Homemade English Crumpets: The Secret Recipe Club

Another month has come and gone and it is now time for Group D's reveal in the Secret Recipe Club.

This month I feel like I had a little challenge! My assigned blogger is European! Sharing time between both France and England.  May not seem like a big deal but not only is allot of their food different than ours here in the states, they  use different terminology, and have a different measurement system.

It was fun to go through Karen from Lavender and Lovage's recipe collection, I had to google a few things here and there because I'm not that familiar with some of the dishes.

What perfect timing to make an English inspired dish... this weekend marked the 1 year anniversary of Will and Kate.

Whats more English then Crumpets and tea? Or at least here in the states that's what we think of when we think of English food right?

I'm quite excited because this means I get to host a little tea party with baby Madelyn and my  boys! I'm pulling out the child sized china, brewing the kids favorite orange spiced tea, and enjoying some crumpets slathered in butter and my mothers homemade Elderberry Jelly. Of course with every bite we take that pinky will be lifted!

Even little boys with dirty finger nails enjoy a tea party from time to time! (Can you tell they were just playing in the mud?!)

Please note...Chase loves anything slathered in jam!

Karen has and amazing assortment of recipes, if you get a chance please zip over to her blog and say hi You'll find something yummy to make I'm sure!

PS
Read this recipe in an English accent.... it's more fun that way!! (Man I'm so American!!)



English Crumpets:

(Recipe from Lavender and Lovage,  the only thing I've changed is the measurement system for the original please check out Karen's blog)


Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups flour
1 1/4milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 package of yeast
1 1/4 cups warm milk
1/1/4cups warm water
1/2 tsp baking soda
Vegetable Oil for greasing the griddle


Directions:

In a large bowl whisk together  flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Make a small well in the center. Pour in your warm milk and water... will result in a thick pancake like batter.

Cover with a dish towel or plastic wrap in a warm spot and let it sit for 60 minutes.

When you return it should be foamy and light looking give a quick stir letting the air out. Stir in baking soda.

Pour into a spouted mixing bowl (for easy pouring!) and allow to rise for another 30 minutes.

Meanwhile grease your griddle and 4 biscuit cutters, crumpet/egg rings, or like me... the tops of a your mini spring form pans!

Place the rings on the hot griddle to warm them up a bit.

When the 30 minutes is up...

Fill about 1/2 way up the sides. Allow to cook for about 8-10 minutes or until bubbles start to form (same way you do with pancakes though this is MUCH thicker!) Remove rings, and flip allowing the crumpets to cook on the other side for about 2 minutes.

Enjoy them hot with butter and jam!

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raspberry Ginger Scones : Sundays With Joy

I love Joy the Baker.

Like I really love her blog, she is my go to for almost anything.

Even the Hubs knows that Joy is the Bees Knees.

In fact I have done many posts on here using or adapting her recipes.

When she came out with her new cookbook I was so excited to snag a copy. I bought an e-version for my ipad so I can take it with me anywhere.

Her book is unique in that she writes little intros to the recipes/chapters the same way she would on her blog. So it's a book you can read cover to cover. Or at least I did....

I knew many of my blog followers were Joy fans as well so I thought hey why not form a group of bloggers/non bloggers and we can all bake our way through the book together!

So I formed Sundays with Joy.

So far we have 29 members (not to shabby for only being up and going a few days!) All of us will bake 1 recipe a week (in order 1-100) and then share about it on our Sundays with Joy Facebook group page.  If you have blogs then we are also writing blog posts about it and publishing them every Sunday.

So here you have it... my very first Sundays with Joy post... Enjoy it, buy a copy of her book... and the bake everything in it. DO IT!

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raspberry Ginger Scones:

(Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes) For more Joy recipes go to Joy the Baker.

1 egg
1/2 cup  buttermilk
1 2/3 cups white whole wheat flour
1 1/3 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
10 tbs of cold butter
The zest of 2 limes
3/4 cup  raspberries ( I used frozen)
1 tbs of finely chopped candied ginger
1 Beaten egg for brushing
Raw Sugar for sprinkling

 DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400, line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk eggs and buttermilk together. Set aside.

In a large bowl  whisk flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and ground ginger together.

Using a cheese grater, cut the butter into small pieces, quickly mix into dry ingredients until it is pebbly (I had pea sized bits.
Add buttermilk and and stir until the dough comes together.

Gently fold berries, lime zest and fresh ginger in. Careful not to over mix or your berries will mush and turn the scones an unpleasent purple color! (a few of mine did this!)

Shape 2 inch circles about 1.5 inches thick with your hands or pat into a circle about 1.5 inches thick and use a biscuit cutter or ice cream scoop to shape scones. 

Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until they are golden and firm.

Transfer to cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes. Best if eaten warm with a cup of tea... or in my case coffee!

If you would like to join Sundays With Joy please click HERE.


I hope this recipe brought a little "Joy" into your kitchen this Sunday as it did mine!!

Maple, Bacon, Pecan Biscuit Bake and a King Arthur Flour Company Giveaway ~GIVEAWAY CLOSED~

Giveaway Closed

Today is an awesome day.

