Sunday, December 8, 2013

Menu Plan Monday Week 49 (2013)

Oh man it's been a while since I got a menu put together and actually posted it!! I've been flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to cooking dinner the past few months.  Mostly because I was tired of my kids not eating much of what I was making and I just didn't want the struggle.  Now, they seem to be coming around (kids do that every once in a while), at least for the time being, so I'm getting organized in the kitchen again.  Let's make this work!!




Dinner Menu Week 49 (2013)
Monday
Taquitos (my girls DIE over these and eat them for every meal until they are gone!!  I've got to get the recipe up soon.)
salad
veggies and dip

Tuesday
Lentil Veggieballs with Lemon Pesto Dipping Sauce
Sweet Kale Salad

Wednesday
Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup
Thai Coconut Rice
sauteed brussels sprouts

Thursday
Caprese Grilled Chicken
Salad
Fruit
baked steak fries

Friday
Christmas Party

Saturday
Leftovers

Sunday
Garlic Naan
Hummus
Minted Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Salad

Monday, December 2, 2013

Cranberry Egg Nog Scones with White Chocolate Glaze


I don't think it is possible for me to EVER get tired of making and eating scones.  After pancakes, it's my next passion.  They are my Saturday morning thing that I look forward to most of the week; that and sleeping in FINALLY!

I bought some egg nog on a whim since it was on sale and I usually can't get enough during the season, so I thought it would be perfect to throw into some scones.  My daughters totally agreed too.  They suggested I add white chocolate chips, I wanted fresh cranberries, so I did cranberries and a white chocolate chip glaze. (I did, however, make a batch for the girls with just white chocolate chips since I knew they wouldn't eat the ones with cranberries.)  The verdict: delish! It just doesn't get much better than this when eating things in season.


Cranberry Egg Nog Scones with White Chocolate Glaze
2 cups whole wheat flour (half whole wheat half white is ok too)
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup sucanat (or other sugar)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
pinch of allspice
6 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into cubes
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 cup egg nog
1/8 tsp. rum extract

for the glaze:
2 oz white chocolate chips
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl fitted with a blade attachment, add the flour, baking powder, salt, sucanat and spices.  Pulse a couple times to blend.  Add butter and whiz until mixture becomes a coarse meal.  Alternately you could use a pastry blender or two knives to cut butter in.

Pour flour mixture into a regular mixing bowl and add cranberries.  Toss to coat.  Add egg nog and rum extract and stir until mixture comes together.  It will be shaggy.  Turn dough onto floured surface.  Fold dough over about 3-4 times and pat out into about 3/4-1-inch thickness.  Use a biscuit cutter to cut out scones.  Place scones on silicone or parchment lined baking sheet.  Pat scraps together gently and cut out the rest of the dough.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden.  Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.  While scones are cooling, make the glaze.

For the white chocolate glaze, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for twenty second increments at 50% power or less, stirring in between.  Add the milk and gently whisk it with the melted chocolate.  Warm in microwave a few seconds, if necessary.  Add powdered sugar and whisk until smooth.  Drizzle on cooled scones.

Scones are best eaten fresh. You can freeze any cut out scones you do not want to bake by placing them on a plate or large tray and putting them in the freezer for a couple of hours. Transfer to an airtight container to store.  When ready to bake, place frozen scones on baking sheet, as above, adding about 5 minutes to bake time.
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