Scones

I haven't made scones in a long time. I saw some Double Cream at the grocery store and grabbed some, thinking it was a great time to make scones. I have been running around and so busy trying to stay afloat that I just haven't slowed down to enjoy simple things. Always in motion, trying to get the next thing done on my list. It's s simple but these scones gave me a breather. Making them. Enjoying them with a cup of tea, in an actual teacup, with a book. Simple. None of that will negate all I have on my plate right now, but it gave me a good respite. 

Non-Dairy Creamer, Paleo Coffee Frappe

Non-Dairy Creamer that is Whole30 and Paleo compliant.

If you've been following my Instagram (@peasknees), you know that I recently finished my first round of Whole30. I had a whole month where I didn't drink any coffee. I drank tea twice with this "creamer" like this, and the rest of the time I drank my tea plain. I have to say I really missed my cups of tea in the afternoon with half and half and sweetener - which is normally one dehydrated Stevia leaf. I still miss sweetener but I found something I really enjoy in both coffee and tea. Cold or hot.  This doesn't taste dairy half and half. But it makes drinks creamy and adds flavor. It's really good.

Coconut Pandan Popovers

Coconut Pandan Popovers

I know, I'm on a Pandan kick lately. I can't help it, it's like the vanilla of Southeast Asia. These popovers are so yummy and the custard like center is so yum.  They are a fusion of Southeast Asian flavors and the American Popover which is almost like a Yorkshire pudding. It's a perfect fusion of flavors, texture, and culture.
We like these Coconut Pandan Popovers plain, drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, or with butter- plain, strawberry, or honey. I've made them for breakfast, brunch, a snack, to have with tea. I'm not even sure when people eat sweet popovers. We have no rules here apparently. I hope you'll try these though. They are so good

Butter Croissants

I use a combination of recipes and techniques from America's Test Kitchen and King Arthur Flour sites to make my croissants. It's a long processes but it's actually methodical and relaxing in many ways. You can find the recipes online. Here are some pictures of the process to show what I do.

Coconut Pandan Waffles

Coconut Pandan Waffles are found in several Southeast Asian cuisines. They are eaten plain and aren't really a breakfast food but more as a snack or dessert. They are very easy to make. I am the only one in my family who likes the shredded coconut in them, which is traditional and how I've had them. It's not a big deal though, I just make plain ones and stir in coconut for the last couple of waffles.

Masala Chai

Masala Chai is one of my oldest child's favorite teas, it's also one of my favorites. In the Fall and Winter we'll make some in the cool mornings. I put some in a travel mug for her to take to school. This can easily be done on the stove top or in the pressure cooker. I started doing it in the pressure cooker because on the stove top it can boil over so you have to baby sit it a little bit more. Making sure you don't let the bottom scorch is another thing to watch for using the stove top method. But both methods yield a flavorful spiced Masala Chai, both easy enough for my child to do on her own. Granted the boiling over was an issue the first few times. But she got better at it as the school year passed.

Instant Pot Cheesecake

 Topped with Lemon Curd, this Cheesecake is AMAZING.

Cheesecake? In a pressure cooker? No way! I thought the same thing, but it really does make sense. Wet environment so it doesn't crack or get dried out. I recently joined the Instant Pot Community page on Facebook, it's the official Instant Pot page. There are some amazingly talented and helpful people on there. All the pictures of food are very inspiring. However, like I said, I wasn't sure about cheesecake. I like mine dense. With a little browned/dry heat crust on the top. I still wanted to try this method though. For one it takes about 40 minutes to cook instead of an hour+ in the oven. So I gave it a go. If you have ever made a cheesecake off of this blog before, you'll recognize this recipe. With a few changes, but go with what you know right? The biggest change is of course the cooking method. Also how cute a little 7 inch cheesecake looks. I mean really. It's just cute. 

You need to do some planning ahead to make this cheesecake. It doesn't take long to put it together or cook it, but the cooling time is essential to help it set and for the flavors to develop. I won't judge you if you decide to just scoop it out with a spoon but it may be jiggly and runny. But it's cheesecake, all cheesecakes need to cool completely. 

Blind bake for a nice crust that isn't soggy.

Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies

How beautiful are these Lemon Blueberry Oatmeal cookies? Studded with plump blueberries and drizzled with a lemon glaze that give them just the right amount of sweet and tart. These cookies are soft and chewy, perfect with a cup of tea or for a sweet treat after a meal. I use frozen berries that we picked, but you can buy store bought berries. These cookies travel well and are the perfect reminder that spring and summer will soon be here.
Get your kids in the kitchen this is a recipe that they can either help with or do all on their own. I hope you all are having a wonderful week and as always, thank you for reading this little blog.

