What’s Cookin’ in the Country?

A heavy sprinkling of flour, measuring cups and baking ingredients were spread out on the counter.  The mixer was whirring and the oven was hot.  That pretty much describes my Saturday. And I loved it.  It was a Baking Day; one of my favorite kind of days at home!  A holiday, a church banquet and company invited for Sunday dinner were all the reasons that I got to attend to this hobby I love!

On my list of “To-Do’s” were Make-Ahead Butterhorns, Sugar cookies, Blueberry Pecan Scones and Salted Caramel Cheesecakes.  The Butterhorns are a fantastic roll to make and have on hand.  The recipe makes 32 rolls.  You make up the dough, roll them into their shapes, then freeze them until you need them.  They just need several hours to thaw/rise.  These are easy and so yummy!  

  I made the sugar cookies for Valentine’s day gifts.  I make these all year long in  different shapes and decorations.  

The Blueberry Scones were part of my Valentine’s Day Brunch.  I found this recipe in my Cooking Light Cookbook.  They were a perfect addition to the menu!

Blueberry-Pecan Scones

1/2 Cup 2% milk
1/4 Cup sugar
2 Tsp grated lemon rind
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbl chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup finely chopped pecan
Cooking spray
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
2 tbl. sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl, stirring with whisk.  Combine dry ingredients.  cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Gently fold in blueberries and pecans.  Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.  Cut dough into 10 wedges, cutting into, but not through dough.  Brush egg white over dough wedges, sprinkle with 2 tbl. sugar.  Bake at 375 for 18 minutes or until golden.  Serve warm.

Add a cup of coffee, a scrambled egg and a piece of turkey sausage, and you have the perfect brunch for Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, or an ordinary do-nothing day!

Are you having a snowy day today?  Days like that are great days to get in the kitchen and bake up something special.  If you have the ingredients on hand, I hope you’ll try one of these recipes!

Be sure to check here on Wednesday for a peek at the Salted Caramel Cheescakes I made.  They’re pretty and scrumptious! 

With love from my country kitchen,