Thursday 7 June 2012

Summer "Bucket List" & Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones

Well--I've finally gone and done it......I created a Summer "Bucket List"!!

Every spring, I have a list of things, in my mind, that we must do or I want to do that summer....and it usually turns out that I don't get anything on the list accomplished, or very little.

Well, this summer is going to be different, thanks to a fabulous blog that I've been following.  Check it out at http://baygirl32.blogspot.ca/.  She has come up with the fabulous idea of actually posting her "Bucket List" on her blog.   Now, that's commitment.  Once you post it, you're in for the long haul!!

I thought long and hard, drafted my "list", slept on it.....and here it is:
 
My Summer 2012 “Bucket List”
·         Play Scrabble(several times-ha ha)
·         Sleep in a tent
·         Sit down with mom and get the last bits of information I need to finish her memoirs, that I’ve started
·         Do the Tely 10 (a 10-mile road race in St. John’s -- I’ve already registered!!)
·         Have fires in our backyard and make “spider wieners” & S’mores
·         Watch the sun rise & set
·         Lie on the ground and watch the clouds
·         Take an early morning (and a late evening) walk on Signal Hill
·         Paint Mom’s toenails, roller-set her hair, then sit out in her lawn chairs with her and drink her homemade slush
·         Go on a date (with my husband of almost 30 years)
·         Spend at least one full day at the beach, complete with red wine, French bread, grapes and a variety of cheese
·         Play Frisbee
·         Eat ice cream at Moo Moos, in St. John’s
·         Make a cake mix, cut it into squares; roll the squares in (almost set) Jell-O, then roll the jelly soaked squares in coconut (just like Mom used to do for us when we were kids—yummy!!)
·         Walk the old rail bed (from the trestle in Gambo to the Middle Brook Park)
·         Pick blueberries, partridge berries & bake-apples (Yes…me, pick berries!!)
·         Eat fries in downtown St. John’s (tried it last summer, but before I ate one golden brown, crispy fry from my vinegar soaked brown paper bag, I came upon a homeless guy sitting in a doorway, gave him my fries and 5 bucks and ran to catch up with my sister, nieces, daughter and mom.  I've been craving some of those fries ever since
·         Take a nap in my new gazebo
·         Go on random midnight walk-with Lovey, of course!
·         Visit some place new
·         Spend an entire Saturday morning at the St. John’s  Farmer’s Market
·         Do the “lighthouse picnic” at Ferryland
·         Go “zip-lining” on the west coast of NL
·         Go for a walk.....and a bike ride, in the summer rain
·         Make a cream soda float
·         Donate blood
·         Wear a dress
******************************************************************

Well, there you have it.  
A copy of this, in a VERY large font, will spend the 
summer on my fridge.  I'll mention, and hopefully have pics to show for, 
everything that I cross off my list!!!!


Now, on a more relaxed note, I made a batch of Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones this morning.  This recipe is from my great friend at work, Moe.  Moe is an awesome baker.  She puts the finishing touch on this recipe by drizzling the cooled scones with melted white chocolate.

Did I mention that the weather is still absolutely terrible?????  It is.  I am running out of indoor things to do, hope the sun comes out soon.  I'd be happy if it would just stop raining!!

Here's Moe's recipe for the scones:
Cranberry-White Chocolate Scones

1/2 cup butter (cubed)
2 1/2 cups flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg
 1 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients until coarse and crumbly.
Stir in cranberries and chocolate.

In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk.  Add to dry mixture and stir to combine.
With floured hands, form into a ball and turn out onto a floured surface.
Knead about ten times, then pat or roll out to shape a rectangle about a 1/2 inch thick.

Divide into two long sections and cut into squares approximately 4" square.
Cut each square on the diagonal to form triangles.

Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes at 350*


Here's how mine looked:




The finished product!!!!
 I took a batch to Roger's office for the gang to try on coffee break.  I also dropped a sample off at the post office for the staff there.

I love to bake, but I like to get rid of it quickly so I'm not too tempted to eat it all up!!! ha ha

Cheers
;o)