CHRISTMAS IS ONE WEEK AWAY! We are also leaving to begin our move TOMORROW. While you're reading this we are probably frantically trying to figure out how we accumulated so much stuff over the last few years and trying to convince each other what's really important to take in the UHAUL.

Can you picture it?

Well, while you are, maybe you should think about making these amazingly delicious, super easy, healthy citrus scones! That's why you're here, isn't it?


Ingredients:

- 1/3 C chopped cranberries
- zest of one orange
- 1/3 C freshly squeezed [orange or clementine] juice

*Note: I used clementine juice because Michael stole my orange while I wasn't looking after I zested it! Sneaky bugger.*

- 4 tbsp non dairy milk (I used vanilla soy milk)
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1.25 tsp olive oil
- 1 C whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

- Preheat your oven to 350.
- In a medium to large bowl, whisk together your juice, non dairy milk, syrup and olive oil.
- Add your flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and orange zest to your wet mix. Next fold in your chopped cranberries.
- Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it or lining it with parchment paper. Scoop your mix and put it on your baking sheet. I used 1/4 C per scone and got five scones exactly.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until slightly golden on top.


Confession: I made two batches of these. Why? Because I made them for friends initially but I kept going back for more... until there weren't any. To be fair, Michael had one, too, as did one of our neighbors. So... I only ate two... but still! They're that addicting.


Inspired from My Inspriation's Recipe.

I love when people are completely amazed at something you make. Scones always seem to be one of those things. It is automatically assumed that they are difficult and time consuming. I used to believe this myth. But that's just it-- it's a myth! I am addicted to scones. And now that I can make them... oh, it's a dangerous combination. I made these for the Bible study I go to, which happened to fall on Valentine's Day. I went home with an empty dish. I was so happy.

Ingredients:

- 2 C all-purpose, unbleached flour
- 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces/chunks
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/3 C sugar
- 1/4 C low fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 to 1 C chopped up strawberries (itty-bitt pieces!)

Directions:

- Preheat your oven to 375.
- Use a pastry cutter to combine your first four ingredients. Or you can use your stand mixer, or a food processor. Your choice! Pulverize/mix/blend until mixture is in pea-sized pieces.
- (Transfer to a mixing bowl if you used a food processor.) Stir sugar, cream cheese, egg, and vanilla into mixture until well blended.
- Gently fold your strawberries in-- this can get messy, just so you are warned.
- Gather your dough into a ball and transfer to a generously floured surface. IF desired, roll out to about 1/2 inch thick and cut into shapes. Or you can just follow the directions for the pumpkin or blackberry scones for cutting into the "typical" shape.
- Transfer scones to prepared cookie sheet (sprayed or lined with parchment paper) and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Be warned that the strawberries can burn to the bottom, so make sure to check on them when they hit the 15 minute mark and up.


This recipe was adapted from Tea With Grace.

Print out comes from eighteen25.com.

Happy Valentine's Day!
I find it mildly humorous that I had dozens of posts for this holiday planned out in my head and only ended up posting two (including this one). Ah, well. Life tends to be busier than planned-- always.

Hubby and I celebrated this wonderful holiday a bit early. Today Michael and I are taking it easy, going about our usual routine. However, he was spoiled with a new delicious muffin recipe for breakfast,
I had one of these pretty awesome scones,
and we will probably have one of these amazing cookies later.

Michael also got Where the Wild Things Are as his gift from Clark and me. I still can't believe we didn't get that book for him until now. And yes. He loves it.

Life has been pretty crazy but I've been taking in the cuddles. Michael was sick for the past week and I kind of feel like I'm getting something. I'm desperately trying to fight it off with airborne and plenty of rest.

Michael and I took a two hour nap yesterday, which is really uncommon. Usually I use nap time to get things done on my end, which results in him only sleeping for about 30 to 45 minutes. I think we both really needed it. Never mind that it was a late-afternoon-nap which resulted in a late-bedtime. It was needed. And I just love snuggling with him-- especially now that we're planning on finally starting to move him to his own bed. I have no exact date as an end goal. We're going to take it at his pace using the No-Cry Sleep Solution as our guide.

By the way, I was looking back on Michael's pictures from February last year (when he was five months old) and just about melted. When on earth did my child get so big?


OK, enough with pulling the time-flies-so-quickly-it's-insane moment. What are your plans for today? I hope it's filled with love (and chocolate... lots and lots of chocolate)!


All new recipes will be posted through out the next week. Sorry for the delay!