Sunday, February 14, 2010

Raisin Scones & NY Trip

Can you believe my team decorated this cake for Kelly Ripa's Cake Off for a Cause? I can't believe it either! Sandy, Megan and I had a blast decorating. The time went so quickly when we looked up it was over. I was ready to do another cake.

I’m home finally! What a snowy trip. I missed my kitchen and my family! Why didn't I pack my Mactop again? That’s ok, The Strand Bookstore kept me entertained with the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. The entire series. I know, I’m pathetic. Instead of sleeping I decided it would be a good time to devour all five books.

New York was great, so was meeting the other food bloggers. And did you know the people of Manhattan are nice? They are! I walked around for days talking to them. I decided to be a local and not take my camera along, so I don’t have a ton of pictures. I spent time with my friend Kathia and my new friend Christine, bummed around Chelsea Market and Whole Foods at Union Square watching out the window as a college kid dropped into the snow to make a snow angel. I talked to people on the subway, in cabs, and on the street. I walked for miles in the snow and spent a wonderful afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

That’s not what you wanted to know? You want to know how the event went? It was a blast! The other food bloggers are so much fun. I miss them already. Ryan from Foodbuzz, the Electrolux people, Buddy The Cake Boss, and Kelly Ripa were nice too, as were the chefs who helped us out of jams. (Ha I’m punny!)

Just us food bloggers waiting to decorate cake.

Will you vote for our cake"Fall for Me" please? There are only five days left. When you vote you’re entered to win an Electrolux range, and better than that $1 goes to fight cancer every time a vote is cast. You can vote once a day until it’s over.

Click the box to sign up and vote:



vote for me

I tried to copy the glorious raisin scones I found in the Chelsea Market. They were such a work of breakfast perfection I hated to eat mine. It really needed to be framed and hung on my wall instead. But I’ll leave you with my recipe attempt. They are good, just not stunningly beautiful. Sigh…

Rais
in Scones
Although good plain, feel free to add a couple tablespoons of orange zest, some cinnamon, or even grated fresh ginger to this plain raisin scone recipe. Store leftover scones in sandwich bags and freeze for a quick breakfast on busy mornings.

Ingredients
4 cups unbleached flour
¼ cup plus two tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces
4 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup raisins, preferably organic

Egg wash
1 large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions
1. Place oven racks in the top lower and upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor pulse together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then add the butter 1/3 amount at a time and pulse just until combined each time. You want pea sized butter chunks.

3. In a stand mixer or a large bowl. Beat together the eggs and heavy cream. Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Then mix in the raisins. Dump out the dough onto a clean surface and knead for a few turns adding a little flour if needed until dough is only slightly sticky.

4. Flour a clean surface and roll or pat down the dough until it’s about 1 inch thick. Cut out shapes with fluted a 3 inch biscuit cutter (or any shape you prefer) and place two inches apart on the parchment. Brush tops with egg wash.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown rotating cookie sheets halfway through baking time.

Recipe & photograph by Laura Flowers.


32 comments:

Fresh Local and Best said...

It was so great to meet you Laura!

Mary Bergfeld said...

The scones look delicious and of course I'll vote for you, as many times as they'll let me! It sounds like a fabulous trip.

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Beautiful cake! I have voted and will continue to do so. The scones look divine!

The Cooking Photographer said...

Thank-you!

Diana's Cocina said...

you've got my vote! the scones look delish.

linda @saltyseattle said...

you guys had such a pretty cake- ours was a bit wonky, so i'll probably just keep voting for yours since it's all for a great cause :)

wonderful to meet you!

Erin from Long Island said...

I am so happy you anjoyed your trip! That cake really is beautiful, I will be sure to vote often! I never understand why people are surprised NYers are nice. We are rated one of the friendliest cities in the US! You need to come ack in the warm weather to see the farmers markets.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to get a jump on St Patricks baking with those lovely scones of yours.

Sasha said...

Cake looks fabulous - love the theme and execution. Just voted for you!!

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Laura, it was great to see you on video!! I'll vote for your cake.
Carmen

Memória said...

I voted for you! It looks your team is already in the lead! Great job!

These scones look amazing. I think they look very pretty. Are they soft and moist?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sook said...

i love scones... these scones look beautiful!

l'optimiste said...

eee! you met Kelly Ripa!! And your cake is AMAZING!! I go on there all the time - we will all be voting for you! Just going to Facebook to spread the word :o)

I am going to post this on my blog too, I hope that's ok - if not, let me know?

I really hope you win!!
x

notyet100 said...

lovely cake

Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction said...

Glad to see you got home safely! Now I'm wishing I had gotten stuck in NYC another day so I could have gone to Whole Foods and the art museum with you... Sounds like fun :)

bridget {bake at 350} said...

Oh, I wish I would have had time to go to the MoMA!!! How fabulous!!!

Um, YOUR cake is winning BIG time...and raising lots of $$$ for OCRF, yay!

CinnamonAndSass said...

That cake is divine. Congrats on such a beautiful work of art!

Jackie said...

Hi Laura!
That cake looks divine....ofcourse, I voted for it!

Glad to hear that you had a great time and made it home safely!!!

Hugs.

Chef E said...

So far it seems your team is a winner, and I will go back and vote if they let me!

Scones, oh how I love thee...

Mimi said...

I've been voting. Glad you had such a great trip. The scones look yummy.
Mmi

Federica Simoni said...

wow che torta meravigliosa!!! e che delizia gli scones!!! complimenti!! un abbraccio! ciaoooo

Lisa said...

WHat a gorgeous cake! Those scones look fantastic too-- sounds like you had an amazing time in NY.

shaz said...

Yay! Just voted for a good cause. Crossing all fingers and toes for you.
Yummy scone too.

The Old White Barn said...

Registered and voted. Your cake is absolutely gorgeous! Sounds like you had a great trip - and the scones - oh my!
Susan

Cristie said...

Wow, the cake is just beautiful! So nice the trip turned out to be as nice as you expected.

Rosemaryandthegoat said...

The cake is fantastic. And I love scones, make them all the time. Love to have them in the freezer for when company drops by I can serve them with tea.

Diane said...

Ah, the cake, the scones...voting for you...Done!

Deana Sidney said...

great cake... hope you win!!!

Heather said...

Laura! I just made your raisin scones...delish...I added some ginger, vanilla and some sugar to the top of the egg wash :] I made mine a bit smaller so I have more to share and put in the freezer! They taste yummy...I'll be putting them on my blog!

http://myadventuresincookingandbaking.blogspot.com/

Heather

Anonymous said...

Those scones look absolutely delicious! My favorite version is the cranberry orange scones that my Mom always makes, but I think I may give this recipe a try :)

Sue said...

Your cake looks fabulous(I love fall!)and it sounds like you turned the entire trip into a memorable experience all the way around! FUN!!!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

PS - NYers have always gotten a bad rap, unjustly I might add.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Aw nuts... how did I miss this post??? Wow, so glad you were included in this fun event! Great job with the cake too!!!!!!

:)
ButterYum

Related Posts with Thumbnails