Recipe Friday Dec. 23, 2011 Maple Oat Scones

This recipe is one of our favorites! But it is really special to my little sis Michelle!!!

INA'S MAPLE SCONES
Makes 14

These are a perennial favorite at Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa, a specialty-food market on Long Island, New York. The scones can be cut out ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic, for up to two days; bake just before serving.


FOR THE SCONES

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup quick-cooking oats, such as McCann's quick-cooking Irish oatmeal, plus more for sprinkling (optional)

2 tablespoons baking powder

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 pound (4 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (important)

1/2 cup cold buttermilk

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten

1 extra-large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk or water, for egg wash

FOR THE GLAZE

1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 400° with rack in center. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, oats, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Blend butter in at the lowest speed, and mix until butter is in pea-size pieces. In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, maple syrup, and 4 eggs; mix to combine. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough may be sticky.

2. Place dough on a well-floured surface. Roll dough out to a 3/4- to 1-inch thickness with a well-floured rolling pin (there will be lumps of butter in dough). Cut into 3-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Brush tops of scones with egg wash. Bake until tops are crisp and insides are done, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove baking sheet to wire rack to cool for 5 minutes.

4. Make the glaze: Combine confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Drizzle each cooled scone with 1 tablespoon glaze (the warmer the scones are when glazed, the thinner the glaze will be). Sprinkle with uncooked oats, if desired, and serve.

Recipe Friday: S'Mores Bars

Made this recipe for my family last year. I've got enough to do it again x 5. I have 4 sisters and a sister in law I take these to..........Here's the recipe:

S'More Bars

2 1/4 C. crushed graham crackers,
2 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup Karo® Light Corn Syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter OR margarine
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
6 (1.55 ounces each) milk chocolate candy bars
1 package (10 ounces) mini marshmallows
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Combine crackers with cereal in a large mixing bowl; set aside.


2. Cook corn syrup and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a boil just around edges. Remove from heat; stir in butter, baking soda and vanilla. (OR in a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl, microwave on HIGH (100%) for about 2 minutes or until syrup boils.)


3. Pour syrup over cereal mixture and stir to coat completely. Transfer to a greased 13 x 9-inch pan; press firmly to level. Place chocolate bars in a single layer over cereal mixture; sprinkle with marshmallows.


4. Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until marshmallows are puffed and lightly browned. Remove from oven and top with mini chocolate chips.


5. Refrigerate for 1 hour until firm; cut into squares. Store in tightly closed container for up to 2 days.

Recipe Friday: Martha Stewart Peanut Brittle

Martha Stewart Peanut Brittle


List of Ingredients

3 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
4 1/2 cups salted, fresh roasted peanuts (about 1 pound, 7 ounces), skinned
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Recipe
1. Coat two 12-by-17-inch baking sheets with vegetable spray.

2. In a heavy 5-quart saucepan with lid, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water. Cover pot, and bring to a boil over high heat, about 5 minutes. Dissolve sugar by carefully swirling pot often over burner. Keeping lid on will prevent sugar crystals from forming; however, should crystals form, wash down sides of pot with a wet pastry brush.

3. Once steam just begins to escape from pot, remove cover and reduce heat to medium. Insert candy thermometer, and continue to boil until temperature reaches 230° (thread stage), about 1 minute.

4. Add peanuts, stirring constantly with a metal spoon until mixture reaches 300° (hard crack stage) and is a rich golden brown, 13 to 18 minutes.

5. Immediately remove from heat, and quickly add butter, vanilla, and baking soda. Stir with a metal spoon until butter melts; mixture will become foamy. Pour half of mixture down center of each pan, spreading evenly with a spatula. Allow to cool for at least 1 hour.

6. Turn brittle out of pan, and snap it into shards. Store in an airtight container for several weeks.


This is to die for..................I make it every year.

Little Drummer Boy: AWESOME

Oldies Kay Starr "Rock N Roll Waltz"