FLOUR

     There are some things I truly like about winter.  However, the three things I like about winter lately have to do with me staying warm in these cold temperatures.  LOL!

1.  Getting warm clothes out of the dryer
2.  My electric blanket
3.  A warm cup of something...tea, coffee, hot chocolate...to hold in my hands while I drink it.  (For me sometimes this is just warm water.  I know...weird, but still a good way to stay hydrated.)

     Another thing that helps in staying warm is trying out different recipes; which for me means turning on the oven.  So, I made blueberry scones recently.  I've never made scones.  It was a basic biscuit recipe -- flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter (I used margarine), and milk -- except for the addition of two eggs and the cup and a half of blueberries.

Blueberry scones

     One of the reasons I have never made scones is because they ARE so much like biscuits.  In previous attempts I have over-mixed biscuit dough.  Instead of tender bites of softly baked clouds, I've gotten crispy, crunchy rocks that tend to sink instead of slide down when swallowed.  So I decided to relinquish the task of biscuit making to others.  Then when I absolutely could not stand seeing TV chefs and bakers with their pumpkin, cranberry/orange, or maple triangular-shaped treats any longer, I thought I would try again.
     I measured out into one bowl the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisked them together.  Then added the cold margarine (no cholesterol) and used my pastry blender until the mixture resembled small crumbs. It is okay to have some loose flour at this point before you add your wet ingredients.  Next, I whisked the sugar, milk and eggs in another bowl and then combined the two.  I used my spoon to mix the ingredients lightly until everything just comes together.  This is where I usually mess up, thinking the dough has to be a cohesive blob. I poured the mixture out onto my board and folded in the blueberries with my hands in just a few folds, as per the directions.  Now that was challenging.  I had to chase down a few, but ultimately not one escaped.
     This scone baking experience was much better than those ill-fated past biscuits.  I had to add on more time to the prescribed amount allotted in the recipe.  Other than that, my blueberry scones were tender inside with a light crispy outer coating.  I liked their bumpy, imperfect tops with just enough imperfection to hold a smear of the olive oil spread we now use.  The challenge at this time is making the decision on which flavor to try next: cranberry/orange or pumpkin.  Hmmm?

 & FLOWER

     We've had a couple of really cold periods of weather for a week or so at a time this winter. 
Before the more recent cold snap and the resulting ice and snow, I was walking every day in my neighborhood.  There are days when I think about things when I walk and other days when I notice more of my surroundings.  Walking at this time of year is different because one can see the deciduous trees in a new light.  Without their leaves, some take on shapes and can remind me of other things like the big puffy cumulus clouds do on a spring day.  Some larger trees appear to me like a person who is bent over at the shoulders, too tired to stand up straight.  Others look like a person who has been scared out of their wits with arms out to their sides. 

Crooked tree

     Evergreen trees and shrubs can be a welcoming sight during our colder months.  It's nice to see green at times when we are cold and also be reminded of the coming growing season.  One of my all- time favorite trees that remains green throughout the year in my area is the Magnolia.  Even in the dead of winter, its long dark green almond-shaped leaves shine and sometimes seem to glisten with snow on the ground.  Yes, some leaves will drop and blow, but for the most part it is a neatly kept tree and a welcome sight at this time of year.

Magnolia tree

Pine tree

      One day while walking I came upon three blue jays flitting from branch to branch in a neighborhood tree.  There have been times in my life when I have witnessed this same scene with other birds and have actually been jealous.  They seem to have so much fun!  That particular day I heard the rustling of limbs before I looked up and saw movement and then the blue jays' brightly colored bodies.  I have always thought it would be wonderful to fly around looking at my surroundings.  Of course I am only considering the freedom this action would bring.  I'm sure birds do have their problems too.

Blue Jay

     Then I looked up at another tree and began to realize how many squirrels lived in that area due to the number of nests I saw.  The verdict was, if there weren't that many before, there will be soon!

     On another day I was driving home from running errands and for no apparent reason caught sight of a light pole on our street.  Something was different, but because I was driving, I could not decide what.  Then I looked up again and saw wings spreading on top of the pole and there, waiting for his morning snack was a hawk.  It reminded me of an angel on top of a Christmas tree.  We used to have more birds in our area when we first moved to our neighborhood.  Then a few hawks figured out a new neighborhood was a good place to hang out!

Hawk

     We may not be able to get outside very much at this time of year, but there are still things to see out our windows or during a walk.  Here's hoping you catch these few fleeting moments.

FLOUR

     I have seen some recipes for one layer cakes lately.  I mean, I have SEEN them before...in the last  three or four years, but truthfully did not pay a whole lot of attention to them.  I mean the idea of a one layer cake seemed lacking.....not to be funny.  I felt at the time if I made a one layer cake for my husband, he would ask who ate the top half.  Right?  Well, apparently one layer cakes have become popular for an after dinner dessert or small gathering.  Makes sense to me.  Then you wouldn't be left with half a cake that should be eaten so it is not wasted.  Or, the remainder goes on your to-do list so you have to find someone to become its recipient.  Anything to keep you from eating it.
     Over the holidays I saw an apple cake and a lemon blueberry made on two different cooking programs.  Both looked yummy.

Lemon Blueberry example

The apple cake had a glaze with some zest on top.  The lemon blueberry got a sprinkling of powdered sugar.  Believe me, both cakes looked divine just as they were.  Nothing against buttercream or ganache, but frosting was not needed on these beauties.
     The other thing I have noticed is that some of the bakers on television are using springform pans for their one layer cakes.  Never would I have thought, but again, it makes sense to me.  I'm glad I still have my pan that I thought was only good for making cheesecake.  Who knew?  Of course, a regular round cake pan or square one would work just the same.