Pumpkin Roll

Yum yum. I used the Libby's pumpkin roll recipe for this. I changed a few things around. I used my Pumpkin Pie Spice mixture. I used more cream cheese in the filling, and added a pinch of Pumpkin Pie Spice. I also added more vanilla to the batter. I may type up my changes later, but for now, find the recipe here on the Libby site.

Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze

There's something about light fluffy scones. A hot cup of tea. These scones have a wonderful pumpkin flavor and the ginger chips add a nice warmth. We love us some crystallized ginger around here. If you don't like maple, a white chocolate drizzle would be good also.
These freeze well, wrap them up good individually. Bring to room temperature and warm in a toaster oven or microwave if you have one for a short period of time.

Strawberry Popovers

Welcome to Manic Monday on Give Peas A Chance!
These are Strawberry Popovers, you can find the recipe for Popovers with Strawberry Honey Butter HERE.

The only thing I did different with these Popovers is that I added a couple slices of strawberries on top of the batter before baking.

Do you like Popovers? They are so very easy to make, perfect for savory dishes like roast beef, or a sweet treat.

Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

 

Popovers with Strawberry Honey Butter

Yummy. Really yummy. Strawberries are coming in season too, so you must try these! Perhaps tomorrow for Mother's Day?
I based this popover recipe on the Dutch Baby we like so much. I used to make these in a muffin tin, same with my Yorkshire Pudding. Then I went to Zulily one day and Chicago Metallic was on there, so I got this little pan. But if you don't have a pan just use a muffin tin.

GPAC Churro Waffles

 Churro Waffles, you've seen these before- especially if you've been on Pinterest. These aren't anything "new", but when I saw them I had to try to make them. For a person who doesn't really like sweets, these are so good. Oh my. So good. You can eat a stack of these, but one is perfect. With a hot cup of coffee. Or for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

These waffles, are crisp on the outside, and they have that chewy bite that Churros have in the middle. I first made these waffles with a standard waffle batter- except I used ghee in place of the oil or butter, added almond extract, and cinnamon to the batter- AH-mazing. But they still lacked that chewy bite in the middle. So I reworked the batter and used some tapioca flour (starch), which is perfect for texture. You can see a picture of the tapioca starch packaging HERE, we use it to make rice noodles. It's cheapest if you go to an Asian market to buy it. Diva and I both prefer Almond extract in this waffle, if you want vanilla instead, use it!
That all being said- use your favorite waffle batter if you don't want to go out and get another ingredient.
I have a Belgian waffle maker, I may have mentioned before I like classic or home style waffles better, but this might be one time that the nice big Belgian style waffle maker is better.

Manic Monday- Bunny Rolls

I made these rolls in 2011, these pictures are off my phone. I can't find the ones I took on my camera at home at all. So sad. Sigh. Anyway, basic rolls, snipped with scissors after the second rise. Easy peasy.

Simple  snips for the ears.

This one looks like a gerbil or one that's sticking out his tongue! They look like bulls. Or bunnies with perky ears :P  .So next time I'm going to make unicorns and narwhals.But if you do this, after you snip the ears you can shape them with wet fingers and push them down a little so they lay flat also.Here are some more ideas for celebrating Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection Cookies

Empty Tomb Rolls

Tea Dyed Eggs (You can use food coloring or beet juice also)

Free Easter Printables

Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt

Don't forget the Bunny Rolls
Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Cake

Okay, so I realize that my picture taking (lack of) skills are sad. You already know that, we're cool with that. Well, enter my photo shop collage making skills. I am not cut out for all this fancy stuff, I used a tutorial online. So... don't laugh okay? Just enjoy the goodness that is this amazing cake. And amazing it was. Cheesecake cakes aren't new, they are all over Pinterest, there's a gorgeous white cake one with crushed candy cane's that is just so pretty. I've seen Red Velvet ones that make me swoon, the Red Velvet one at The Cheesecake Factory is one of my favorites. My girls wanted Ande's mints though, so I went with that. This is very simple, I promise. If I can do it, you can do it. I am not a great baker. Nor can I frost cakes if you look closely you can see that.

For the frosting I only had enough whipped cream to cover the top. So sad, but I stabilized it and put it on the top. I used a regular chocolate frosting for the sides of the cake. 

 Use your favorite Chocolate cake recipe for this. You can bake the layers and put them in the freezer as you go.

