RECIPE: CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES

Cranberries are not just for the holidays… I love the dried cranberries all year long. While I use the Craisins dried cranberries in this recipe, you can use something else if you prefer but do not use frozen fruit. Fresh cherries and fresh blueberries work very well. Enjoy!

CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES

1 3/4 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter. cut into pieces

6 tablespoons half-and-half

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 teaspoon orange zest (save orange for the glaze)

 

Orange Glaze

1 cup (120g) Confectioners' sugar

2-3 Tablespoons (30-45ml) fresh orange juice


Directions:

Preheat oven to 400ª F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl by hand, blend together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter.

Add the half and half, beaten egg, cranberries, and 1/3 teaspoon orange zest; mix until the dough holds together.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat the dough into a ½” round circle and fold both sides to the middle. Pat it out into a circle and repeat two more times. Use flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking but do not over flour- it will result in dry scones.

Pat the dough out again to a 1/2-inch-thick round. Cut into 8 wedges or use a biscuit cutter and cut into rounds, if you prefer.

Transfer the wedges to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown. When they come out of the oven, brush with a small amount of melted butter and sprinkle with a tiny amount of sugar.

Serve warm with butter, jam, clotted cream, or your favorite fruit compote.

These can also be frozen and baked at a later time.

Recipe: My Mom's Homemade Yeast Rolls

There was rarely a holiday without my mom’s homemade yeast rolls on the table. They were very similar to the lunchroom yeast rolls we had at school- often the only thing many of us would get as we went through the line. I have very few of my mother’s handwritten recipes so this is priceless… and makes me so happy when I smell them baking . I hope you and your family will make this recipe your own- especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

MOM’S HOMEMADE YEAST ROLLS

INGREDIENTS

2 packages dry yeast

2 cups warm water

6 eggs, beaten

1 cup melted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

9 cups all-purpose flour

 

DIRECTIONS

Dissolve the yeast in the water.

In a large glass bowl combine 1 cup butter, sugar, and salt to the beaten eggs.

Add the yeast to the egg mixture.

Make a well in the flour and gradually add the egg mixture to the flour.

Let rise 2 1/2 to 4 hours.

Roll out as desired. My mom cut them out round but dipped them in butter and folded them over as she put them in the pan. If you want them to be taller/ bigger, let them rise again for an hour before you bake them. If you like a more normal size roll, you can bake immediately.

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until golden.