Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles

September 19, 2014 by 34 Comments

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

Haaaaaapppppppppyyyy Friday!

In celebration of being on the verge of one of these glorious things called the weekend, I bring you waffles. Whole wheat and oat cinnamon rhubarb waffles to be exact. I can’t lie. I’ve become a bit waffle-obsessed. I can’t stop thinking about all of the waffle possibilities. Of course we have sweet waffles. We also have savoury waffles. But then we have waffle sandwiches. Waffle donuts. And I bet waffle nachos could totally be a thing.

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

Today we’re keeping it pretty simple. We’ve got whole wheat flour and oats for some hearty oomph. The rhubarb adds a little tartness (PS. You could totally sub in apples for the rhubarb). And there’s cinnamon and brown sugar for flavour. Think: rhubarb crisp in waffle form. And if you want to go all out, you can top the waffles with butter and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar. Boom. If that doesn’t start your day off right, I don’t know what will.

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

It’s the weekend, friends! Enjoy, relax, live it up, treat yo’ self, and eat some waffles. In that order.

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles (adapted from Taste of Home)

These hearty waffles taste delicious with butter and cinnamon sugar (simply combine 1/4 cup sugar with 2 tsp. cinnamon), or fruit and syrup. If you can’t get your hands on any rhubarb or if it’s not your thing, feel free to use apples instead. Makes 6 waffles. 

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

3 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2 cups milk

4 TBSP. butter, melted

2 TBSP. brown sugar

1 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped

In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and brown sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, along with the chopped rhubarb. Mix until just combined. Cook according to the instructions of your waffle maker. Refrigerate or freeze leftover waffles, and reheat either in the toaster or the oven.

Whole Wheat & Oat Cinnamon Rhubarb Waffles | Once Upon a Recipe

Filed Under: Breakfast Tagged With: , , , , ,

Whole Wheat Pumpkin and Cinnamon Chip Scones

October 21, 2013 by 40 Comments

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

Please be warned: I am about to shove at least a couple of pumpkin recipes in your face in the coming weeks.

‘Tis the season! Fall is in full bloom, yo! The colors, the crisp days, the pumpkin beer, the boots, the scarves, the pumpkin everything, even that dank, disgusting, wet leaves smell – I. Love. It. If only it could last forever. All in favor of replacing Winter with an extra-lengthy Fall, say I.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe   Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

So, if you’re not too sick of pumpkin yet (and I really hope you aren’t), let’s bake some pumpkin scones! Truth be told, I have never partaken in the delight that is a Starbucks pumpkin scone. Every year, many peoples be freaking out about the arrival of pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin scones. But I can guarantee that you can make a far more delicious version of both at home.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

Let’s start with the scones! We’re going to add a little health with some whole wheat flour, and we’re going to punch up the flavor with a hefty dose of spice and cinnamon chips. A generous sprinkling of raw cane sugar adds a lovely crunch to the tops of these scones. One of these little diddies alongside a cup of coffee or tea and you’re living the good Fall life!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

Whole Wheat Pumpkin and Cinnamon Chip Scones (adapted from King Arthur Flour)

Cinnamon chips can be found in most US grocery stores. Sadly, I have never found them in Canada (at least in Alberta), but pick up a couple of bags every time I visit the States. If you can’t find cinnamon chips where you are, feel free to amp up the ground cinnamon in this recipe for a little extra cinnamon kick. The original recipe also suggests adding crystallized ginger pieces, either in place of, or alongside the cinnamon chips. However, I think the cinnamon chips really make ’em. 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 TBSP. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

1/2 cup butter, cold

1 cup cinnamon chips

2/3 cup pure pumpkin

2 eggs

1 TBSP. milk

Raw cane sugar, for sprinkling

In a large bowl, combine the flours through to the spices. Whisk together until thoroughly mixed. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Stir in the cinnamon chips. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the pumpkin and the eggs. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until it starts to come together. Turn the mixture out onto a floured surface and use your hands to bring everything together. Try not to overwork the dough.

Split the dough in half and form each half into a round disc, about 1 inch thick. Brush each disc with the milk and sprinkle generously with raw cane sugar. Cut each round into six equal pieces. Arrange all 12 pieces on a prepared cookie sheet, about an inch apart. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer, uncovered, for 30 minutes to thoroughly chill (this will help with rise and texture).

