Monthly Archives: February 2013

Cranberry Scones

LaurenFoodE cranberry scones
For those of you who don’t know me IRL (that’s internet speak for “in real life”), you might not know that I spent six weeks studying abroad in Dublin the summer before my senior year of college. It still lives in my memory as the best consecutive six weeks of my life, mostly because it was six weeks of zero responsibility. Sure, I had to read some Irish books and write the occasional essay on them, but mostly my trip was about hanging out in pubs with the friendliest people on the planet, meeting friends who’d end up my lifelong pals, and traveling around a country teeming with greenery and Guinness. Sounds nice, eh?

One really cruel thing they do to you in Ireland is serve you a scone with Kerrygold butter and a cup of tea on your flight home, just to remind you of the incredible place you’re leaving. The only reason I didn’t cry when they served it to me is because I could barely keep my head up from exhaustion. Let’s just say I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep or sobriety during those six weeks.

Whenever I get a chance to relive that blissful experience, I take it. This recipe is just one of those moments.

On the menu:
Cranberry Scones
Makes 8
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/2 cup craisins, roughly chopped
1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut in the butter to the flour mixture until course crumbs and some larger pieces of butter remain. Stir in the craisins. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the cream until combined.

Dump dough onto a clean countertop or cutting board and knead 5 – 6 times, until the dough is one large sticky ball. Press the dough into an 8 inch round cake pan. Dump back onto the counter or cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 identical wedges.

Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 11 – 15 minutes, or until the tops of the scones are brown. Let cool for around 10 minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature alongside a nice, hot cup of Irish breakfast tea.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

The BF and I celebrated early (as per usual) to avoid the annoying crowds and overpriced pre-fixe meals at every restaurant from here to Timbuktu. So tonight we’ll be enjoying takeout lobster rolls and perhaps a romantic movie (or Goodfellas, ’cause that’s how we roll), but really I’ll be dreaming of this. Oh, Wegmans. Only you.

LaurenFoodE Wegmans steak

Thanks to Marianne for the photo!

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Enchiladas Ay Carumbaaaaa!

LaurenFoodE enchilada
I know you guys have been staring at that One Mug Brownie picture for a long time now, and you’re like, “Gaaaaahd Lauren, switch it up already.” Your wish is my command.

This dish is so delicious, that after whatever monstrosity I made the next night was consumed, The BF rummaged through the fridge and asked, “Are there any of those enchiladas left?”

Note: do NOT buy enchilada sauce. You will die when you see how easy it is to make. And it tastes just like the real deal enchilada sauce you buy from the grocery store, only it’s fresh and you made it without all the preservatives and other nasties you find in store bought sauces.

On the menu:
Chicken and black bean enchiladas
Serves 3

For the sauce:
3 cups low sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup flour
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder

For the enchilada filling:
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
2 tsp cumin
3 cups shredded cheddar or blended Mexican cheese, divided
6 medium-sized flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9″ x 13″ pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium sized saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add tomato paste, flour, and spices and stir until blended, 1 minute. Whisk in broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook around 8 minutes, or until thickened.

In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, black beans, corn, green onions, cilantro, cumin, and 2 cups of the shredded cheese. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the 9″ x 13″ pan. Fill each tortilla with an ample amount of filling, tuck in the ends, and nestle seam-down in the sprayed pan. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas, careful to cover them as best you can. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

Bake for for about 20 minutes. Garnish with extra cilantro.

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