Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Chips

Pumpkin Spice Scones with Cinnamon Chips

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp ginger

6 T. cold, unsalted butter

1/2 cup cinnamon chips

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1/3 cup heavy cream

6 T. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

Mix dry ingredients together, then cut in butter until resembles coarse crumbs.

Mix in cinnamon chips.

Whip together wet ingredients. Pour into a well in center of dry ingredients and stir gently together with fork just until moistened. Gently knead several times on floured surface until dough forms. Shape into circle about 1/2 in. thick. Either cut small triangles, or circular biscuit shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in 425 degree oven for about 15-20 min, checking for lightly browned tops.

One of my favorite breakfast treats is a good scone. I would be pleased with almost any variation, but one that is a favorite around this house and especially during these cooler months is cinnamon chip scones. Because of a superfluous amount of pumpkin puree hanging out in my kitchen after a big happy pumpkin found it's way home with me the other day, I decided to add pumpkin to the equation. The result is not an overly dry scone (which some may prefer), but it sure is delicious. I would recommend doubling the recipe and freezing some, or eating them all at once. My only regret this time? Not making them into the pretty triangles I love. I was going for smaller since they were partly for a brunch treat. But in the end, a scone is a scone is a scone as it melts in my happy little mouth.

Happy Autumn!

A Little Red Number

It is drizzling outside. A cold drizzle, but with the temperatures above freezing now, it is a decided drizzle instead of snow. The days have been inching by on this Chinese New Year break. The hours follow the things that fill it and perhaps that is part of the reason. Most shops are closed, including our vegetable stand down the street, and our days have been filled with a lot of inside play, and a lot of knitting.

This "little something red" I hinted at the other day turned out to be rather too little. I squeezed it over my shoulders this morning to take a few pictures and to let you know... if you are a size XS this red number may be coming to a mailbox near you.

I've slowly been learning my way around the beginner steps of this craft, and the bit of advice learned the hard way on this project would be never to skimp on cheap yarn. If you are going to spend hours making something by hand, make sure it doesn't look or feel like something you could buy at Old Navy.

This pattern is the same I used for this sweater earlier in the year (where I learned another precious bit about using the correct cast on method... which made all the difference in the neckline this time around) from Jane Richmond.

My Little Scout was quite certain this sweater was for her, and it likely could have been with the sizing issues. But she seems to have enough hand knits for now and I am hoping to find some fun and suitable yarn ideas to make something for the men in this family (besides hats).

On a side note, I've been so thankful for some of the turns this girl has taken in recent days. She is still her wonderful, spirited self but she is also decidedly easier in some settings than she used to be. And her sweetness and hilarity are almost too much to take in at times. The expressions she makes and the things she says are enough to keep us bowled over or running to kiss those silky cheeks again... even if she fills the rest of the day with her other high maintenance behaviors.

And when she pulls on her stripes and polka dots I have to say she does a better job at dressing herself than this gnarly needled mama.

Cinnamon Chip Scones, Yum.

I do love a good scone. When I go out with a friend for coffee, I'm always a sucker for them, even when I know Starbucks commercial ones will likely disappoint. Homemade ones never do though, and recently on a trip to Beijing I found a bag of cinnamon chips (chocolate chips, but made out of cinnamon) in the imported goods store. Delight.

I do also love to take pictures of my food. When I am making something, and the light hits it in a particular way, or I just think it's looking pretty, I inevitably end up with a camera covered in floury fingerprints.

We were all so happy with these delicious scones this morning, a late one for all of us who stayed up til all hours listening to and watching the fireworks show out our windows.

Cinnamon Chip Scones

2 1/2 cups flour

2 Tbsp. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, cut into pieces

2 beaten eggs

3/4 cup whipping cream

3/4 cup cinnamon chips

milk

sugar

1. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until resembles coarse crumbs.

2. Whisk together eggs and whipping cream, mix into dry ingredients just until moistened. 

3. Set dough on floured surface and knead 10-12 times until dough is smooth. Shape dough into 8 inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges.