Today is awesome because... one it's Friday. (Happy dance!)

Two... I have a recipe for you that contains bacon.

Three... I teamed up with King Arthur Flour for an awesome giveaway!!!!!!

But before we get to the free stuff (and I have THREE products for one lucky winner!) lets talk about this....

This my bacon loving friends is my favorite K.A.F recipe. I've had some winning treats coming out of my oven when using their recipes. They are always sure to please. But these.... these are bacon bliss.

Bacon + Maple = Match made in Heaven.

Add in some brown sugar, butter and pecans? And I'm at a loss for words.

If you do anything this weekend.... please please please make this recipe. You will not regret it!

Maple, Bacon, Pecan Biscuit Bake
Recipe slightly adapted from King Arthur Flour 

Syrup ingredients:

1/2 pound of bacon cooked until medium brown
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup King Arthur Flour (I have used both White Whole Wheat and All Purpose when making these)
1/4 cup maple syrup (no you can not sub for the fake stuff!)
2 Tbs of melted butter
1/4 cup of pecan pieces

Biscuit Ingredients:

2 cups flour (again I have used both kinds listed above)
2 tsp Bakewell Cream
1 tsp baking soda
4 tbs of cold butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 475.

Mix your syrup ingredients together and spread over the bottom of a 9 in buttered baking dish.

For the biscuits, in a medium bowl whisk together your dry ingredients. Work butter into the mixture using a pastry blender until you get pea sized bits. Mix in milk.

With a 1 tbs cookie scoop drop mounds on top of the Syrup mixture.

Bake for 10 minutes. Turn off oven and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes without opening the door! ( I know it's tempting!)

When the biscuits are golden brown remove from oven and immediately turn out onto serving dish and eat them warm.

Hubs and I immediately devoured a couple each with coffee.  Later that night when the syrup hardened a bit into a caramel like cover (OMG) I ate some of mine with my Woodchucks Cider... probably a weird pairing. But it did the trick!

Now what you've all been waiting for....

King Arthur Flour is a Vermont based flour company that has producing flour for over 200 years! King Arthur Flour is the only flour brand you find this Bakeaholic purchase. They offer a wide variety of flours including whole grains, bread flours, cake flours and many more. Not only that they have an amazing baking catalog filled with gourmet ingredients and bakeware they also have an amazing collection of recipes on their website and blog. If you live in the VT area, check out their new  new Store/Cafe/Bakery/School located in Norwich, VT or click HERE to see their new renovations!


King Arthur Flour has so graciously offered to give one lucky reader....

- 1 voucher for a free 5lb bag of King Arthur Flour
   -My go to flour brand for all my baking! ($4.95 value)

-1 8 oz container of Bakewell Cream 
     - Not only is the Bakewell Cream used in today's recipe, I also use it in many of my other biscuit recipes for my leavening agent. Being Maine made, New Englanders swear by it! ($7.95 value) 

-1  tablespoon cookie scoop
      -I swear by using a tablespoon cookie scoop for making cookies, mini whoopie pies, drop          biscuits or scones and much much more. This scoop alone is a ($19.95 value)

How to win:

(Leave one comment for each giving each person  up to 7 entries!)

1) Like Bakeaholic Mama on Facebook  by clicking HERE.

2) Follow Bakeaholic Mama on Twitter by clicking HERE.

3) Like King Arthur Flour on Facebook by clicking HERE.

4) Follow King Arthur Flour on Twitter by clicking HERE.

5) Sign up for updates, special offers and recipes from King Arthur Flour by clicking HERE.

6) Share this giveaway with all of your friends via Facebook or Twitter.

7) Tell me what you will make with your new cookie scoop if you win.

 

Giveaway closes on May  2nd 2012 at 9pm. Winner will be chosen May 3rd 2012 at 9 am.

 

Disclosure: I have not had any monetary compensation from King Arthur Flour, the recipe review and product reviews are of my own opinion. The Product giveaway is provided by King Arthur Flour.  Giveaway open to US residents only.

 

 

My Week in 10

Last week was the first time I did a "My Week in 10" I think I will do this post every Friday from now on. As you get to know me and get these little glimpses into my life... you will see that I'm such a mess.

Everyday.

But I love every second of the craziness in my life. There is never a dull moment.

So here it is folks 10 things that happened in my life this week!

1) Hubs bough THIS car. He is quite pumped though he will NEVER admit it. He is Mr. Cheapo, he has driven a small sedan that we bought new for the past 7 yrs. He has racked up the miles and has not taken very good care of it, so it's a junk box at this point. We payed it off so he was determined to run it into the ground. Which he did! He drove this crappy car for so long, WITHOUT AC!! Roll up windows, a broken e-brake...
               -E-brake story for you! 2 winters ago, I did not know the e-brake was broken so I loaded my kids in the car popped it into neutral pulled the break and began to load up the trunk with our stroller.... well brake was broken so it started to roll and ran me over. Seriously.... I ran myself over!! Luckily no ER visit was in store for me I just wrecked myself and terrified my 2 little boys who were strapped in to their seats as the car rolled their mother over and continued down our drive way until it hit our mailbox/snow bank. Yeah.... this stuff happens in my life often! Needless to say 2 yrs later he traded the crap car in, praise the lord!!

