Homemade Is Better...

Well Hello There!

Is it April all ready?  How can that be? It was just March.

Spring is here, or so they say.  How's that saying go

April showers bring May flowers?

I sure hope so!

We've gotten a few rain showers, 

enough to keep the dust at bay for another day.

(Wink! Wink!)

The weather has been so unpredictable! 

One days it's very warm,

the next day it's very cold.  

I think it's confused!

We want Spring!! 

And with Spring brings color and 

warmth in the days and showers!

How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

Any who... 

I thought I would share a 

yummy scone recipe.

As all of you know, I love scones. 

They are so easy to make and

you can add just about any flavors

 together to create a yummy treat.

They can be made gluten free or not.

As sweet as you want them or 

with very little sweetness too.

Really....the possibilities are endless.

I've posted many scone recipes on my blog over the years

and today this one is just as good as the others.

Probably one of MY favorites!!

I mean who doesn't love 

Fresh Cranberries and Oranges??

Orange Cranberry Scones

2 Cups Flour (Gluten Free Flours work good too)

1/3 Cup Sugar

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Stick Butter, cubed

1/3 Cup Sour Cream

1/3 Cup Orange Juice

1 Egg

Zest of 1 orange

1/4 Cup frozen Cranberries, chopped

Preheat oven 400 degrees.

With a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour,

 baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.

With a pastry cutter or your fingers cut in the butter

with the flour mixture until it resembles crumbs. 

Add in the zest of the orange and then make a well at the

center of the mixture and add the orange juice.

Then add the egg and the sour cream, mixing together with a fork.

 Stir in the chopped cranberries until combined.

Place the dough out onto a floured surface and form a round ball.

 Cut in half. Take one of the half pieces of dough,

 form a ball and roll it into a 3/4-inch thickness.

 Cut each ball of dough into eight triangular slices.

Place triangles on the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.

Drizzle with a simple frosting if desired.

Makes 16 scones

Personally homemade treats are better,

wouldn't you agree?

Plus when you make them, 

you know what goes into them.

And you can pronounce all the ingredients!!

Now who doesn't love that?!

Wholesome yummy treats for your

 friends and family to enjoy.

Well, I've rambled on long enough...

I should go find something to do

 outside while it's warm out.

Until next time,

I hope you all have a great week!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY...

HUGS,

Gimme Some Sugar...

Happy Weekend to you!

I thought I'd best get on here and do a 

little Valentine inspired post!

After all, it is the LOVE month!

And my birthday!

💗

(Smiles inserted here)

Do you gals go all out for Valentine's Day or do

you just keep it simple and real?

We keep it simple,

with having boys they aren't into anything foo-foo or pink.

Now, if we did a camo theme, they'd be ALL in.

But, that ain't happening!!

The most requested thing my boys ask for

are my frosted sugar cookies.

So, I'll more than likely bake some 

heart shaped cookies for the occasion!

When I was a kid, I hated that my 

Birthday was on Valentine's Day.

No one ever celebrated my birthday, just Valentine's Day.

I felt ripped off... forgotten...

How Rude!!

Now, that I'm older, I get extra blessed.

I just celebrate all month long....

(And my oldest son's birthday is two days after mine)

So see...Party Month!! 

Okay enough about me....

HA!

I thought I'd share a few of my posts on some easy DIY gifts 

to share on this special day or really any special day 

for that matter.

These walnut cranberry clusters are so yummy!

I make these often as they aren't overly sweet.

Click Here

These little pillow hearts 

were so much fun to make and easy too...

Click Here

I absolutely LOVE this Lavender salve.

Probably one of my favorite DIY gifts.

Click Here

I hope whatever you do,

you do it with LOVE!!

Have a delightful week &

Thank You so much for stopping by....

HUGS,

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Why... hello there!

How are you all?

How has Fall been treating you so far?

It has been warm here. 

We had a few days where the temps 

dropped below freezing, 

but the days seem warm. 

Oh and we have had the wind!

But..I guess it wouldn't be Fall 

without that wind, now would it?!

HA!

My guys are on another hunting trip,

so far they have been having a blast

even though they have yet to find a Buck!

I honestly think those critters 

know people are hunting them,

so they take cover!

So, before they headed out,

 I cooked and baked

 what seemed like days

maybe months...LOL

I found this new cookie recipe

and I gave it a try and boy

were they ever tasty!

No butter and no eggs!

Sometimes I don't like to use all my butter

as I live far from town to replenish my fridge.

Who hear just absolutely LOVES pumpkin?

Anything with Fall flavors is a must in my opinion!

I hope you give them a try and

I promise you it will become

 a new favorite in your home!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup coconut oil, solid

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp molasses

2 Tbsp coconut milk or regular milk

1/3 cup pumpkin

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

1 cup of more chocolate chips

Combine solid coconut oil, sugars, vanilla, molasses and milk.

 Mix well. Add in pumpkin. Mix again.

 Add in flour, soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice.

 Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 for 9-10 minutes

** If you bake Gluten Free, 

just swap out the flour for a Gluten Free one

and you are good to go.

I baked these with both regular flour and Gluten Free

flour and they both turned out just fine.**

Enjoy!!

And I'll leave you with a beautiful

 prairie sunset from a few nights back!

God sure does paint some beautiful skies, doesn't He?

Thanks so much for stopping by....

Hugs & Blessings,

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins...

 

PUMPKIN MUFFINS!

It's time to bake and eat and bake and eat

anything with FALL flavors!!

We eat a lot of muffins around here.

Grab one and go.

OR sit down and enjoy one with a cuppa coffee.

Why...it's a must!!

Straight outta the oven...

DELICIOUSNESS is brewing!!

Would you like to try the recipe for yourself?

