These are the basics

Unfortunately this is my life right now:

Only the remote of the TV is missing in this picture! Thank God for a hubby who made me coffee so I would feel better... he's the best!

-sniffle- -sniffle- -sneeze- -sneeze-

More recipes and things to talk about hopefully tomorrow!

© Paloma K.

Lazy weekend and Blueberry Scones

This weekend was just lazy for us... My oldest girl got a little sick and was coughing and sniffling all the time, so I let her pretty much run around with frumpy clothes and socks of her choosing all day long, daddy worked for the first part of the day and when he got home he really wanted to go to the pool but I thought it was better not to risk it and hopefully our girl will be better soon so we can go back to enjoy summer at its fullest! So he took his work clothes off and then just played with the girls and watched "Rescue Heroes" with them (our dd#1 LOVES Rescue Heroes) ... I wish I could "draw" him a shirt here... but thank goodness our 1 yr. old is sitting on his lap so he is not too exposed! LOL!

I later cooked dinner (Meatball Soup and Red Rice... Recipes coming soon!) and made a "walnut/cinnamon bread" that was supposed to be something between a "cake and a tart" I followed a recipe because I had never made something like that... it was very weird and the amount of ingredients made me feel something was "off" but I decided to make it anyway... it came out of the oven looking beautiful and I couldn't wait to try it... well... it was a big disappointment! I should've followed my gut! something was definitely wrong with that recipe... but well... that's how we learn!

So ... to make up for the big disappointment I made some delicious blueberry scones! (I have to use up the rest of my blueberries!!!) and those didn't fail!

Here they are for YOU!

Blueberry Scones

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut in small cubes.
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream plus more for brushing tops
• 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
• raw sugar (or all purpose if you don't have raw) for sprinkling the tops

Preheat oven at 400F. In a big mixing bowl whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, baking powder and salt.

Using a dough cutter or a fork add the cold butter until incorporated and crumbly, don't over mix, it's ok if there are small pieces of butter, don't handle with your hands or the butter will melt. Separately combine the egg and heavy cream and slowly add it to the butter/flour mixture. Combine with a fork or at low speed of an electric mixer using paddle attachment just until it comes together. The dough will look lumpy and that's fine.

Add the blueberries to the dough and fold them into the dough, flour your hands and put all the dough together, forming a bowl, wrap it with saran wrap and put it back in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

Place the dough onto a well-floured surface. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4" thick to form a square. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Make sure the dough doesn't stick to the board surface by moving it around when rolling it.

Cut the square into quarters then cut again into eighths, diagonally, making triangles. Brush the tops of the scones with the extra heavy creme, sprinkle with raw sugar and bake for about 20 minutes or until the tops are evenly golden brown. The scones will be firm to the touch. Serve warm.

Enjoy!

© Paloma K.

If your dad (or hubby) likes chocolate....

Most people are still wondering what they'll give the "fathers" in their lives this Father's Day... So I thought I would post a recipe that... if those "dads" in your life like chocolate... then... this will make the perfect gift!

 

I will share with you an amazing "Fudge Recipe" that will make their special day that much more special... and it's a great way to show your love because it's something YOU MADE!

 
Last year I made this for my hubby on his birthday and he absolutely loved it... I found it as an idea to give on Father's Day on the Martha Stewart "LIVING" magazine and it was really delicious and easy to make:

I'll just share the recipe again:

Chocolate Almond Fudge Bars

Ingredients  (Yield: Makes 3 dozen)

• Vegetable oil cooking spray
• 27 store-bought chocolate wafer cookies (6 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• Table salt
• 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup toasted and sliced almonds (or finely chopped walnuts if you prefer)
• Coarse salt, preferably fleur de sel (I used Kosher Salt)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Spray parchment.
• Pulse wafers in a food processor until finely ground, and transfer to a bowl. Add sugar and a pinch of table salt. Melt 6 tablespoons butter, and stir into crumbs. Press into bottom of dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Heat chocolate, condensed milk, whole milk, remaining 4 tablespoons butter, and a pinch of table salt in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until melted. Stir in vanilla.
•  Pour chocolate mixture over baked cookie layer, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Sprinkle almonds and coarse salt over top, pressing slightly to adhere. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Remove fudge from dish using parchment to lift, and transfer to a cutting board; remove parchment. Trim edges of fudge with a sharp knife, and cut crosswise into six 2-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 equal bars, then cut each bar in half on the diagonal to form 36 triangles.

 You can also be creative with the presentation... The "original presentation" of the gift called for a clear plastic or glass container (4" square by 5" high) decorated with a paper made shirt collar and tie or bow... You can use any box and just add the collar and tie ... if you would like to download the ties and "shirt collars" go here: Martha Stewart Packaging Ideas

I hope you like it... I thought it was very cute!

Enjoy!

 © Paloma King