The best kind of rain, of course, is a cozy rain.
This is the kind the anonymous medieval poet makes me remember,
the rain that falls on a day when you’d just as soon stay in bed a little longer,
write letters or read a good book by the fire, take early tea with hot scones and jam
and look out the streaked window with complacency.
~Susan Allen Toth
Today, I woke up to the sound of rain.
Drip drops falling against the window pane. Puddles forming on the driveway. A grey dark sky. This meant my session was today cancelled and rebooked. And that all park playdates were scratched off the to-do list. The rambunctious noise of three children ready for a day of fun and adventure also greeted my ears.
But contrary to what you might be thinking, I love days at home- and yes, days at home with ALL my girls. Days of nothing. Days where we plan what we want to do as we go along. Right now, the older Ls are playing Webkinz and one little L is napping. Yes, three loads of laundry sit in my hallway, waiting to be put away into {too-full} drawers, but dinner is made (homemade spaghetti – mmmm!) and the girls had a relaxing, quiet and good morning and that’s what counts.
I surprised them with a tea party, set up in Lucia’s (old) bedroom (which is vacant now, waiting for baby #4 to arrive in four months). They’ve been asking for crumpets for a snack (after they heard it in a movie) and while I didn’t have crumpets, I did bake them scones this morning. Almost the same thing? Maybe not.
Well, they sounded tea-party-ish to me.
Apple scones and cheddar cheese for tea, please.
{wildflowers the girls & I picked yesterday at the railroad tracks}
Daisy wanted to be a part. Or she just wanted to eat the cheese.
{and yes, if we are having a boy, I will be repainting this room!!!}
Lyla was a bit distracted by the fairy mobile …
… until the marshmallows were served for dessert …
I’ve never made scones before, but when I was younger, my sister always made them and they were divine … they bring back happy memories. I’m so relieved these ones turned out!
[Sidenote: For just over a year, I’ve been on a personal quest to make more homemade food for our family (healthier AND cheaper!), to stay within my grocery budget ($100 a week for five – that’s tight!) and to learn to bake/cook like I should … it’s been a huge learning curve (like today, my bread didn’t work out), but for the most part, it IS tastier than storebought and it’s SO MUCH MORE healthy!]
Anyway, after the little tea party, momma had her own little tea break … Ella Fitzgerald playing on the ipod, warm scones with butter, tea and wildflowers & a little summer rain… scrumptious.
Oh, here’s the recipe. Try it and let me know what you think!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter, chilled
- 1 apple – peeled, cored and shredded
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
- Measure flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly. Add shredded apple and milk. Stir to form a soft dough.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 8 to 10 times. Pat into two 6-inch circles. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush tops with milk, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Score each into 6 pie-shaped wedges.
- Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 minutes, or until browned and risen. Serve warm with butter.
And as the cherry on the top of an already divinely sweet day, three peonies *finally* opened in my garden … I’ve been eying them for a week or so now … mmmmm …. dripping with gorgeousness.
Oh, and speaking of scrumptious food, I think we shall draw a winner(s) for the Cat Can Cook giveaway!
Using random.org, the FIRST winner is #18:
Sherri – who wrote “That carrot ginger soup sounds good. I think I may just have to try it!”
Congratulations, Sherri! You’ve won the NECKLACE, the apron AND the cook book!!!!! You are going to love all three! I just know it!
And the second winner is #52 – “I have never even attempted to bake till I joined the CatCanCook website, her recipes are so simple and easy to follow i must say i really enjoy baking now…A big thank you Cat from all my family!”
Julie, you also won a Cat Can Cook cookbook & apron! Congratulations!!
I just need your mailing addresses to fire off your presents, ladies. Send me an e-mail: gillian@gigiphotography.com!!
Stay tuned for more fabulous “things” coming from Cat Can Cook & Gigi Photography!!
by Gigi
16 comments