Cooking, and Baking, and Scheming, and Planning...

Because the demands of the holidays are now done, I've a small burst of creative energy. Or, is it that I'm actually procrastinating on doing my chores? Hm-m-m...

Double Devon Creme and homemade Triple Berry Jam.

Cream Scones

joyofbaking.com 

When one is faced with leftover Double Devon Creme, one must bake more scones! These are dried sweet pineapple and toasted pecan. Very, very tasty. A bit more crumbly due to the gluten-free flour, I believe.

While searching my bookmarks for a scone recipe, I came across some Rick Bayless Frontera Grill recipes, and couldn't resist this one for dinner tonight:

Garnished with sour cream, shredded cabbage, and cilantro.
Fold and eat.

Picadillo Tacos

Our favorites. Not gluten-free, however.

And while we're soon going to Colorado, we still have an Interval week to use in early 2015, so we've both spent way too much time reviewing our options. Scheming and planning.

MAKING SCONES

dried blueberry/cranberry scones w/lemon zest and pecans

my other favorite pastry blender - LG

I don't need breakfast most mornings. Maybe because I'm up very early this a.m., by 9:00am I'm hankering for something really, really interesting. I almost default to peanut butter on toast, but then CA discovers that the Skippy Chunky is gone. Both jars empty and in the kitchen wastecan.

I have used a variety of scone recipes, but haven't commited to a basic recipe to add to my cookbook. This might be the one.

BAKING

Finally! Planned to make these savory scones weeks ago. Had all the ingredients on-hand--Jarlsburg cheese, thick-cut bacon, leftover green onions. The little girls helped a bit...

Forgot how much I love a pastry blender. CA is our official family pie crust maker and baker. The scone cutter was already an antique when I purchased it 25 years ago. I have a good collection of tin cutters that one of our little girls will covet someday.

TRAVELING - SWEET MAGNOLIAS OMAHA

Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop

813 N. 40th Street

[40th & Cuming]

Omaha, NE

(402) 934-6427

Don't even think about the scones you've sampled at Starbucks or Caribou...

Sweet Magnolias incorporates so much fresh fruit into their tender and delicate scones--there is no doubt that, as the sign says, "No mixes here."

The flavors vary... I recommend the peach and the blueberry, and am sure that the list goes on and it will take another trip or two to Omaha before I can vouch for additional varieties.

Also, check out another great Omaha pastry shop--Delice...