Pumpkin Spice Scones

Have I mentioned that I LOVE fall? I'm mean, they're seriously the best flavors in the world to bake with. The colors are fantastic, the smells are delicious. Seriously, what's not to love? And though I "start" fall on September 21st, was the Autumn Equinox-the official start of fall.

So what better way to celebrate than with scones?!!

These pumpkin scones are cakey and fantastic, plus they're finished off with double glaze.

Glazed Pumpkin Scones
Taken from We Heart Food

2 cups flour
7 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
6 Tbsp butter, cold, cut into squares
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
3 Tbsp half and half (I used 2 Tbsp heavy cream and 1 Tbsp milk)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Either by hand, or with a pastry cutter, cut in your pieces of butter into the flour. In a seperate small bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, half and half, and the egg. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix or you'll end up with tough scones. On a floured surface, pat your dough into a circle and cut into 8 pieces. Or you can pat it in a square and cut it into pieces. For simplicity's sake, I patted mine into a 9 x 9 pan and cut it into squares.

Bake your scones for 16-20 minutes (depending on how you shaped them), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow them to cool before making and covering them with the plain glaze, and drizzling with the spiced glaze. Simply mix the glaze ingredients together to create.

Plain Glaze
1 cup+1 Tbsp powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk

Spiced Glaze
1 cup+3 Tbsp powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
a pinch of cloves
a pinch of ginger


I'm also super excited to be participating in the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies event, starting this Friday. For the next 12 Fridays, I'll be showcasing a different cookie recipe for that week. I'm excited, because I'm not much of a cookie maker as of right now, so I'm ready to try new recipes, flavor combinations, and of course, brand new delicious creations!

Softest Chocolate Cookies EVER

Quick, easy, and to the point tonight-Chocolava Cookies! Weird name, I know, but I love it because it's perfect. Crackly outside, with an incredibly gooey, soft chocolate center.

Chocolava Cookies
Recipe from Michelle-Meals

1 1/3 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. cocoa (I prefer dark chocolate powder for these)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick butter, softened
3 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add butter and mix until dough is crumbly. Add the egg whites and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix until the dogh begins to come together.

Roll dough into 1 in. balls and roll them in powdered sugar. Place 2 in. apart on a greased cookie sheet. Don't worry and think 2 in. is two close, these cookies won't spread much.

Bake for 10 minutes, cookies should be set around the edges, but still soft in the center. Let cool, and enjoy!

Cupcake Inspiration

I love cupcakes. Like a lot. I'm in love with cupcakes, if you will. I don't necessarily eat them, I'm not much of a cake/frosting person myself, but I love making them. You can be endlessly creative in your combinations and presentation. Plus, they're just mini, portable, and super cute! Can't beat a combo like that!

For me, there are certain desserts that I love making because you can change flavors and come up with something different everytime. So sometimes I'll see some flavor grouping and start thinking of them in terms of putting them together in a different way. Which is how these cupcakes came about.

As I said before, I love fall. And fall flavors are some of my favorites to back with. Lots of apples, lots of spices, pumpking, sweet potatoes, caramel... Yuummmm. So these cupcakes were inspired by simple caramel apples. I wanted to transfer those flavors into a cupcakes, and I'm really happy with the way they turned out!

This recipe also marks something new for me. I used box mix. I'm almost ashamed to admit it. Almost... But because I took the time to hand make caramel cream, apple cinnamon filling, buttercream, and apple chips, I'm not too worried about it. This simply helped me get the base done quickly and easily, which is something we all love. So I admit it, I didn't completely hand make these.

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Spice Cupcakes
From Kraft
-1 box spice cake mix (don't be ashamed!!)
-3 eggs, room temperature
-1 1/2 sticks butter, room temperature
-1 1/3 cups applesauce-any kind will work, I used cinnamon to go with the spice theme

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Easy peasy. Mix all ingredients, pour into cupcake liners, and bake for 15-18 minutes, being sure to turn the cupcakes half way through, and make sure a toothpick comes out clean when they're done.

See, don't you just LOVE the simplicity of that? I know I do. Box mix recipes definitely won't replace my from-scratch cupcakes from now on, but from time to time, I'll definitely give them a shot.

Apple Cinnamon Three Milks Filling
From Never Bashful with Butter (The most fantastic blog. She really got me interested in more developed baking, and food blogs, as well. Unfortunately she's shut down her site, but since I knew it was coming, before she got rid of everything I managed to save 91 pages worth of recipes from her site! I know, I'm ridiculous. But I'm so glad I did. I refer to things she's done all the time.)

-1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
-scant 1/4 cup evaporated milk
-scant 1/4 cup heavy cream
-2 medium granny smith apples
-1 tsp lemon juice
-1 Tbsp butter
-2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
-1/4 tsp cinnamon
-1/8 tsp allspice

In a small bowl, mix together condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream, and set aside.

Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces. Remember that they're going into the middle of the cupcakes, and try to keep them around the size of your pinky fingernail. Toss them in the lemon juice. Melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan or frying pan. When the butter begins to brown, add the apples. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. If the apples begin to brown before they're soft, turn the heat down a little. Once the apples begin to soften, add the brown sugar, cinnamon and allspice. Slowly add the milk/cream mixture, lower the heat, and cook until the apples are soft and most of the milk has been absorbed.