Buttermilk Cinnamon Chip Scones

This basic scone recipe that I use as a base for most all of my scones is SO FORGIVING. Diva and I made two variations Orange Caramel and these Buttermilk Cinnamon Chip Scones. I forgot the egg in BOTH batches. I also forgot the butter in this batch of Cinnamon Chip Scones, so I had to stir it in at the end before adding the cinnamon chips. The scones still came out so light, tender, and fluffy. I think I like the Buttermilk better than the heavy cream version *gasp*.
This is such a good scone, you can find cinnamon baking chips in the baking aisle of most grocery stores.

American Girl Bistro/Tea (Tysons Corner/DC)

When my brother and parents were in town for Thanksgiving, as an early Christmas celebration we took the girls to tea at the American Girl Bistro. They were so very excited, we got them out of school early. We also let them open some Christmas gifts from Uncle J. (I let them open all their gifts from him while he was here to see them.) Uncle J spoiled them! The girls were so surprised to see their gifts. Diva got Marie-Grace, Piglet got Bitty Twins and Pixie got a Bitty Baby. He also got them tons of accessories, clothing, books, it was a mini American Girl store in my living room.

GPAC Birthday Scones

I made these scones for MIL's (I call her mom, but anyway) birthday tea. It was so fun! (Scroll down for more pictures.) Sister in law and I made/set out

Chicken salad sandwiches

Cucumber Ranch sandwiches with sprouts- also posted here, from DD's birthday tea

Deviled Eggs- I just made them with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, mustard powder and paprika

Kale Chips

Cherry Orange Scones- recipe follow, with Lemon curd

Easy Peasy Stuffed Peppers

Kiwi and tangerines

Bleu cheese, prosciutto slices, Everything crackers

Olives and pickles

We bought some Palimers, cheese cake with blueberry crumble topping, German chocolate cake, rum balls, chocolate chip cookies, eclairs and these amazing buttery shortbread with raspberry preserves.

We sipped an amazing Chocolate Mint tea- YUM.

More scone recipes
Vanilla bean Scones

Birthday Scones

Simple Scones

Scheduled to be blogged-
Orange Caramel Scones
Cinnamon Chip Scones

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

This is why I'm not a baker. Thank God this recipe was so very forgiving. I just found where I put my notes for this. One of my flaws is that I cook and write at the same time. I don't write a title, I write ingredients and measurements. It gets confusing all my scrap papers.  I did blog the Tang Zhong starter.  I used a recipe much like this recipe as a base, but I was tired and it all went down hill from there. Put everything... and I mean everything *groan* in the bread machine on the dough cycle then I shaped the dough after. The reason I groan is because I remember it was so late at night and I was tired. I put everything in the bread machine then read that the butter was supposed to be brushed on top. I also over poured into my bowl on the scale a few times. I was crazy tired.

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

2 eggs 95 grams

59 gm whipping cream ¼ cup

59 gm whole milk ¼ cup

80 gm Tang Zhong Starter

540 gr AP flour 4 ¼ cup ish

4 gm salt 1 tsp

13 gm milk powder 13 tsp

11gm yeast 4 tsp
 51 gm soft butter 2 1/2ish tbs

Throw it all in the bread maker. Select dough cycle.

See, it rose beautifully!

Shape.

Let rise for 30 minutes. Brush with butter.

Baked at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Tap the top to see if it sounds done. I don't know how I know, it just is. (Hallow sounding.) Which is shocking since it's baking and I'm not a great baker.

Vanilla Bean Bread with Tang Zhong Starter

2 eggs 95 grams

59 gm whipping cream ¼ cup

59 gm whole milk ¼ cup

80 gm Tang Zhong Starter

540 gr AP flour 4 ¼ cup ish

4 gm salt 1 tsp

13 gm milk powder 13 tsp

11gm yeast 4 tsp
 51 gm soft butter 2 1/2ish tbs

Throw it all in the bread maker. Select dough cycle.

Shape.

Let rise for 30 minutes.
Brush with butter.

Baked at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Tap the top to see if it sounds done. I don't know how I know, it just is. (Hallow sounding.) Which is shocking since it's baking and I'm not a great baker.

Love Abounds- Sip Your Bliss Teas

Chocolate season is over at Love Abounds. I will be taking most of the summer off as I did last year. I will have some items stocked on Etsy still. Spices, Specialty Sugars, Finishing Salts and Sip Your Bliss Teas. At least until I run out for the season.

I love tea and there are certain flavors I  love so I thought I would set out to recreate some favorites.

Above is a Coconut Chai, coconut infused black tea, whole spices such as cardamom, all spice and lemongrass and toasted coconut. It's AMAZING with Coconut Cream Specialty Sugar and a little milk.