobyMac:]
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me) x 3
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way Ya, the way Ya)

OUTRO:
[TobyMac:]
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me) x 2
(I love, I love, I love, I love the way You hold me, hold me, hold me)

Peace & Love,
Carmen
Baking is my Zen…sweet nibbles for the soul


DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT PERMISSION

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY (UNLESS INDICATED) IN THIS BLOG BELONGS TO CARMEN ORTIZ OF BAKING IS MY ZEN.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

Thank You.

~ Carmen Ortiz - blogger (Baking is my Zen)