Caramel Buttercream
From Annie's Eats

-2 sticks butter, room temperature
-3 egg whites, room temperature
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/2 cup caramel sauce

Cut butter into 1 inch pieces, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix sugar and egg whites. Place over a pan of boiling water, stirring constantly (you don't want scrambled eggs, after all!). Heat until egg whites reach 160 degrees on a thermometer. If you don't have a thermometer, simply cook the egg whites until they're warmer than body temperature and the sugar has dissolved-when you rub some between your fingers, you don't feel sugar crystals.

Using a hand or stand mixer, whip the egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. Slowly begin adding butter pieces while still mixing. Don't be afraid if your buttercream begins to look like a hot mess at this point. After adding all the butter, and a few extra minutes of mixing, it'll come together. Trust me! Add the caramel sauce, and mix until combined. Voila-delicious buttercream!

There are just some things I can't wait to get up here in Washington. My cupcake courier, my favorite piping tip, and my stand mixer (be still my heart), are the absolute top of my list. And once I get those again, it'll be no holds barred cupcake time. Not sure where they'll go, though...

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure.

Today, I ran a race.

Ok that's not even a half-truth, that's just a bold faced lie.

Today I did some running. Bits broken up by normal walking.

But it got me thinking, about my relationship with God these last few years. In Hebrews, Paul describes the Christian life as a race. So if that's true, I'm the runner that gave up and sat on the side of the track watching others go by, and telling those around me that I was a runner.

Nobody would accept that person as a runner.

For the last, oh I'd say four years now, I've given up running. Not literally, cause look at me-I was never a runner-runner. But figuratively, I've taken off my running shoes, and giving up all training for the race.

I have a just, loving Father who loved me enough to send His only Son to a terrible death, for me. It's just...unbelievable. I am the worst of all sinners, and still He died for me, that I could be covered by the blood. God, the creator of all, who can't deny my sin, sees me no longer, for I'm washed white as snow. Wow. How can I just ignore a God like that? And yet, I do.

I allow life, and apathy and comfort to get in the way. Everyday I choose selfishness, doing what I desire, over spending time with Him. Talking to Him, reading His word, laying aside myself and following the lead of His still, small voice. I'm so completely undeserving of His gift of life, and I demonstrate that everyday.

But thankfully, for none of us would never be good enough, God made a way for me. He's too good to me.

Honestly I no longer know where I'm going with this. I've spent two days trying to work it out but it keeps becoming a mess of thoughts and prayers. But I love quotes, so I leave you with some.


-Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul was counted free. For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.

-Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.-Hebrews 4:14-16

-Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling.

-Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

-Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. -Psalm 63:3

-I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior. -John Newton

-I don't not work my soul to save, for that work my Lord has done. But I would work as any slave for love of God's own Son.

-Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.

Falltime!

Today is officially the first day of September! Falltime!! For those of you who aren't aware, I'm a tad bit obsessed with Christmas. I start listening to Christmas music in late July/early August. My Christmas decorations are up on the first Saturday in November. Mind you I lived at home with my parents, and had 4 boxes of decorations just for my bedroom! But that just means I'm extra prepared for my first Christmas in an apartment. Luckily I already have a full sized Christmas tree!

However, November technically falls into the spectrum of fall. So in order to find time for fall decoration, fall baking, and fall scents, I officially start the fall season on September 1st. Part of that is my tradition of having pumpkin pancakes for breakfast and making pumpkin bread on September 1st.

It was rather hard to find pumpkin up here though! In Phoenix, the Safeway by my house carried canned pumpkin year round, and in the big sized cans, too. It took me four grocery stores before I was able to find pumpkin. One had only pumpkin pie mix, two had absolutely nothing, and finally the fourth has the small sized cans of "organic" pumpkin. For $2.59 a piece! I felt swindled, but I also didn't feel like driving to another store, since the closest one would be 10 minutes away. No thanks.

The pancakes are quick, and delicious. The don't overpower, and they're so soft and moist. Yummo. I like to make a whole batch, eat a few, and freeze the rest. I place them in plastic bags with squares of wax paper between each. That way I can pull out a couple someday when I'm craving them, and pop them in the toaster for a quick fix!

Pumpkin Pancakes
From Sandra Lee

1 cup pancake mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup pumpkin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger

These are literally the easiest. Simply mix all the ingredients together, then cook like normal pancakes. Done and done!

Now, for those of you like me who have no pancake mix, and are to cheap and hungry to buy any, you can make your own! The Domestic Goddess herself, Nigella Lawson, has an easy recipe for instant pancake mix.

1 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Mix, add pumpkin, spices, and 1 cup milk rather than water. (I used milk instead, since this mixture wasn't for buttermilk pancakes).

Now onto the pumpkin bread! This is Martha's recipe, that I tried randomly a few years ago. I love the strong ginger flavor, it's one of my favorite spices. Somehow over time this recipe evolved into my fall baking standby. It makes two loaves, and you can add a powdered sugar glaze on top, but I choose not to.

Ginger Pumpkin Bread
Martha

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups pumpkin
3 eggs
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour two bread load pans.

Mix together flour, baking powder, ginger and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, mix together remaining ingredients. Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir until combined. Divide the batter between the pans. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool for a few minutes, before removing them from the pans and cooling on a rack. After the loaves are cool you can, 1. add a glaze, 2. add powdered sugar, or 3. dig in. I choose the third option...

On a side note, if your oven timer beeps three times and simply shuts off when it's finished, do not, I repeat, DO NOT watch an episode of Doctor Who with excessive shooting or beeping. You'll simply add the beeps to the show background noise, like adding your alarm clock sound into dreams. Luckily I think I only over cooked it by 2-3 minutes. But still, regrettable...