Blueberry Scones

Blueberry Scones

These blueberry scones have a layer of strawberry jam in the middle which is my secret to keeping the scones moist and soft.  Who wants a tough scone on Valentine's day or on any day for that matter?  Valentine's day is not just about spending time with a lover.  The essence is to show the people who are important to you how much you care.  It can be as simple as making a blueberry scone from scratch.  Don't feel the need to plunge for the heart shaped box with the overpriced chocolates or buy flowers that will die in a week.  Do something different for those special people and impress them with your baking skills!

Therapeutic topic of the week: Psychological benefits of a piece of chocolate?

Usually we only allow ourselves small amounts of fattening or sweet foods or limit it to special occasions.  Here's some food for thought: enjoyment actually affects the nutritional value of food.  The greater  the pleasure, the more nutrients are absorbed.  Think about it, food is something we do regularly that manages to please all of our senses at once.  It can be the scent of freshly baked bread, a sizzling fajita plate in a restaurant or  a beautiful arrangement of fruit on a plate.  These invoke our taste buds on our palate giving you a heightened sense of liveliness  --- but only if you allow yourself the time and freedom to appreciate it.

A recent German study gave women a chocolate bar to eat at any time in their day.  Once they ate the chocolate there was a significant increase in mood when compared with those who ate an apple or nothing at all.  The women with the chocolate bar said that they were energized and happy.  Okay, so that's nothing new we all know we feel good after we eat chocolate.  But it doesn't end there.  The benefits lasted for over half an hour which researchers reported was because of the taste and experience of eating it.  Not a neurochemical change that it may have brought that created the sensory delight.  The best part was that these sensory qualities reduced any further cravings for chocolate.

Blueberry Scones Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling tops
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, picked over and rinsed
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing tops
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup of strawberry jam

cinnamon and sugar mixed together for topping

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with rack in center. Place a baking mat on a baking sheet, and set aside.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in butter until the largest pieces are the size of peas. Stir in blueberries and zest.
Using a fork, whisk together cream and egg in a liquid measuring cup. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients, and pour in cream mixture. Stir lightly with fork just until dough comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead a few times to mix well.

Pat dough into a 6-inch square about 1 1/4 inches thick.  Spread a layer of strawberry jam.  Roll the dough up into a log.  Seam side down, flatten the dough  to a 12 x4 inch rectangle.  Using a floured knife, cut into four 3-inch squares or  use a cookie cutter of your choice. Cut squares in half on the diagonal to form eight triangles. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with cream, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer scones to wire racks to cool.

Adapted from Martha Stewart

Lady Marmalade

Blueberry Orange Marmalade

The abundance of fruits calls for cooking them down and making them spreadable.  The tart but sweet marmalade gets an extra burst of blueberry, making this recipe unique.

Stress relief tip of the week:

Seek advice.  Our minds and bodies are closely connected. How you think, feel, and act affects your total health and well-being.  Many emotional and behavioral issues can be resolved with proper treatment, including steps you can take on your own, classes, counseling, and medication.

Blueberry Orange Marmalade Recipe


INGREDIENTS
3 medium oranges
2 lemons
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 cups sugar
1 pouch fruit pectin


DIRECTIONS
Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest of the oranges and lemons. Cut the zest pieces into thin slices, then finely chop or grind and set aside.


Peel the remaining white part of the peel from the fruit and discard. Chop the fruit pulp, reserving any juice and set aside.


Place the zest and 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the reserved fruit pulp and juice, cover and simmer on low heat for an additional 7 minutes. Add the blueberries and simmer for 3 more minutes.


Stir the sugar into the fruit in the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil and cook exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the pectin. Remove from the heat and skim off any foam with metal spoon.


Serve at room temperature.

Adapted from Bobby Flay

Mary-Yum's Jam

Strawberry Raspberry Jam

Strawberry Raspberry Jam Recipe 

Ingredients

 

2 quart strawberries, topped and quartered
2 pints raspberries
2 cups sugar
1 orange, zested and juiced
2 packages powdered fruit pectin 

Directions

 

In a large bowl, combine the strawberries, raspberries, sugar, orange zest and juice. Stir to combine and let macerate for 30 minutes. 

After 30 minutes, gently smash the fruit mixture to start breaking the fruit down. 

Remove half of the fruit mixture and pulse (not puree) in the food processor and return it to the bowl.  Take the other half and puree it.

In a small saucepan, combine the pectin and 3/4 cup water. Bring the water to a boil and boil for 1 minute, no longer. Add to the fruit and stir for 3 to 4 minutes. 

Cover and place in the refrigerator to set for 2 hours or overnight.

Recipe adapted from  Anne Burrell