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Bake the scones for 22-24 minutes or until golden. Cool on a baking rack. Enjoy the scones warm, or store cooled scones in an airtight container for up to a few days. Typically scones taste best on the same day they are baked, but I liked these scones even better the second day. They’re lovely with a cup of tea or coffee. Makes 12 scones.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Scones | Once Upon a Recipe

Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Holidays, Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , , , ,

For Todd (and Rufus) | Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream

July 25, 2013 by 44 Comments

Cinnamon Peach Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

This post is for Todd. Todd who, you ask? Well, I wish I could tell you.

You see friends, I was in a car accident a couple of weeks ago. I will spare you the details, but as any of you who have also experienced the frightening event that is a car accident can attest, a car accident has the ability to shake you up a bit. This wasn’t a simple fender bender, this was a crash that killed my car. (My car’s name was Rufus, and may he rest in peace). Thankfully, no one was seriously injured and both myself and the other driver walked away relatively unharmed. And at the end of the day, that is all that matters. A car is a car, and cars can be replaced.

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Todd was the gentleman who stopped and helped me at the scene of the accident. He arrived on the scene about a minute after it happened – after numerous drivers who would have witnessed the accident zoomed on by. Todd called 9-1-1 as I had become a bit useless due to shock. Todd held my pup, Bella for me while I spoke to the police officers and medical personnel. (Bella had been in the car with me, as we were on our way to the dog park. Fortunately, she was not hurt either.). Todd called his wife and told her he was going to be late for dinner. When I protested and begged him to carry on with his evening, he refused. Todd told me that he would not leave until he knew someone was there with me and that everyone was ok. Todd sat with me on the side of the busy freeway for two hours. Todd told me that everything would be ok.

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

When my mom arrived, and Todd finally succumbed to my pleas for him to go home to his wife and eat (a now cold) dinner, I was so focused on thanking him profusely for his time, his kindness, his compassion – I failed to get his last name. And wouldn’t you know it, there are a lot of Todds out there. I have been unable to locate this particular gem of a Todd, but if I could, I would tell him – in a more coherent and calm manner than I did that evening – just how thankful I am that he was driving down the road that day and took the time to stop to help me.

Friends, it’s true when they say that the little things in life are what count. And for me, this complete stranger who stopped to help a very panicked girl and her dog – he counts. And I can promise that the next time I find myself in a situation where helping someone out might inconvenience me, even for a couple of minutes (nevermind hours), I will remember Todd. And I will pay his kindness forward.

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

And to my dear Rufus (my wonderful little blue Mazda 3) – thank you for saving me. You done good.

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

This ice cream is nothing short of amazing. I have read many wonderful things about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, but unfortunately Jeni’s ice creams are not available here in Canada. So when I came across a recipe for Jeni’s ice cream base, I knew I had to try it. The recipe yields a rich and creamy ice cream, and I can’t wait to experiment with different flavor combinations. But for my first attempt, I decided to pair it with one of my favorite summer fruits – peaches! The final result tastes just like peach pie a la mode, minus the pastry part. I’m tempted to try this recipe again with pie crust cookie chunks! In any case, the long and short of it is that this is a perfect summer ice cream recipe.

To Todd! And all of the other “Todds” out there – thank you.

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream (ice cream base from saveur.com by Jeni Britton, and peach cinnamon swirl adapted from A Cozy Kitchen)

For the ice cream:

2 cups whole milk
4 tsp. cornstarch
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. cream cheese, softened

Combine 1/4 cup of the milk and the cornstarch in a small bowl and mix well; set slurry aside. In a large saucepan, whisk together the remaining milk along with the cream, sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 4 minutes, then add in the slurry. Return to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, for about 2 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese with about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture and whisk until smooth, then whisk in the remaining milk mixture. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until the mixture is chilled, or overnight. Churn the ice cream in your ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions (mine took about 25 minutes).

For the peach cinnamon swirl:

4 peaches (about 2 pounds)
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon + a pinch of salt

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add in the peaches and blanch for 1-2 minutes. Remove the peaches from the water and allow to cool enough to handle. Remove the skins and pits and cut the peaches into bite-size pieces. Add the peaches, the sugar, and the cinnamon and salt to a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the peaches have broken down and the mixture is thick. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

Layer the ice cream and peach mixture in a container. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the plastic to touch the ice cream – this will help prevent ice crystals from forming. Freeze for at least 2-4 hours. Scoop and enjoy!

