Valentine's Day Playlist & Quick Cake!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  May love and laughter mark not only today but all your days.
Shout out to both my boys for helping to make a lovely supper on a busy weeknight.  Ryan was my sous chef for the pasta with meat sauce (evoking Lady and the Tramp) and Ethan helped me with this tasty and quick to assemble chocolate cake.

This miracle cake is moist and delicious.
You whisk all the dry ingredients in your baking square,
create a well in the middle (like for homemade pasta),
incorporate the wet ingredients with your whisk,
bake for 35 minutes,
cool, frost and serve in the same dish!

This recipe is an easy vegan treat (no eggs, no dairy), simple enough for beginning bakers and perfect for all of us on a busy night.  Another classic from Mad Hungry, check it out at this link.

I also thought I'd share our playlist for today - made possible by the  'old' tradition of buying CD's rather than downloading singles onto an MP3 player. :).  It was great fun rummaging through the old collection.  What romantic classics are sitting on your shelf of CD's?

Fly Me To The Moon
(sorry for the small pic!)

Slightly, embarrassing that I knew all the words.

Classic - bring on those memories!

No one could sing quite like her.
And this movie was a romance must back in the day!

Tony Bennett is always groovy!

chocolate chip scones

The cold weather this week seeped into my very bones. Craving something warm and slightly sweet to accompany a pot of mint green tea ... scones to the rescue.  Scones are wonderfully simple sweet treats.  I've served them for breakfast, tea & dessert.

They are easy to assemble and by the time your pot of tea is steeped you are in business.  Thanks to my helper, Miss Eva!  Her enthusiasm for tea time is an inspiration!  This recipe begs to be made unique with your favorite ingredients (dried cherries, pecans, pistachios, cranberries, etc.). I'll be making more with my boys and their cousins soon!

(Tried posting the directions a little differently this time!)

warm scones, strawberry jam, butter ... time for tea!

Chocolate Chip Scones
adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients:
2 c flour
3 T sugar
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
5 T butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 c whipping cream
1/2 c mini chocolate chips (optional, can make plain or substitute dried fruit, diced small)


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

 Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl.  Whisk to evenly distribute.

Cut the cold butter into small pieces.

Cut into the dry ingredients.  (You can use knives or a pastry cutter.)
Gently add 3/4 c + 2 T whipping cream and the chocolate chips just until the dry ingredients are wet.

 Put on a cutting board and pat into a 7" disk.  Brush with cream, sprinkle with a small bit of sugar if you like.

Bake for 10-15 minutes.  I rotate mine at the halfway point. Serve with jam, butter, whipping cream ... and if you like, a spot of tea.

after school brownies

5 minutes after baking ... almost gone!

My kids are starving when they come home from school!  Often snacks are crackers, granola bars, nuts, fruit or chips (we love salty snacks!) ... but every so often I like to bake something a little more wholesome. Trial and error gave birth to one of our family staples - after school brownies.

In our quest to make more foods from scratch, I tweaked a few online sources to arrive at a no fuss - no frills recipe.  We make these cake-like brownies several times a month, especially now that Ryan is 'off popcorn' (braces).  From start to finish, these can be ready to feed hungry mouths in about 45 minutes.  Make a batch - so easy!

After-School Brownies
adapted from allrecipes.com, nigella & BC (barefoot contessa)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c flour

1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

2 sticks of butter (1 c)

2 c sugar, I used 1 c white + 1 c brown

1/2 c cocoa powder, I used Hershey's Dark

1 t vanilla extract

4 eggs

Variations: Add chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans) or chips (chocolate, peanut butter, etc.)

Make Ahead Tip: I measure the sugar and other dry ingredients in the morning to save extra time when the kids arrive home from school.

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.  Whisk lightly to combine.

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Add the sugar and cocoa to form a syrup. Add the vanilla and then remove from the heat to let cool a moment.

3. Incorporate the dry ingredients and then the eggs last (to prevent 'scrambling').  

4. Pour into 9 X 13 pan - I use parchment but you could also use a cooking spray to prepare the pan.

5. Bake for 25 minutes.  Let cool.  I cut into small squares when the after school group is large.  Leftovers make great sundaes or school lunch snacks.  

Enjoy!