Raspberry Scones

This is my second attempt at writing this post. I had the entire post completed when my computer froze and I lost everything.

So the first recipe is completed. Raspberry Scones. It is New Year's eve and I chose to make this recipe because scones will be the perfect thing to eat after a late night. Scones are simple and you can make them in advance and freeze them until your ready to eat.

I like to make to scones, put them on a baking sheet, freeze, and then toss them into a zip-lock freezer bag for easier storage. Since they are frozen individually they won't all stick together. They will last months in the freezer. When you are ready to eat them take out as many as you like, place on a baking tray and bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. The perfect lazy-man breakfast or afternoon snack.

The recipe that I used is from Tyler Florence. However, like with most of the things I make, I can't help but change it around a little. Tyler calls for fresh blueberries, I used what I had in the freeze: Red Raspberries. I also added more sugar to my scones.

Raspberry Scones
Adapted from Tyler Florance's Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

Yield: 8 Scones 
Time : 20 min. prep/ 20 min. bake

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons sugar
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup frozen raspberries

Directions 
Put flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a food processor and blend for 5 seconds. Add the butter and mix until mixture resembles fine crumbs. While the processor is running slowly add in heavy cream. Stop when dough forms a ball. DO NOT OVERMIX!

Knead dough on a floured surface. Fold in raspberries. Try not to bruise the raspberries so they won't bleed too much into the dough. 

Roll out the dough into a 12 by 6 inch rectangle. Fold dough length-wise so you have a 12 by 3 inch rectangle. Cut the rectangle in half width-wise, and those halves in half again. You are left with 4 squares. Cut each square in a diagonal to make the usual triangular scone shape. Place scones on a baking tray.

At this point you can either bake the scones in a 400 degree over for 15-20 minutes. Or you can freeze them and bake them when ever you feel like it. Enjoy!

The Challenge

So I have been trying to think of some sort of Julie-esk challenge to put myself through. To test my culinary ability. Well, it's not Mastering the Art of French cooking, but it is something. I have a stack of recipies that I have copied out of cook books for years now. My goal: to cook all of these recipies. It is probaby close to 400 recipies, the bulk of which will be desserts.

I will make these recipes, take plenty of pictures and document it all here. I'll tell you what you have to try, and what you should probably skip.

Wish me luck. I never complete many projects, but maybe.... I'll be able to stick to this one.At the very least I will be able to get rid of the stack of papers cluttering up my dresser drawer.

Inspiration

I have been inspired to create this blog by a few random sources. The first of which being one of my new favorite movies- Julie and Julia. Like the Julies', I am a chef of sorts... I was once on the road to culinary school, until I realized I didn't want to slave away in a hot chaotic kitchen for the rest of my life. I also didn't want to work while everyone else was partying. It seems unfair. Why waste my nights and weekends and rest during the awful hours of prime time TV.


I would like to say that I have some great plan like the Julie/Julia project... But I don't... and I feel like anything I attempted to do would make me a meager copy-cat. Hopefully some day I will come up with a great project that propels me forward in life and blog lore.

Not that I think anyone will actually read this blog. I am using this an online journal of sorts. A place to get out all the crap in my head. And a place to document my culinary adventures. Actually, I have no idea what this will evolve into. Hopefully it will be great, like a souffle. I will cross my fingers and hope it rises to a fluffy cloud of deliciousness.

If anyone does ever read this, I welcome your help. I am a girl with many options before her and no idea what to choose.