one of my pots of thyme from last year, and snow
My definition of March: Peckish, Fickle, Feckless, Wavering, Teasing, Impatient, Indecisive, Unsettled, moments of Cranky and Giddy – you know, you’re hungry for something but at the same time you can’t figure out which way to go – advance, retreat – again and again; cold, warm, freeze, thaw, teasing, tensing and impatient………
Today – Baking and Barking:
I’ve been constantly monitoring the state of affairs outside my back door. We have a persistent visitor in the form of a large Fox – which paid us a long-term visit on Friday and returned again today. I’m not so sure how I feel about this visitor – he/she seems very defiant and not the least bit intimidated by me or my fierce dog, Kit! In addition, we have this pesky and persistent white stuff.
our visitor, and snow
the fierce one
To distract me from the lingering snow cover, my day so far has involved the kitchen, the oven and the serendipitous combination of ingredients. Reviews have been very positive!
After the baking (and the barking) session, I’m going to go so far as to buy pansies today and do some planting. Weather forecast be damned (oh so hoping they are wrong about this week).
Here’s my latest creation, which got rave reviews (Note: I don’t pay, coerce or otherwise bribe the reviewers):
THE ORANGE/CHOCOLATE/TOASTED COCONUT SCONE
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tblsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
zest of one navel orange
4 tblsp cold butter, cut into cubes
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 tsp almond extract
1/3 cup buttermilk
3/4 cups chocolate chips
3/4 cups sweetened coconut, toasted and cooled
muscavado sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 375F.
In bowl of food processor, whiz together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and orange zest. Add cubed butter and pulse about 8 times or until butter is suspended in mixture in small pea-sized pieces. Turn mixture out into a low wide bowl. Make a well in center.
In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, orange juice, almond extract and buttermilk. Pour into center. Mix, with a dough-scraper just until dough comes together. Add chocolate chips and toasted coconut (cooled). Spoon onto a baking sheet which has been covered with a sheet of parchment paper. Sprinkle with muscavado sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until browned and dry, firm and dry on top. Yield 8 scones.
Strawberries, and Snow
Well, I’m trying very hard since the sun went behind the clouds to keep my optimism going. More melting is good and I’ll take it. Wishing everyone a good day and prayers for more improving weather!
Eleven Days until the Equinox! 🙂
beautiful, uplifting, saucy and, no snow – at Dean and Deluca Prince and Broadway on Friday
Sunday-Funday – making a fresh herb pot from The Farm at Green Village