Peach Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream | Once Upon a Recipe

Have a lovely weekend! xo

Filed Under: Fruit, Summer, Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , ,

Celebrating Mom | Pistachio Baklava with Cinnamon Honey Syrup

May 12, 2012 by 19 Comments

Friends, in case you’ve forgotten, tomorrow is Mother’s Day. A day to take time to celebrate and thank the wonderful mothers in our lives for all that they do.

We’ve all got them. Whether they are our mothers, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, or other women in our lives who have encouraged us as mothers do, we all have “mothers” to be thankful for. I hope that you are able to share some love with the mamas in your life tomorrow.

My mom is wonderful – a serious frontrunner for Best Mom Ever. I consider myself very lucky to have her. My mom is loving, caring, kind, and considerate. She is smart. She is generous, and tends to put the needs of others before her own. She is encouraging. She is patient. My mom is fun too. And she has healing powers. The power to heal a skinned knee with a kiss, or a broken heart with hugs and sweet words, my mom has always been there for me, through thick and thin, in good times and bad (and really, really bad). She gave me life, and she has saved my life, countless times.

Thank you Mom, for being you. I can only hope that one day, I can be the kind of mom to my children that you are to me.

Food is one of the ways that I share love with people. And a perfect way to share love on Mother’s Day. I made this baklava a few weeks ago. I have been wanting to try to make baklava for ages, but it always seemed like such a difficult, involved recipe. In all honesty, baklava is not as difficult to make as you might think! Sure, it takes some time and patience, but I can assure you that there are no crazy skills involved. I put on some good tunes, poured myself a glass of wine, and spent an hour dancing around my kitchen, buttering layers of phyllo to the rhythm of the music. I didn’t stress about any tiny tears in the phyllo (no one will know!), and I didn’t dwell over the spilt syrup on the floor that my feet stuck to for days afterwards.

And I was rewarded with this rich and deliciously sticky baklava at the end of it all. Totally worth it. Don’t even try to tell me that you can’t do it, because you can. Just don’t make the same mistake that I did, and look up the nutritional content of one wee square of baklava. Let’s just say that it accounts for an unfortunate amount of your daily recommended intake of fat, sugar, and everything else bad for you. But that doesn’t mean I stopped eating after just one square. You must know me better than that by now. 😉

Pistachio Baklava with Cinnamon Honey Syrup (from First Look Then Cook)

2 cups plus 8 TBSP. sugar, divided

2/3 cup honey

1 cup water

2 cinnamon sticks

3 cups shelled pistachios, toasted

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cup unsalted butter, melted

18 14×9-inch sheets fresh phyllo pastry or frozen, thawed (from one 16-ounce package)

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 cups of the sugar, honey, water and cinnamon sticks, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil and then simmer over medium heat until reduced to approximately 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Cool.

Place the pistachios and 2 tablespoons of the remaining sugar into a food processor. Pulse until most of nuts are finely ground (the largest pieces should be the size of small peas). Mix the nuts, 6 tablespoons sugar, and cinnamon in medium bowl and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously brush a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with melted butter. Place 1 phyllo sheet folded over on bottom of dish (to fit the dish). Brush lightly with melted butter. Repeat 5 more times with phyllo and melted butter. (You’ll want to work quickly so that your phyllo doesn’t dry out. Cover the phyllo that is waiting to be used with a damp towel.) Sprinkle half of the pistachio mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) evenly over phyllo. Place 1 phyllo sheet (folded over) over nuts; brush lightly with butter. Repeat 5 more times with phyllo sheets and melted butter. Sprinkle the remaining pistachio mixture evenly overtop. Place 1 phyllo sheet atop nuts folded in half; brush with butter. Repeat 5 more times with phyllo sheets and melted butter.

Using a very sharp knife, cut diagonally through the top phyllo layer from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Cut the top layer of phyllo into 1-inch-wide rows parallel to both sides of first cut. Turn the pan and cut rows about 2 1/4 inches wide, forming a diamond pattern. Bake the baklava until golden brown and crisp, about 50 to 55 minutes. Drizzle the syrup evenly over the hot baklava. Cool and then recut the baklava along lines all the way through layers. Serve!

