Cinnamon Sugar Scones

These little scones are amazing!!! They came with rave reviews in a recipe exchange group I'm in on facebook and I knew I had to try them.  I made them on Saturday morning and they were the perfect delicious breakfast treat. Recipe from Money Saving Mom.

Scones:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg, separated
3 tbsp honey
1/3 cup buttermilk

Cinnamon Mixture:
1-2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

 Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1-3 tsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 400. In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Cut the butter in using a fork or pastry blender. In a small bowl combine the egg yolk, honey and butter milk. Add to the dry ingredients until just combined.  Pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick and cut into 8 pieces.  Combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping.  Brush the scones with the egg white and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.  While the scones are baking mix together the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Remove the scones from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before glazing and serving. 

Brown Sugar Garlic BBQ Chicken

This chicken turned out great! It was so tender and had excellent flavor. It just gave your regular bbq chicken a little extra! This recipe is adapted from Yellow Bliss Road.

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

 Heat oven to 400. In a bowl whisk together the brown sugar, garlic and bbq sauce. Place chicken in a baking dish then top with the bbq sauce. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Pimento Cheese Biscuits

Pimento Cheese is like it's own food group in the south. Everyone has their own unique take on it and it's hard to pick a favorite.  When I go back home to South Carolina I usually have 3 or 4 different pimento cheeses while there because...well why not?  When I saw these biscuits I just had to try them out and they did not disappoint. Recipe from Southern Bite.

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup buttermilk
3oz jar diced pimentos
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 475. In a bowl combine the self-rising flour, salt and sugar.  Cut the cold butter into cubes and cut it into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until it becomes a crumbly mixture. Stir in the buttermilk. Drain the pimentos well then add to the biscuit mixture along with the cheese. Fold the biscuit mixture several times to combine. Flour a smooth service and pat the dough into a circle that is 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick. Using a small biscuit cutter, press out the biscuits and place in a buttered dish. Bake for 13 to 16 minute or until the biscuits are just starting to brown. 

Oven Browned Rice

This is one of my favorite recipes. I got it from a dear friend of mine, its super super easy to make.

1 cup uncooked rice
10 oz beef broth
10oz condensed french onion soup
1 stick butter

Heat oven to 425. In a 8x8 dish place the rice. Pour the beef broth and condensed french onion soup over the top. Slice the butter into cubes and set on top. Cover with foil and back for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 20 to 30 more minutes and serve. 

Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I made this cake to celebrate the finalization of our daughter's adoption.  Even though she is too little to eat cake it was fun to make and celebrate with our friends. This recipe is from Life in the Lofthouse.

Cake:
1 box strawberry cake mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
3 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1 cup diced strawberries

Frosting:
8oz cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup butter (softened)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set to the side. In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer combine the cake mix, water, oil, eggs and sour cream. Fold in the strawberries and pour into the baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes then let fully cool.  Place the softened cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and beat together. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix in until combined. Mix in the milk and vanilla extract. Carefully frost the cake. Refrigerate until read to serve.

Slow Cooker San Fransico Chops

These slow cooker pork chops were so simple to throw together and made a delicious easy dinner.  They were so tender and had fantastic flavor! Our whole family loved them. This recipe is adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

2 tbsp olive oil
4 pork chops,
Salt
Pepper
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp packed light brown sugar
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp flour

In a skillet heat the olive oil. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper then brown them on either side then place in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Add the garlic to the skillet then stir in the soy sauce and chicken broth then add the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved. Whisk in the red pepper flakes then pour over the pork chops.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Remove the pork chops and whisk the flour into the sauce until it has thickened up. Top the pork chops with the thickened sauce and serve. 

Roasted Vegetable and Feta Orzo

This dish was amazing! It was so fresh and light, the perfect spring dinner on a warm night. I adapted this recipe from See Brooke Cook.


1 purple onion
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
2 cups mushrooms
2 zucchini
4 garlic cloves (minced)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
16oz orzo pasta
8oz feta cheese
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried basil

Dice the onion and bell peppers, quarter the mushrooms, cut the zucchini in half circles. Toss the vegetables in 1/3 cup of vegetable oil and garlic then season with salt and pepper to taste.  Roast in a 425 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Toss every 10 minutes.  In a pot cook the orzo pasta according to directions.  While the pasta is cooking whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, dried basil and 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper.  Remove the vegetables from the oven, drain the pasta and toss them together, sprinkle in the feta cheese and pour the dressing over the pasta salad. Serve warm or cold. 

Buttermilk Pancakes

Make these pancakes. Like now. Seriously everyone in my family, even my pancake hating child, liked these! They were amazing!!! This recipe is from Cooking Classy.


2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/4 cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly

In a mixing bowl whisk together the sugar and brown sugar until there are no clumps. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a separate bowl combine the buttermilk, milk, sour cream, vanilla extract, eggs and butter.  Fold the flour mixture into the buttermilk mixture until combined. Heat a skillet to 350 and pour 1/4 cup of batter at a time onto the skillet.  Let cook until it is golden brown then flip and cook until done. Top with butter and maple syrup.