4. Place wedges 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet (I also dust with flour and layer an additional baking sheet underneath as mine tend to burn otherwise). Brush wedges with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar.

5. Bake in a 400 F for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden.

Knitting: Waffles and Babies

I continue to crank out hats. Credit it to cold weather, an abundance of one or two skeins of a single color, and maybe the satisfaction of a quick project. I like this waffle knit pattern for a little variety. It does not have a brim, though it looks like it in the picture because the model went from a folded edge to a pulled-down-ove- the-ears look mid walk to the bus.

And my new favorite gift for all these friend's who are cranking out babies like I'm cranking out hats, is... a hat. This was my first attempt at a crochet edge for interest, as well as a pom-pom (which, had I known how easy it was I would have done long before!)

This design is very simple and is worked from the earflaps up, a mixture of the Thorpe and Baby Earflap Hat patterns. I followed the order of the Baby Earflap pattern, but used the crochet trim idea as well as the garter stitch for the brim portion idea from the Thorpe pattern. This is the same mix I used for the boy's hats earlier this year.

On the needles... still working on something red (which feels very appropriate during this Chinese New Year holiday), and possibly another tweedy project and trying to think of a way to use up all these extra bits of leftover skeins sitting around. And dreaming about all the yarn shopping I'll be doing in a few months when we head back to the States this summer.

Our Hats All Match

I suppose it could be worse. I could have bought some sort of lovely gingham or calico print and had our whole family made up a set of "we belong together" clothes... collared shirts for the guys and a pinafore for the girlie and a full skirt with a cute little handkerchief for my head or something. So I didn't go that far. I just made several hats that all look very much the same. Same color, same style, same samey sameness.

And the photographs seemed to want to go the same route.

Anyway, it's a fun and easy pattern and I wear mine all the time because it's so nice and toasty, even if slightly itchy (and in fact, it is a little different, with a "seed stitch" for the crown portion instead of the regular stockinette. Gettin' crazy).

I used Wool of the Andes in Mink/Heather by Knit Picks for Scout and I and

a Lion Brand Alpine Wool in Bay Leaf Tweed for the Man.

No specific pattern, just rib stitch to desired thickness and then stockinette all the way home!

And currently, something red is in the works...

One Thankful Tree

I am wanting very simple ways to celebrate.

Because celebration is important, but so too is the ability to actually do it, without feeling overwhelmed, or guilty, or busy, or like it's just about going through the motions.

I am thinking through ways to do this for the coming Advent Season. Mostly just weeding through all the ideas out there, to pare it down to just a few that we already do, or to change things so that they are more refined... simple, but uniquely and exquisitely special. I can hardly wait for Advent to begin.

So this too, this day to Give Thanks deserves simple but helpful preparation. I saw this tree idea somewhere... and it is just the right thing for little hands and heads that are learning what it means to think about what you are grateful for, and to live a life of thankfulness.

 "I'm thankful for ME!" was one of the first replies. Well, I am thankful for you too! But what about thinking outside yourself...?

And that is the daily battle, but one well worth fighting.

If You Can't Think of What to Make for Dinner

For the last three days in a row, I've eaten this salad. Either it is that good, or I am prone to ruts, or there is nothing to eat but apples, cranberries, and lettuce in this house. I suppose it may be all of those things. I'd like to think it is simply because this little throw-together is feeling just about perfect for a fall afternoon. 

You see, even little four year old fingers couldn't keep their hands off it.

With the coming events next week, this salad is not the only food on my brain. 

I just put a down payment on what seems way too much to spend on a turkey. You see, no one eats turkeys around here except for these crazy foreigners on this one specific day. So as the laws of economics go... they are not cheap.

Then there are the school events, the bake sales, the birthday parties, the potlucks, the gatherings in my own home... all in one short week. I love food. I love the gift of it, that we can enjoy it and not just inhale it. I love that we can share it and find such pleasure in making it. I love the way it looks, the way it smells, the way it tastes. And yet, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. 