See, easy as pie! If baklava doesn’t float your mom’s boat, here are some other tasty ideas to share for Mother’s Day:

Nana’s Cinnamon Buns (I’ve got a batch of these rising on my countertop right now)

Banana Bread Oatmeal Pancakes

Blueberry Lemon Muffins

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Red Velvet Sandwiches

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there! xoxo

Filed Under: Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , ,

Mid-Week Rant | Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins

February 8, 2012 by 36 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear crazy mothers from Toddlers and Tiaras,

You frighten me. You’re just straight-up scary. Yet, you’re also fascinating. Watching you obsess over your four-year old’s make-up, mimick your daughter’s “dance” routine from the audience (PS. You look like the devil is being exorcized from your body when you do this), and yell at her to “shine!” for the judges is like watching a train wreck. Part of me wants to change the channel. But…I just can’t. stop. watching.

Pageant dresses that cost $1500? Pageant coaches that charge $150/hour? Spray tans and fake teeth? Ridiculous. Have you heard of piano lessons? Sports? Dance class? Arts and crafts? What motivates you to push your young, impressionable daughters to partake in activities that value physical appearance more than personality or strength of character? Do you care so little about nourishing their self-esteem and instilling in them important life values like honesty, respect, and kindness?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And when you criticize your daughter for not smiling big enough for the judges, or for not holding still while applying her fake eyelashes, I feel a strong urge to punch you in the face. Or at least give you a damn good shake in an effort to knock a little sense into you. Get a grip! Look at the example you are setting for your daughter, who will one day grow up and be a mother and raise children of her own.

If I may make a suggestion: Tell your daughter that she is beautiful, smart, and funny. Every day. Because I guarantee that there will come a day when she doesn’t believe it; when she questions whether she is smart enough, good enough, or pretty enough. She needs to hear these words, so that when she is doubting herself, she will hear your voice, telling her that she is all that and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy pageant mom, life is hard. People can be mean. Be kind to your daughter. And teach her to be kind to others. Finally, to the mother whose child won the “grande supreme” title, and then promptly exclaimed that she won the pageant because she is so beautiful and talented and that all of the other girls are ugly and stupid…please, please, set your daughter straight. In about 10 years, she’s going to be waltzing through her school’s hallways as though she owns the place, teasing and bullying other girls that don’t meet her standards of perfection. I know, because I was one of those girls who suffered through three hellish years, all because I was flat-chested and didn’t wear cool clothes. So stop living vicariously through your 6-year old, stop forcing your 4-year old to eat salads while the rest of your family eats pizza so she will lose 5 pounds before the pageant (!!!), and stop teaching her that life is all about looking pretty and winning obnoxious trophies and crowns. Life is about so much more. Let her be a kid, for crying. out. loud.

Most Sincerely,

Amanda

Ok, rant over. Time to make muffins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These muffins are wonderful little packages filled with whole wheat flour, a healthy shot of cinnamon, and big chunks of apple. They are so moist, and the sugar on top creates a sweet little crunch. I recommend storing these muffins in the freezer if they aren’t eaten within the first couple of days of baking them, as I fear that all of those beautiful apple chunks might get a little dodgy if they sit out too long. I actually stuck the whole batch in my freezer – I grab one each morning on my way out the door and by the time I’m ready to eat it at work, it’s perfectly thawed and dee-licious!

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins (barely adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
A healthy pinch of salt
1 TBSP. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP. brown sugar, packed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
2 large (or 3 small) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Prepare a 12-count muffin tin (for big muffins), or prepare two tins (to make 18 smaller muffins).

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and the white sugar, as well as 1/4 cup of the brown sugar, until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well, scraping the bowl at least once. Gently mix in the yogurt with a wooden spoon. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks. The batter will be quite thick.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling with the remaining 2 TBSP. of brown sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400°F, and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy for breakfast or a lovely afternoon snack! Preferably with a hot cup of tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS. During one of the commercial breaks, I saw an ad for a show called “My Strange Addiction”, in which a dude was trying to explain his emotional, physical, and sexual relationship with his car. Um, sexual relationship? Wha? And then it showed him making out with his car. As in, kissing his front bumper whilst the lower half of his body was underneath the car. With tongue.

…seriously?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the one show that you’re most embarrassed to admit that you watch?

Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Fruit Tagged With: , , , ,

Falling | Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting

September 24, 2011 by 13 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m going to cut right to the chase.

I made you some cookies. They’re soft and cakey. Spicy and pumpkiny. Yep, pumpkiny is a word. You heard it here first.

