Baking Day ~ Blueberry Scones and Triple Chocolate Cookies

Today when I was at the grocery store I noticed that blueberries were on sale for less than 1$ a pint. I know they're not the same as wild blueberries but they're just as yummy in blueberry scones! I grabbed a few pints and came home and whipped up a fresh batch of them for with tea or for breakfast. This is an adapted recipe from Martha Stewart and it's so easy they'll be done in minutes. Plus, they just look so delicious on a plate when someone pops in for tea!

EMILY'S BLUEBERRY SCONES

Makes 9 large scones.

Ingredients:

3 c. sifted flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. salt

3/4 c. softened butter

1 c. buttermilk

1 egg
3/4 c. blueberries
1/4 c. cream

handful of sugar for sprinkling on top

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender (or two knives). In a small bowl whisk egg and buttermilk together. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients along with fruit. Drop very large spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet, brush with cream, sprinkle generously with sugar and bake for 15 minutes or until slightly brown.

These are the few little adjustments that I personally make but be sure to try the original recipe out and make the adjustments you feel necessary based on your tastes. Sometimes I use organic flour and cane sugar but I keep the measurements the same. I just find they're not as sweet. Also, I add a tiny bit extra flour because I find this recipe is a bit on the moist side. I use an entire pint of blueberries simply because I don't want a whole package with just a few berries left sitting in my fridge and sometimes, for a bit more flavour, I throw in a handful of chopped white chocolate. Also, I find, as well as quite a few others based on the reviews, the temperature quite high for the cooking time. I lower it to 425 degrees and they seem to be browned just as the 15 minutes are up. Oh, and one more, I promise, I spread the dough out for 10 scones. They're more than generous still and it's one extra for me to sample!

Also, since my husband needed something sweet for work, and, since my oven was already on, I mixed up a batch of these cookies. They're to die for and again, very easy to make with basic ingredients. I throw in a secret ingredient that makes them even more fantastic!

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen

Ingredients:

1/4 c. softened butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. oil

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. flour

1/4 c. cocoa

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 c. chopped chocolate

1/3 c. chocolate chips

2/3 c. chopped pecans

In a medium bowl, mash together butter and sugars. Stir in egg and oil and mix until smooth. Add vanilla. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa and salt. Blend dry ingredients into wet and stir in chocolate and nuts. Once combined, drop onto lined pan. Bake at 350 degrees for ~ 12 mins.

I generally use dark chocolate (since it's normally what I have on hand) for the chopped chocolate and semi-sweet for the chips. I find milk chocolate a bit much in this recipe because it's already sweet enough. Also, the cocoa is a big part of this recipe so it's important to use a good quality brand, as with the chocolate and vanilla.

Oh, and my secret ingredient, I sprinkle in a teaspoon of espresso powder to the flour mixture. It makes a huge difference, I think. The coffee compliments the chocolate so well and no one ever can guess what the extra flavour is! Plus, I figure, I like it this much with my latte so why not throw a little latte in the cookie?

Enjoy!

BROWSE LIST ~ Curious Sofa

This week featured on the browse list is a wonderful shop in Kansas - Curious Sofa. The name alone peeks your interest, does it not? Though it's found in the midst of a shopping village, owner Debbie Dusenberry went to great lengths to create the antique shop that's graced so many magazines today. Brick columns, aged wallpaper and decaying plaster were all used to create a store full of old world charm and character. Curious Sofa houses offbeat items, a mix of new and old furniture and lots of vintage inspirations. The store transforms with the seasons (something Debbie oversees with great detail) ensuring that each visit will bring something new and exciting. The shops mantra of "Less than serious surroundings" makes it clear that this unique little boutique is anything but ordinary.

Owner Debbie Dusenberry, a Kansas City native, is the sole owner of the shop. When she's not off on a buying trip, scouting out the next great vintage features for the shop, she's busy in the store setting up displays and working her magic. Her career began as a photo stylist and her love of all things vintage and inspiring radiates in her shop.