I feel that way about weekly menu plans too. Swapping menu ideas and recipes seems to be a frequent and regular conversation I am a part of. And this in an attempt to help lighten the loaded question that lurks in every home at the dawn of a new day... "what are we having for dinner?" (or is that just my home?). And in honor of that idea, I thought I would share a few meals we have had over this past week. Every family has their own particular tastes and tendencies, so I'm not promising you will want to make any of them, but maybe they will spark an idea if you're stuck (like I often am), or maybe they will make you think, wow, this girl needs my help, and then you can leave a wonderful idea for me in the comments below. One giant menu sharing extravaganza. I'll probably still poll the moms on the walk up the hill tomorrow though.

Here's to sharing what's going on in your kitchen...

Sunday: Chicken Fajitas (sides of sauteed peppers, fresh salsa, sour cream, cheese, and a black bean salad that a friend brought. YUM). This amazing birthday cake, with the raspberry substitute and vanilla frosting.

Monday: Our once weekly Chinese meal.

Tuesday: Corn Chowder, thick homemade bread slices, Autumn Blend Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Oven Baked Meatballs with barbecue glaze, baked potatoes, sauteed broccoli and carrots

Thursday: Chicken Curry, Biryani rice, more rice.

Friday: not sure yet

Saturday: Homemade Pizza

Autumn Blend Grilled Chicken Salad

-Grilled Chicken absolutely essential that it be grilled (I cheated on my grill pan for the stove).

-Fresh Apple, sliced and halved

-Almond Slices

-Dried Cranberries

-Romaine and/or green leaf lettuce

-I used a toasted sesame dressing b/c it's what I have and I love it but maybe that mixture is too weird for you... so use what you love.

{And if you're prone to ruts like me, make enough for several servings and pack in the fridge to assemble the following day, or several days}

Stripes for Scout

Originally, I thought this pattern was going to be a nice break from some of the similar items I've worked on recently, namely hats. I also had this leftover skein of camel colored yarn that I've been trying for what seems like forever to figure out a way to use. When I came upon this little sweater, I thought it was cute and would be perfect for using this bit of yarn that had yet to find a home.

As sad knitting stories go, about halfway into it I was growing less and less enthusiastic. The look of it just wasn't calling my name, or my little girl's as far as I could tell and I started to think I'd made a mistake. 

It was intended as a birthday gift, a size four for a girl turning two. I finished it two days late, and it took snapping a few pictures and seeing her wearing all that hand-worked goodness for me to start to feel any attachment towards it... reminding me a bit of my baby love story with that curly head as well. 

Here you have it then, a little bit of stripes for my sweet, sassy little Scout. 

I think I'll keep them both.

Because We Just Can't Stop Celebrating Stuff

I love how calendars in this day and age are so egalitarian, so politically, or should we say globally correct. In most modern versions you will find every holiday from Botswana to Iceland to the tips of Patagonia represented, not to mention all the newly formed holidays that are forever popping up... Secretary's Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Remember Anything That Doesn't Yet Have a Holiday Day.

 I tend to like the ones that have a couple hundred years behind them, but that cuts out a lot of modern day events so I need to work on getting over that.

Living overseas in a country with holidays far different than my own, and among other foreigners who bring their own set of traditions and celebrations, new reasons to celebrate seem to be popping up all the time. Yesterday was November 11, and on that one day alone...

• The feast of St. Martin (or Martinmas) is celebrated all over Europe
• Remembrance Day is celebrated in the U.S. (which used to be Veteran's Day, which began as a memorial to the WWI armistice signed on Nov. 11th at 5am)
• Pepero Day is celebrated in Korea (a brilliant marketing plan)

My observance of Remembrance Day was limited to reading all the comments on facebook. My interest in Pepero Day began on the walk to school where I first heard about it and continued to rise throughout the day as it was brought up again and again. Where was my Pepero is what I want to know?