But back to those cookies…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posting two cookie recipes back to back was not the plan. I had another recipe to share with you. However, these little melt-in-your-mouth pillows of pumpkiny goodness came into my life unexpectedly this week and I just had to share them immediately. Words really don’t do these cookies justice. They taste like pumpkin pie, but way better ’cause I don’t really even like pumpkin pie. I mean, I eat a token slice of it every Thanksgiving, but only because Thanksgiving wouldn’t feel the same if I didn’t. But these cookies, they deliver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So how about you run off to the grocery store and pick yourself up some pumpkin, and then get your tush into the kitchen to make these? And then you can proceed to eat a dozen cookies over the course of the day. But they’re tiny, and they have pumpkin in them. So you’re practically eating a serving of vegetables…

Go make these cookies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Frosting (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

1 cup of butter, softened

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups of pumpkin puree

2 cups of all-purpose flour

For the frosting:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/8 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 to 2 1/2 cups icing sugar

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until thoroughly combined, taking care to scrape the bowl down at least once. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until combined. Beat in the pumpkin. Add in the flour and mix together well. Drop the dough by heaping teaspoons onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat (or one sprayed with cooking spray). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are just set. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool.

For the frosting: In a small saucepan, heat the butter and brown sugar together over low heat until melted and smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add in 2 cups of icing sugar and beat until smooth. Add more icing sugar if necessary to create a spreadable frosting.

Frost the cookies when cool and enjoy! Store in an airtight container, placing waxed paper between layers to avoid them sticking together.

Filed Under: Holidays, Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , ,

Welcoming Fall | Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Scones

September 3, 2011 by 135 Comments
Fall is upon us here in my part of the world. The days are becoming shorter, the leaves have started to turn, and there is an unmistakable chill in the air. While I hate to bid adieu to Summer, I can’t help but look forward to the changing of the seasons. Fall is my favorite time of year, without question. Fall is a beautiful season, with its stunning reds, oranges and yellows. If only it lasted longer than ten minutes, and wasn’t followed by…*shudder*…Winter.
Several nights ago, I had a wonderful visit with some lovely ladies, one of which mentioned that Fall has always signaled the beginning of a new year for her. And for many people, especially those in school, Fall is the start of a new year. New classes, new teachers, new school supplies, and new clothes (always my favorite part growing up). I have been out of school for a few years now, so it’s been a while since September brought with it any feelings of newness or change. This year feels a bit different though. Maybe it’s because my life is very different than it was last Fall, or maybe it’s because I hope that my life will be very different next Fall. It might also have something to do with the fact that I had my tea leaves, tarot cards, and palm read a few months ago. Now, before you go laughing at me, I went for kicks. I’m not sure I actually even believe in psychic abilities. But it certainly made for an interesting experience. I didn’t take much of what the psychic said to me to heart, except that a recurring theme in my tarot cards was the number 9. His interpretation of my cards was that the ninth month (September) would bring some major (and good) changes into my life.
I’m not holding my breath. I’m not the kind of person who lives their life waiting for things to happen. I prefer to make things happen. But it’s comforting to know that I might have some additional positive energy on my side this month.
Fall also brings along delicious flavors. When I think of Fall, I smell cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie. I see colorful squash and cute little gourds. I taste warm soups and stews. I feel a cup of hot apple cider between my hands. I get a strong urge to walk through a corn maze and jump into a pile of just-raked leaves. I love what this season does to my senses.
This photo was taken last Fall in Central Park in New York. It was the end of October, and the colors were finally starting to change. The trees in the park were so beautiful, and we spent such a wonderful afternoon there. Such great memories that I will hold dear forever. I won’t be making it back to NY this Fall, but I hope to get there one more time before my BFF and her husband return home next Spring. I did make a promise after all.
This weekend marks the last few days of my summer vacation – the two weeks I took off from work. My “stay-cation” as I called it. I’ve spent most of my days out in the sunshine, reading good books, taking Miss Bella on long walks or to the dog park, enjoying visits with friends, and soaking up the warmth of Summer. But the last few days were cool, grey, and drizzly. So, yesterday morning I decided to bake, and I wanted something that would smell and taste like Fall. Enter these tempting little scones. I could barely wait for them to cool enough to eat after they came out of the oven – they smelled so enticing with their notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. I scarfed down the first scone, and properly enjoyed the second. I barely restrained myself from having a third.

Summer is taunting us again, with warm temperatures expected this long weekend. Mother Nature is a bit bipolar, at least here in Alberta. But I’m not complaining – I can be patient for Fall, especially if it means a few more hot sunny days. Regardless…whether you love Fall or hate it, I can guarantee that you will enjoy these scones. And they’re made with whole wheat flour, so they’re practically a health food.

