My aunts, cousins, and Grandma started a really fun tradition last year--a Favorite Things Party. If you've never been to one before there's really nothing to it. All you do is bring your favorite appetizer or dessert and a wrapped gift of one of your favorite things (our limit was $30). After you're done eating your yummy treats, everyone draws a number to find out the order of picking presents. Then each person picks a gift one at a time, opens it, and the person who brought it explains why it's one of their favorite things. You could also play this like the White Elephant game where you can steal the gift 2 times but we just kept what we opened. We like to hold our Favorite Things Party in January when there's really nothing else to look forward to. It was such a fun girls night out!
The gifts
The treats--yum!
The guests
The "favorite things" this year were books, water bottles, a space heater, paintings, hair products, make up, clothes, cleaning supplies, chocolate, racquetball racket, and more!
That's my awesome grandma on the left sporting the sweatband! She hosted the party at her house and as always was an excellent hostess!!
So if you're looking for something fun to do with your girlfriends or family try a "Favorite Things Party." A wonderful time will be had by all!
The winner of my New Year's Giveaway for the Orson Gygi pans and lids is....
Chelsea Alexander!!
Congratulations, Chelsea!! Please email me your info at bhnielsen@gmail.com within 3 days so I can send you your pans. Enjoy making your Pumpkin Rolls!
Thank you to everyone who entered and shared my blog with your friends. I really appreciate it and I hope you enjoy the recipes and fun ideas I'll continue to post.
I learned this scone recipe from a neighbor/church leader, Diane, when I was a young teenager. She's an amazing cook and these scones have always been a favorite of mine! These are not a low fat treat, that's for sure, but they are extremely delicious when you feel like indulging.
Diane's Scones (half recipe) -
1 package yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/8 cup warm water
2 cups buttermilk (warm)
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups flour
*This is the half size recipe. It will make around 2 dozen scones. I used this recipe for the tutorial.
Diane's Scones (full size) -
2 packages yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons each pkg.)
1/4 cup warm water
1 quart of buttermilk (warm)
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 cups flour
*This recipe will make around 4 dozen scones. Use it if you're feeding a large crowd.
Here's the video tutorial:
And here are the step by step instructions:
Place 1/8 cup warm water in a measuring cup.
Add 2 1/4 tsp. yeast.
I like to put a little sugar in with the yeast. Mix it up and let it rise for 10-15 minutes.
Pour 2 cups of buttermilk in a microwave safe container and warm it up for 1 minute.
There is a cheater way to make buttermilk if you don't have it on hand: just pour 1 Tablespoon white vinegar into one cup of milk and let it sit for a few minutes. You'll need 2 cups for this recipe.
Place your yeast into a mixer.
Add to it the 2 cups of warm buttermilk.
Add 1 Tablespoon sugar. Mix well.
Crack an egg into a separate bowl and beat it.
Then add it to the yeast and sugar.
Pour in 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil. Mix together for a few seconds.
Next, you're going to start on your dry ingredients. Start with 3/4 teaspoon salt.
Add 1/2 Tablespoon baking powder.
And 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
Now mix in your 4 cups of flour. Add 2 cups and mix well.
Then put in your salt, baking soda, and baking powder,
and blend in the other 2 cups of flour.
Transfer the dough into another bowl,
and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size (about an hour).
Start on your honey butter while the dough rises.
All you do is take 1 cube softened butter and mix it with a hand mixer until there are no chunks. Slowly add 1 cup of honey to the butter and continue mixing until well blended.
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla,
mix it in, then cover the honey butter and refrigerate.
When your dough is ready,
place it on a floured countertop and knead in a little more flour if you need to.
It should look like this and shouldn't be sticky to the touch.
I like to cut my dough in two and cover in plastic wrap. Each of these balls of dough will make about a dozen scones. The dough can last in the refrigerator for a few days.
Roll out your dough until it's about 1/2 inch thick and cut up into 12 sections.
Pour 2 cups or so of vegetable oil into a large saucepan
and heat it up to 350 degrees.
Stretch your dough out a bit and place in the hot oil.
Fry for 3-5 minutes or until the scone is golden brown.
Serve the scone with your honey butter and sprinkle some powdered sugar on top.
And you're finished! Enjoy these delicious pieces of heaven on earth and share some with your friends!