With all of its history and the fact that its celebrants walk around with lanterns, Martinmas was a dead ringer for me. There was a local gathering put on by some expats living here, to help the children celebrate by making paper lanterns and then taking a lamplit walk. We couldn't go because of scheduling conflicts, but we made our own lanterns in the afternoon and then lit them during our evening meal together. 

It was fun and so simple, and gave some festivity to our otherwise midweek Thursday meal. I'm not sure that the Europeans serve Indian Curry at their Martinmas dinner feasts (I think goose is traditionally the way to go), but it worked for us. 

As a whole, I think Martinmas is a sweet little holiday. It's history is simple, and perhaps not entirely compelling, but it does have all those years behind it which moves it up a few notches in my book.

Just one more stop, one more bit of preparation and festive enjoyment on our way to this upcoming season we call the Holidays. I'm hopeful they can all be this calm, simple, and full of Light.

Tis the Season for Hatmaking

I am accepting the fact that I am just going to be making hats for a little while yet, if not forever. We all need them, they are quick and easy, and the air is only going to get colder.

I love earflap hats, and this was a first attempt so I learned a lot and already know some things I will do differently next time. For you knitters out there, the cable cast on method is really helpful, and I only learned it for the second (smaller) hat. It made a big difference I think. There is an easy how-to video here. Must I say again how sad it is that this is the way I learn, via You Tube, and not at the feet of my grandmother? Yes, I must say it again.

The pattern is found here. But like most knitting projects, I did make a few changes.

Oh, they are so sweet cuddled up in their warm tweedy hats and acting like they just hug each other all day long. They don't, in case you were wondering.

[Hunt for a Red October] A Hat

This hat, painted so many colors of autumn, was made for the Little Scout.

But then in the end it fit her so well, I just had to wear it (this a joke my dad will never grow tired of).

I love the colorway of this yarn. 

We took a walk late this afternoon, and the way the vines scampered up the stone walls, dotting the overgrowth with color here and there, reminded me of the way it weaves through this yarn as well. It's heavy with deep purples and rusty browns, dotted with teals and avocado greens... and every now and then a small bright burst of scarlet or brazen orange

Just the way I like to think of autumn here:

 surprising me with bursts of color when I had learned not to expect it,

or when I was thinking another year would be too long, 

with a visit from my dad. 

{My Neighborhood} Neighborly Knits

This theme just ran away with itself this week. I really didn't try very hard... but it seems everything I'm doing, or reading, or even looking at lately has something neighborly neighborhoodish about it. Today is Saturday so we are on to a new week and a new theme tomorrow, but for today we are stickin with the neighborhood business. 

Congratulations to Sam, who won a free copy of Velma Still Cooks In Leeway from my post a couple days ago (send me your address!). I don't know if I'm cut out for giveaways though... I was tempted to buy all six entries a book for themselves. But I think the idea is to spread the book love, and not for me to go bankrupt. So one winner it is.

On to today's business, where I bring you some neighborly knits.

The first is a hat I just finished for this man who is nice enough to live with me and do so many wonderful things for our family. He is also pretty yummy to look at (in my opinion), a bit of eye candy if you will, that I like to keep around the house. He will probably be mortified that I shared that with you. Anyway, he's been asking for a hat for awhile and I'm sure there will be more to come. This was my first "adult sized hat" and we both really loved the yarn... Kathmandu Chunky Tweed. I just feel like I hiked to Everest Base Camp or something simply by buying a yarn with this name.

Secondly, a knit not done by me, but by a neighbor who lives upstairs and does so much more than merely knit for my children. But then again, she knits for my children. That brings neighborliness to a whole new level. And to get even more ridiculous, the name of this pattern is called The Neighborly. I made one last year and it was already too small for my girl, so I had to give it away too... maybe this particular sweater is just destined to fly off your needles into someone else's hands to love.

And the last is a work still in progress, but getting very very close to the end...