Healthy Orange Ginger Scones

*Healthy Orange Ginger Scones

I was out and about a few weeks ago buying some coffee in a favorite chain coffee shop and bakery and they had  gorgeous ooyey gooey orange scones on display.... continuing on my quest to really keep eating healthier these days, I asked the girl behind the counter for the nutritional breakdown of the scones.  Her cute reply was that if they had that on display, no one would ever buy them!   We did indeed look up the stats, and really it was no surprise the calories and fat superseded most nutritional recommendations for calories and fat for an entire day!  

I was on a quest to satisfy my urge for something to take it's place, so I researched a few sources and gathered some ingredients and came up with this alternative.  Really I love them!  NOW,  they aren't for the picky junk food junkie, they are healthy and full of fiber, but really the orange flavor is delightful and the little pieces of ginger pop in your mouth!  If you want to keep them for more than a day, I would add  a tablespoon or touch of of a healthy oil like coconut or canola oil to the liquid, but they didn't last in my house very long!

Try my recipe and let me know what you think!

I use as many organic products available

• Healthy Orange Ginger  Scones
• 1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour (I used gluten free, but wheat or reg will work)
• 1 c. rolled oats
• 1/4 c. Polaner All fruit  Orange Jelly
• 1 tbs. baking powder
• 1/2 c. skim milk ( I used almond milk)
• 3 tbs. cooking oil
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1/8 t orange extract
• 1/4 c. chopped candied ginger 

Directions

 In a large bowl, combine flour, oats,  and baking powder and ginger. In another bowl, stir together milk, oil and egg white, extracts and jelly. Add liquid mixture to dry mixture and stir until just moistened. 

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough 10 times. Roll dough to 3/4 inch thickness. Cut dough into twelve pieces and transfer to baking sheet


*(I added a tiny glaze of confectioners sugar, orange extract and almond milk to the cooled scones, but only a few tablespoons on all of them)

Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack and  serve. Makes 12 servings. 

Garden Flower Wedding Cake

Garden Flower Cake

I made this pretty garden flower cake for my friend's  end of summer wedding.

 It really is one of my all time favorites....

I spent countless hours,  months before the wedding researching and practicing how to make different styles and colors of flowers.  I had never done anything like this before.  My friend asked if I would be open to a strange request....and the idea of these charming pears was brought about!  I love them and love the look they create here.  I honestly would have never thought of that myself.  

An Evening of Elegance and Decadence

Elegance and Decadence

When the time came to host a 40th birthday party for one of my good friends, I decided to try to come up with some kind of theme that represented her personality, her likes and her essence. My friend was so elegant and always had this flair for the sophisticated, so I thought an evening affair lit with candle light would be appropriate....

What other things reminded me of her? Oh she always held a cup of coffee in her hands....she was forever buying that new purse.....and oh all things chocolate were always appreciated.

So here I had it! And evening of Elegance and Decadence wafting in the scent of cafe' mocha.

Scroll down and see how I pulled it off!

I nestled the candles in the centerpieces in fresh aromatic coffee beans to give off not only a lovely warm light, but also encouraged the most wonderful comforting scent from

the fragrant beans!

Wine bottles chilled over a curious glow and ice.

A beautiful display of dipping foods in various sized martini glasses and fresh flowers encircled the decadent chocolate fountain. I only wished I had better pictures to do the night justice, but I was busy and just grabbed a willing helper to snap some quick shots before guests arrived.

I made this chocolate purse cake piece of art totally from scratch and every indulgent piece was completely edible! Homemade chocolate fondant covered a moist chocolate cake with mocha chocolate cream gnash oozing between it's delicious layers! The smell alone was amazing!

What other than a purse cake could be more appropriate? Here I set this sweet little "hand bag" on an entry table that no doubt became quite the conversation piece! Stories were told of a few guests that considered picking up the bag!

Guests could leave with chocolate fondant sugar cookie favors I made especially to mirror the flavors of the evening.

Father's Day

FATHER'S DAY

My kids and I had a blast coming up with this golf theme for their dad since golfing is one of his fun things to do. We really kind of searched the house for things we had on hand. With the help of a color scheme and some themed stickers, we created a fun table scape for dinner on the deck for dear ol' dad!

These little greens were in the craft section of the dollar store and they reminded me of the greens on the course! I made little marker flags with just a piece of ribbon taped to a tooth pick.

We kind of borrowed some things from dad's golf bag to add to the theme! :)

I just happen to find these little golf ball picks in the grocery store and grabbed them on my way out!