JoAnne's Family Traditions

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Location: Western, New York, United States

I spend most of my free time gardening, reading garden magazines, photographing the garden or baking (mostly sweets, which list chocolate as the main ingredient). I play the guitar and sing in a contemporary choir of which I have been a member for 26 years.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

FAT TUESDAY

Baked "Jo Anne's Fat Tuesday Brownies" this morning for work. Matt smelled them before he left and said what are you baking. I said "Brownies for Fat Tuesday. I'm bringing them to work." He says "what about Fat Tuesday here at home?" What is he trying to say? :) I have baked a mountain of scones. Oh, he doesn't care for scones....to dry. These scones were not dry but he still wouldn't eat them so oh well. Anyway I thought of taking a picture but didn't have time.

Hope you all had a great Fat Tuesday and indulged including the whinny cookie monster Cucumber boy. :-))))

Remember Fat Tuesday means Ash Wednesday to follow. What will you be doing to make this Lent more meaningful to you?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Orchid in Bloom

I say out with winter and in with Spring!!! I purchased this Orchid at the Garden Factory in December. You know, when you are shopping for Christmas gifts and you end up purchasing everything for yourself. :-))). It can't be helped. It is one of the few times I actually shop so....well... I have to get things when I see them right? There are still a few more buds so it is not in full bloom but it will be in just a few days...well perhaps a week.

Of course I am very excited about it since it is my first orchid. I was never really that impressed with them but when I heard they stay in bloom for months I thought it was worth the price for much needed color, hope, signs of spring and witnessing the beginning of a new cycle of life. I love the anticipation of what will be successful this year and what will not? In case I haven't said it previously, I am not a cold weather person. I think the perfect winter should last about 2 months, not get below 25 and have only a few inches of snow. Perhaps I should think of relocating? Anyway I am preparing for spring. I brought up all my potted plants from the basement a few weeks ago. Those are the ones that I stored for the winter in hopes of resurrecting them for the upcoming spring and summer. Some are not doing as well as I hoped and then others are coming along nicely. I occasionally check on my stored bulbs and tubers (Amaryllis, Elephant Ears, Calla's, Dahlia's) to be sure they are not drying out. I am looking forward to moving everything outside and going through the whole growing process once again. Though I have to admit by September I am ready to call it quits. If you think about it, I guess God knew what he was doing giving us the longer winter to rest up for the next year. Isn't that what hibernation is all about? I know it is early, there is still snow on the ground and in the forecast but I wish you all a Happy Spring!!!

Monday, February 09, 2009

Thought for the Day

Come apart into a desert place and rest a little. Mk. 6:31

REFLECTION: Our inner life needs the best; it needs solitude. Indeed, the soul needs times of silence that it may not be overcome by dissipation. In this way it can be recollected in God and be prepared for all the tasks and struggles that lie ahead.

During this time of meditation we communicate with God and learn what He expects of us.

Do I regularly seek this solitude?

PRAYER: Lord, calm my soul so that I may silently listen to and treasure Your word.

From: Minute Meditations for Each Day
by Rev. Bede Naegele, O.C.D.
Copyright 1993

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Elephants and Dogs

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Dried Cherry Almond Scones


Dried Cherry Almond Scones

From: Ann Burrell's cooking show

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
Zest of 1 lemon
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
1/2 cup heavy cream
Turbinado sugar, for garnishing (also sold as Sugar in the Raw)

Honey Butter
8 oz. heavy cream
2 Tbls. honey
Zest of 1 orange

Whisk all ingredients on high speed until the cream starts to clump and turn light yellow. Continue mixing as butter forms and the buttermilk begins to separate out. Scrape sides and continue mixing until mixture is one lump of butter. Place butter into a clean container or serving dish and store in refrigerator until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, salt and cinnamon, cut butter into dry ingredients with fork or wire whisk. Add in the cherries, almonds and heavy cream, mix until the dough comes together -- do not over mix.

Form the dough into a 1-inch thick disk. Cut into 8 wedges. Transfer the wedges to a parchment-lined sheet pan. Space them several inches apart -- they will spread! Bake in the preheated oven for 17 to 18 minutes, turning the pan halfway through. Serve warm with Honey Butter.

I am going to try substituting 1/2 cup Whole Wheat flour or Oat flour for some of the white flour. I'd like to make them a little more...healthy. Is that possible? :)

The scones in the picture are much smaller than these directions that is because I felt they were too large and of course if you take one you feel the need to eat the whole thing. It is the way we were raised. So what do I do? Make them smaller and then eat more :). Yeah, I know, it doesn't make any sense . . . whatever! Oh yeah and I also found that I needed to bake them for about 20-22 minutes. Guess ovens vary so keep an eye on them when you get to 18 minutes.

I did not use the Turbinado sugar since I don't know what it is. I just brushed the scones with milk and then sprinkled them with granulated sugar. Now, as far as the recipe goes for the butter, I didn't have much luck with the whipping cream turning to butter but I'm told it may not have worked because I used ultra pasteurized heavy cream. My Honey Butter separated. Even after whisking for more than 10 minutes in my Kitchen Aid it did not become one lump of butter as she says it will in her directions. However, the taste was wonderful and very complimentary to these scones. So I would suggest trying the recipe but don't buy the ultra pasteurized heavy cream. Oh yeah, and cover your bowl with plastic wrap while whipping because that cream is going to splash all over if you don't. If you don't want to experiment with Ann Burrell's Honey Butter, try making your own butter by adding honey, orange zest and some confectioners sugar to real butter. Just mix until it is creamy.

I also tried this recipe with chocolate chips (of course) in place of the cherries. I eliminated the lemon zest and added 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. They came out pretty good but next time I will also eliminate the cinnamon. I don't care for the cinnamon/chocolate combination for some reason. I knew this prior to making these but kept the cinnamon in....I don't know why but I did.