2) I had to call 911 for the first time in my life.......
Mads choked, started to turn purple. I had the whole volunteer fire department, 1 ambulance and the 2 cops we have in our small town come to the rescue. Luckily she puked up whatever it was right as the pediatrics entered the house. I am not yet 30, and yes I have gray hairs. This is why. The single most scarriest moment of my life. I though she was going to choke to death. This was 4 days ago and I haven't stopped snuggling her since this little episode.

Mad's makes neck fat look so darn cute!

3) My dog attacked a contractor working on our basement..... I pulled him off while holding the baby. It was a scene. The 2nd time the poor man jumped into our bulk head to take cover as the beast lunged at him. He was screaming something in Spanish as we closed the bulk head door behind him.

4) Potty training... you know I can't go a week without telling you some story about poop and pee right?! I am the mother of 3 after all. So Chase... Dear Chase.... We need to work on his aim. I LOVE that he is trying to pee on the potty. But NO it is not ok to pee in the Bathtub! I walk in the bathroom to see him standing on the floor aiming into the bath tub... then back into the toilet covering the space between the 2 in urine. Nice... nice Chase. Just what Mama wants to clean up today!

My sweet Chase picking me flowers!

5) I finally got my expanding bum into the Bikram studio to do some yoga. If you skip working out for 2 weeks then go back... you will inevitably hurt yourself. My shoulders and legs hurt so bad today!

6) I made this Bacon Maple Biscuit Bake that will blow your mind!

7) Grey's Anatomy is back on! Woohoo! I have a mean crush pretty much every male character on the show. But seriously... do they have to kill babies in every episode? Because I can't keep watching the show if I'm sobbing the whole time. I go to bed feeling sad.

8) Go watch THIS movie... you'll cry your eyes out but it's a good cry I promise!

9) I have a reason to bake dozens and dozens of cupcakes and cakes this weekend. Which makes me SO happy. I love being asked to bake for events, though seriously... Carrie do not wait till the last minute to do everything. Today/tonight will be long ones because of your procrastination! Owen had one of my cookies and cream cupcakes this morning and his words were exactly this " This tastes like heaven!"

Owen practicing his swing make his Daddy proud!

10) King Arthur Flour is sponsoring a kick butt Giveaway on my blog this week! Go enter to win!!!  CLICK HERE!

PS I had to include some recent pics of the kiddos because they are my world <3

And as always your comments make my day, so tell me.... How was YOUR week?

Lobster Macaroni and Cheese

Yesterday I guest posted over on Cafe Terra. I shared one of my husbands top 5 meals.

I've never made my own Lobster Mac,  in fact I have never made anything with lobster before.

I mean I've purchased lobster. Quite often actually. I bring it home for Hubs to boil and he eats it for a special meal from time to time. But I won't touch them!

There is something so evil about cooking lobster. You take it out of it's bag, it looks at you starts flapping it's little legs and claws, then you dunk it into a pot of boiling water?

Yeah I'm ashamed.

But I did it, though I don't think I will ever cook one again. I really dislike the little creatures but even still I don't have the heart to boil them alive.

My husband was very proud of me when he came home and saw that I cooked it.

I left it on a plate on the table ready to go for HIM to remove the meat. That's a job I definitely couldn't do!!! So he removed all the meat and I mixed it into this super rich and creamy macaroni I had made, topped it with a butter bread crumb topping and baked it.

He was in heaven, with every bite. It was one of the best things I had made him he said.

For the recipe please click HERE.

Spring Peas and Asparagus Quinoa (Guest Post)

Hi guys! Today I'm hosting one of my favorite blogs. I asked Stephanie from the Cookin' Cowgirl to come share one of her spring inspired recipes with us.

Stephanie is my go to when I want something fun to try out for my kids or hubs. She has so many great ideas. If you are having a Holiday party go check out her Holiday themed recipes, she has something for every occasion! Like these Thin Mint Truffles , or for Halloween check out her Chewy Candy Corn Nutter Butter Bars, or these Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies for Christmas. Don't even get me started on her recipes perfect for tailgate  parties and game days!

Everyone say HI to Stephenie the Cookin' Cowgirl, and after you see this scrumptious spring salad recipe... go check her blog, and give her a follow on facebook while your at it!


                                                                                                                                                                                 

Happy Wednesday, and thank you so much for having me, Carrie!!

I'm so excited to make my first guest appearance on another blog! {Does that make me sound important? ha}

My name is Stephanie and I am the Cookin' Cowgirl. I have been blogging and recipe re-mixing for about a year and a half.

I love all things deliciousness, but I especially love healthy recipes that I feel good about eating.....so that I don't feel bad about eating a slice of my famous carrot cake later!

I am an Oklahoma girl, who spent some time living in the south, and just moved to Kansas City with my husband. Stop by my blog and say howdy sometime!