Okie Dokie...I'll quit teasing you now! (HaHa)

Enjoy!

 Pumpkin Streusel Muffin

1/4 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

2/3 c. canned pumpkin

1/2 c. buttermilk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tbsp. molasses

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. salt

Streusel Topping:

1/3 c. flour

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. cold butter

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars

 until light and fluffy.

Beat in the pumpkin, buttermilk,

 eggs and molasses.

Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder,

 pumpkin pie spice and salt.

Gradually add to pumpkin mixture

 just until blended.

Fill greased or paper lined

 muffin cups about 2/3 full.

For topping, combine flour and brown sugar.

Cut in the cold butter until mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle over batter.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes 

or until toothpick inserted in the

 muffin comes out clean.

Cool  for 5 minutes in pan before

 removing to a cooling rack.

**Tip: You can convert this recipe

 to Gluten Free if you wish. 

Just replace the flour for a gluten free flour.

And they will still turn out amazing!!

I hope you all have a delightful week!!

Thanks for stopping by...

I appreciate each one of you!

Wheat Free Cinnamon Scones...

Can you say Wheat Free 

Cinnamon Scones three times fast?

Ya, me neither...

(Smiles)

I've been experimenting again...

I know that doesn't really shock you now does it?

Sometimes you just need to try some new things

 in your diet to see if they can eliminate

what is causing your tummy issues.

So, my in laws, my mom, aunt and myself

are not eating wheat and are trying

 to stick to a low carb diet.

So, since I do 98% of the baking around here

I thought I would experiment with

 almond meal and coconut flour scones.

So, what I did was use one of my scone recipes

and tweaked it to where it does not have any wheat flour.

Wheat Free Cinnamon Scones

1 cup almond meal flour

1 cup of coconut flour 

2 Tbsp. green banana flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter, cold and sliced

1 egg

1/2 cup coconut milk or almond milk

1/4 tsp. almond or vanilla extract

Combine the flours, brown sugar, baking powder,

 baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Using a pastry blender or your hands and

combine the sliced butter until it forms into pea sized crumbs.

In another bowl, stir in the coconut milk, 

the egg and the almond or vanilla extract.

Add to the flour mixture.  

Stir just till combined.

On a lightly floured surface, place your dough.

 Create 2 mounds with the dough,

 no more than 1/2 inch thick.

 Cut each circle of dough into 8 slices. 

Place on an un-greased cookie sheet.

Lightly sprinkle with sugar if desired.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 13-15 minutes 

or until they are lightly brown.

Drizzle with an almond frosting if desired.

Enjoy!

I was quite amazed at the flavor and texture of the scone.

They were almost flaky and you can 

definitely taste the almonds!

If you feel like experimenting something new,

try these and let me know how you liked them!

Thank you for stopping by...

Hugs & Blessings,

Double Chocolate Gluten Free Muffins...

Wow!  Can you believe it's the second week of March?!

I'm not sure where the days are going, 

but they seem to be disappearing right before my eyes.

I'm pretty sure I just woke up and now 

we are approaching dinner time. Ha! 

Actually, I've been up since 6:30 this morning

and I'm ready for my afternoon tea.

I've been very productive around

 here the passed few days

I got my book shelves cleaned off and reorganized.

I did a deep cleaning of my closet.

Took out 3 large bags full of comforters,

 clothes and purses I no longer use.

My son will be taking a trip to

 the thrift store for me!

I've been decluttering a lot of things in each room I clean.

So, I should have no more clutter!!

My hubby remodeled our craft/reloading room.

I'll post some pictures for you soon...

He still needs to do my kitchen, 

but that will have to wait till 

the end of the month.

He will however,

 be putting in my new dishwasher 

and hanging up new blinds.

Yay!!!

It' feels so good to spruce things up a bit,

 after all it's investing in our home, right?!

What have you all been up too?

*********

So, on to a new 

Gluten Free recipe I tried....

These muffins are a super moist chocolate muffin 

with white chocolate chips added to the batter.

They are GOOD. Plain and simple. 

 And my oldest devoured them.

So I didn't bother telling him 

they were gluten free.

So, really it's a win-win!!

Ha!

Would you like to try them?

Double Chocolate GF Muffins

1 1/4 cups gluten free flour

( I used the all purpose GF flour mix)

1/4 cup baking cocoa

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

7 oz. almond milk 

(I used half almond, half coconut)

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. almond extract

1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat your ovens to 350.  

Line your muffin tins with baking cups and

 lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients.

Pour wet into the dry and stir well.

Stir in the white chocolate chips.

Bake for 18-20 minutes.

*Now, if you don't want to use gluten free flour, use regular flour

and if you would rather use milk or cream 

instead of almond or coconut, feel free.

This recipe works well either way.

I was just amazed at how moist these muffins were.  

Happy Baking my friends!

Thank you so much for stopping by....

HUGS & BLESSINGS,

Spreading the Love...

Well, it's official Valentine's Day

 is right around the corner...

Since, it's my birthday,

 I've been celebrating all month!

To be honest with you, I haven't felt like baking

a whole lot, so I'm pulling some quick 

edible gifts from my archives...

Do you have big plans to celebrate

 Valentine's Day??

We normally do something special at home

and then the weekend after, we go out for a 

nice quiet dinner, just the hubby and I.

Well, whatever you do

I hope you have a lovely day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

💕

If you are looking for something easy 

and oh so yummy, you really need to try my 

 delicious caramel sauce, click HERE

This is a must have in our home!!

And if you are looking for something chocolate

for your sweetheart, these are really 

good and very simple to make!

click HERE

💕

Enjoy your week sweet friends and 

Thank You for stopping by...

Hugs & Blessings,