     What happened to the tops of the muffins at right? 

Well, I got a little ahead of myself last week.  Everything was going well for the most part.  I had too much granola around the house and decided to make granola muffins.  I used a healthier recipe that called for applesauce instead of oil (which I had just made).  It also called for whole wheat flour but I only had regular all purpose and just went with that.  Other dry ingredients included baking soda and salt.  Other wet ingredients were plain yogurt, honey, egg, and vanilla with two cups of granola as the addition.  Dry ingredients got whisked.  Wet ingredients got mixed.  Both were stirred together with granola folded in.  Batter got scooped into sprayed muffin paper cups and the pan went into the oven----TOO EARLY.  The temperature was set at 400 degrees and was preheating and I hurriedly put the pan into the over a wee bit ahead of time.  Oops!  Look at those misshapen tops.  That's what can happen when the temperature is not just right...you know...like a hot bath or sauna??  Did this change the taste of the muffins?  No.  They were delicious.  Light, slightly sweet, with granola that was still semi-crunchy.  I found the recipe I used on the internet.  Just type in "granola muffins" and you will locate one you like, I'm sure.  I believe a basic muffin recipe with the addition of granola could accomplish the same or comparable results.

     Lastly, I was rummaging around in my freezer recently and was reminded that I have a bag of masa that is not being used.  Masa is instant corn flour that can be used for making tortillas or for thickening soups or stews.  We were planning to have soup that very night with cornbread as a side.  Instantly I thought about substituting masa for cornmeal!  This would be an experiment for sure, but if it worked the result might be something great, or at least something different.  So that is what I did.  I followed a traditional cornbread recipe: flour, masa substituted for corn meal, baking powder, salt, a little sugar, egg, milk and oil.    The mixture was more like dough and not easily poured like with cornbread.   I used my spatula to scrape it out of the mixing bowl into a mound in the center of my skillet.  Though more like a mass but still pliable, I was able to spread the dough out to the edges of the skillet after I dampened my finger tips.  Then I put the skillet into a 400 degree oven and watched it for about 20 minutes.  Here you see the results below.

Masa Bread

      Yes, the soft bread was more like a tortilla in taste and texture.  It did have the corn flavor and a crispy edge.  It was a good accompaniment to our soup.  I can even imagine it on a round platter with a mound of thick chili poured on top.  Then wedges could be cut for servings.  Hmmm....  Will that be in our future?

Happy 2018 baking everyone!

& FLOWER

     I have spent most of my life paying attention to weather and/or climate and how both effect our natural surroundings.  I may not have been able to explain the differences as well at an early age, but I surely could describe them. It was many years ago when my family packed our car and headed to California to spend Christmas vacation seeing some sights and visiting relatives.  It was a good time to go because of the extended period when us kids were free and our parents were able to wait to take their vacation time.
     We all looked forward to heading west where the weather would be warmer.  Even though my hometown in the South was not so much cold in winter; it was most assuredly damp.  But what I started noticing halfway through Texas was how the natural scenery changed.  We went from driving through areas with trees that had lost their leaves to seeing different kinds of trees.  And they were amidst shrubs in sandy soil and near cactus.  I remember thinking how different everything looked.
     Then we arrived in California at my mom's aunt and uncle's house in San Diego, where they had lemon and orange trees actually growing in their yard.  As a matter of fact, everyone around had them.  Of course all of this was new to my sister, brother and me.  We left nothing that was actually growing at our home like citrus fruit.  I remember picking a few lemons and oranges, as well as taking some pictures of us standing by them as if the trees were movie stars.

lemons growing on tree

     I remember the weather was warm and thinking how odd that it was Christmas time with warm weather.  Boy, was I surprised when the first nightfall came and the temperatures fell drastically.  I can recall being cold lying in bed trying to sleep.  We kids slept in the house and my mom and dad stayed in the garage apartment just down the hill from the house.  My brother and I snuck out of the house to go down to the garage apartment to wake up our parents the following morning.  We got a big laugh when both our mom and dad came to the door dressed in their pajamas AND their clothes.  Apparently they were cold as well!
     For most of the time we visited, we kids played and ran around with no jacket or coat during the day while we were out.  Doing so made sight-seeing easier as we did a lot of traveling and walking at Disneyland and when we went to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA. We had to pull out jackets if we went out at night.
    

     The Rose Parade was unbelievable, truly.  Now I was little; actually eight years old, but I remember looking down from our bleacher seats at the floats going by.  My mom and dad talked about how they were all made with flowers.  Imagine that!  I couldn't believe it.  As a matter of fact I pretty much didn't believe it.  All of the floats seemed TOO perfect and exact with their replicas.  Surely those were all made of wood.  But my parents kept insisting and eventually I believed them.  This became especially true when we were walking to our car along the parade route and I saw bits of flower on the street here or there.  To think of all those flowers, shrubs, leaves, stems, etc., in demand for that parade many years ago when I was a child.....phew!  As a child that was hard to imagine.  Years later a florist friend told me she had a very difficult time ordering flowers immediately after the Rose Parade.  I could believe that!  When I watched some of this year's parade on television I heard one commentator mention a particular float including flowers and also herbs.  There are some very talented people involved in preparing those floats.  They should be proud!
     Yes, that trip was really amazing and taught me how things grow differently in other areas of the country.  I had heard of the fruit trees like we saw, the cactus, and desert area, but actually seeing them was terrific to a small child.  We also saw the Pacific Ocean, which was yet another first!  On the way home I got to appreciate the differences in our natural surroundings in reverse.  I knew we were getting closer to home when the trees changed back to those bare only for the winter and I saw pine and pecan trees once again.  I can admit that our vacation changed my way of thinking, but it was good to return home to the familiar.