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Scones (adapted from Cooking Light magazine, Nov. 2006)

1 cup plus 2 TBSP. all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of salt
Dash of ground nutmeg
1/4 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 medium Granny Smith apple, grated (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
Topping:
2 TBSP. buttermilk
1 TBSP. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, combine the flours, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk together until well mixed. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the apple, 1/2 cup buttermilk, and vanilla, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly with floured hands. Shape the dough into a circle about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut into 8 wedges. Place on a lined or greased cookie sheet. Brush the tops of the wedges with 2 TBSP. buttermilk. Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon together, and sprinkle evenly overtop of each wedge. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.
Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Fruit Tagged With: , , , ,

Holy Oats! | Favorite Granola

January 30, 2011 by 2 Comments

Granola is an old friend of mine. We’ve been having breakfast together for the past, oh, 10 years or so. We usually invite yogurt to the party, and occasionally milk. Unfortunately, I only discovered making homemade granola within the past few years. Kind of ridiculous, considering how easy it is to make, and definitely a travesty when considering all of the delicious varieties of granola you can make it your own kitchen.

 It was love at first bite with this granola. Sweet, chewy clusters with the crunch of whole nuts and dried fruit. Tastes amazing with plain yogurt or milk, and fantastic over ice cream. Yes, this granola doubles as dessert! You might even catch yourself eating handfuls of it as a snack! This recipe is doubled from the original because even with a double recipe, I can still eat my way through a batch of this in less than a week. Give it a try – granola loves to make new friends. Happy eating!

Favorite Granola (adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking)

4 cups oats

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

Pinch of nutmeg

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2/3 cup whole almonds (and/or hazelnuts)

2/3 cup raisins (and/or dried cherries)

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined. Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them (oh yeah!).

Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the almonds (and/or hazelnuts) over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and flip again. Sprinkle the raisins over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven for another 5 minutes. Let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , , ,

How Sweet! | Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips

December 5, 2010 by 2 Comments

Honey and I hosted a Christmas party last night! We had a wonderful time with great friends and family – it was a fabulous way to kick off the holiday season! We also spent the 48 hours prior to the party in preparation mode – food and drink planning, grocery shopping, housecleaning…we ended up with about 8 appetizer and dessert dishes. I photographed all of the dishes as I was making them, but once the party got going and I started putting the food out, I was too preoccupied with visiting and of course, eating, to take photos of the finished products! I am kicking myself now, because there were a couple of other recipes that I really wanted to share with you! Oh well, perhaps they will be recreated over the course of the holidays and I will be better prepared to capture them with my camera!

This fruit salsa with cinnamon chips is another family favorite that has made an appearance at many parties and get-togethers. It can be an appetizer, it can be a dessert, and it is so deliciously refreshing. It can take a little bit of time, dicing up the fruit and baking the cinnamon chips, but your efforts will be rewarded once you sink your teeth into the sweet, crispy chips, and the fresh, succulent salsa. The colors and flavors make it very season-appropriate, although it is a wonderful summer treat as well.

Try making this fruit salsa for a holiday party that you’re hosting or attending, and I guarantee your guests will not be disappointed. Stay tuned for Christmas cookie recipes, coming up this week! Happy eating!

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

2 apples, peeled, cored, and diced (Granny Smiths work well)

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

1 pint of raspberries, chopped

1 pound of strawberries, diced

2 TBSP. white sugar

1 TBSP. brown sugar

3 TBSP. fruit jam, either strawberry or raspberry

Fresh mint (optional)

10 10-inch whole wheat tortillas

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 cups of cinnamon sugar (2 cups of white sugar mixed with 2 TBSP. of cinnamon)

For the salsa: In a large bowl, combine the apples, kiwis, raspberries, strawberries, sugars, and jam. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (I usually make the salsa the night before and chill it overnight).

For the cinnamon chips: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush both sides of each tortilla with butter, and generously sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the tortillas are lightly browned. Cool for at least 15 minutes before eating. Store the chips in an airtight container if you will not be eating them right away.

Serve the salsa and cinnamon chips together just like you would serve savory salsa and tortilla chips. Garnish the salsa with fresh mint, if desired. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Appetizers, Fruit, Sweet Treats Tagged With: , , , ,
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