Cinnamon Glazed Scones

A few more days until I am a married a woman, so I am relaxing with some baking in the kitchen. With so many things on my mind I can't concentrate on writing a long intro here, so let's keep it short and sweet, just like this recipe. Hope you all enjoy this treat one morning and that you can share it with people who you care about.

Have this diddy stuck in my head: 

Cinnamon Glazed Scones

Ingredients for scone batter:

• 2 cups flour 
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 1/2 tsps baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg, separated, egg whites set aside
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Ingredients for topping:

• 2 tbsp Raw sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Glaze:

• 1 cup powder sugar
• 3 tsp milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a medium sized bowl mix together your flour, soda, powder, salt and butter. Mix until crumbly. 
3. In a small bowl mix together honey, egg yolk, milk and juice, then add it to your dough, mix well.
4. On a floured surface, form your dough into a ball. Then flatten until it's 1/2 inch in width. Cut the scones into about 6-8 pieces. 
5. Next whisk your egg white until it starts to froth a little, brush it over the dough then sprinkle it with your cinnamon and raw sugar.
6. Transfer the pieces over to a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until a little brown.
7. While the scones bake, mix together your glaze ingredients in a small bowl. When the scones are ready to come out of the oven, transfer the pieces to a plate, then drizzle your glaze over the top.
8. Serve!

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Sweet Potato Cakes

I know that you must be getting tired of recipes that include or feature sweet potatoes, but I just can't help myself. They are so diverse and can be incorporated into pretty much anything (did I mention cheap?). They almost always make their way into my shopping cart because of how reliable they are, not to mention how nutritional they are, high in vitamin C, natural sugar and magnesium. Get your vitamins everyone:

Sweet Potato Cakes

More Nina... Always more Nina:

Makes 4 patties

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bacon cut into pieces 
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Peel and wash your potatoes, place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are easily mashed.
2. While the potatoes are cooking fry up your bacon and onions. Save the fat.
3. In a medium sized bowl, mash your potatoes and mix in bacon and onions.
4. Add your egg and form your patties.
5. In the same pan you fried the bacon, fry up your patties, about 2 minutes on each side on a medium heat (too high and they'll burn).
6. Serve!

This recipe is perfect for those on a budget or for when you have limited means in your kitchen. It's quick and easy to prepare for those in a rush too. So basically it's freaking easy. Happy Eatings Everyone!

Quinoa with Yams and Broccoli

For anyone who knows me one of my favorite food groups is bacon. Delicious and salty bacon. The amount I eat is ungodly and the amount I serve at parties is always abundant (more for me). But on sunny days in June I like to settle down at the dinner table with the garden veggies that make all of our lives colorful. So setting the bacon aside, here's a light and tasty summer time meal for you to enjoy:

Listening to this classic:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups veggie broth
• 2 small yams peeled and cubed
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 1 cup corn
• 2 cups broccoli
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring quinoa and broth to boil in a medium size pot. 
2. Once boiling add your sweet potato, turn down the heat and cover. Let sit for about 20 minutes. 
3. In a fry pan saute your veggies in your olive oil. Set aside.
4. When the quinoa is done, add your quinoa to the fry pan and mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve!

There you have it, a simple recipe to satisfy our summer bellies! Happy Eatings Everyone!

Homemade Hamburger Helper

I've read, scanned and visited many food blogs, and though all have something to offer, I can tell you the one thing that bores me in each and every one of them is how the blogger drones on about what they or their kids did that day or the hints of saffron and why it's important. Some pepper it with witty banter or sweet nothings but I can't seem to find the drive to do that here. Instead I need to take the more fervent approach where I reach your hearts through your stomachs. Though some blogs may have better photos or their design is a lot more sophisticated, the bottom line is simple that this is therapy for me (and delicious for you). Not just food in general but the act of making it, the joy of serving it and the simple happiness of eating my kitchen concoctions. 

Any chance I get to serve people through food I do it. I have always and will always take pride in it. So when a friend comes over and sits on the couch and seems surprised or overly thankful for the little morsels or the meal I have prepared for them, know, the time and effort put into that dish isn't just to see them smile and feed their bellies (though that is a large part of it), it is simply a way for me to show affection and to feel pride in something I do. My own brand of therapy.

But enough of this, let's get on to the eats!
Oh and the listening, here's what's on my ipod right now:

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1/2 or medium sized tomato diced

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups elbow macaroni

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Combine all of your sugar and spices into a small dish and set aside.
2. In a large skillet brown your ground beef and drain of fat.
3. Next add your macaroni, milk, spice mixture and water. Bring to a boil.
4. Then cover and turn down the heat to let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
5.  Finally add your cheese and tomato to your helper, mixing well so that the cheese melts.
6. Serve!

I hope you enjoy this one! Happy Eatings Everyone!