Pretty dried roses are a romantically rustic addition to this displayed vintage dress form.

An old typewriter and vintage ephemera found in the Paperie department along with other pretty stationary.

The Boudoir, the most feminine part of the store, is full of delicate fabrics and soft floral prints to make any bed more luxurious and inviting.

An inexpensive indulgence, a few kinds of soap can always be found for the bath.

Pretty vintage postcards are on display along with beautiful letterpress cards.

Garden accessories are on display in an old potting shed.

Be sure to head over to her fabulous website to check everything out for yourself -

http://curioussofa.com/

A Double Wide - Shabby Chic Style

This is an actual double-wide trailer done up Shabby Chic style that was featured in Country Living a couple years ago. Owners Theresa and Craig Smith have decorated their mobile home with countless treasures from their cross-country buying trips. It's a wonderful space, and it's hard to believe that it's a mobile home! It's so full of vintage finds and rustic treasures even Rachel Ashwell would be proud. It's just over 2,000 square feet and sits proudly in Glendale, KY. The Smith's spend over half the year buying antiques for their store, Cottage Gardens, in Elizabethtown (I know right!?).

Enjoy!

This is one of my absolute favourite details of this house - the architectural piece in the back is part of an actual Victorian porch - the best part is that the mail box underneath still has mail in it! Talk about charm!

The old hats and pearls are Theresa's grandmothers. They add a bit of nostalgia to the bedroom.

These counter tops were once the counters in an old store.

The clean metal sink is a nice contrast and it works well to compliment all the other rustic metal in the home.

Only some of Theresa's collections of dishware. I, however, am not so sure I wouldn't be a little put off the by vintage doll heads in my tea cups!

The ornately decorated faux fireplace.

The were old cast iron grates that were used in old Victorian homes to allow air flow - they make fabulous wall art!

Featured Garden ~ the Byleveld House

I've decided to feature my father's gardens this week. He spends a lot of time maintaining them and keeping them so perfectly manicured and beautiful. He's constantly relocating existing plants, incorporating new ones, and always adding a few new little treasures here and there to put his mark on them. His gardens are always co-ordinated in colour and with the season. There's always a variety of annuals mixed with old perennials. His gardens are meticulously edged, weeded and turned over. He's been known to rip a few plants out simply because he's found others that he enjoys looking at more, and even for completely re-landscaping the entire garden in a mere weekend just for a change of scenery. I guess it's one of the many perks of being in the growing industry. He always finds a way to add some whimsical charm with little bird houses, small ponds and creative window boxes. His gardens house his collections of implements that he's gathered from many auctions over the years. He has a tiny little rabbit cage in his shed made of old wooden windows and chicken wire - the closest he can get to the farm life he loves in the city. There are many little places to sit and enjoy the view over a cup of coffee - something we do each week when I go to visit. He's even managed to find a way to provide my mom with fresh herbs (housed in old wooden crates) and vine ripe tomatoes (in old sap buckets). It's a small city garden with big country heart!

Clippings from his hydrangea bushes.

Old wooden windows hanging along his fence with beautiful window boxes.

Incorporated implements for a rustic country feel.

He used some old plastic barrels to create a small little pond.

He got this old vintage wood stove for $5 at an auction a couple years ago. He added a chimney and now uses it instead of a small fire pit - makes coffee outside in the evening so cozy!

His bunny hops freely around in the grass while he works in the yard.

Tomato plants.

A miniature herb garden in an old apple crate.

Some of the many bird houses.

The Woodville Livestock Market

My ideal little backyard barn - just small enough for a few animals.

This would be the cutest little chicken coop! Well, actually, it looks rather large.

I grew up in the tiny little town of Woodville - and by tiny, I mean population 600. It was a quaint, albeit quirky little town that was a wonderful place to spend one's childhood. Our days were spent outdoors, no matter the weather, with only our imaginations to keep us occupied. We walked to and from school and we all knew it was dinner time when our mom's took to the porch to holler for us to come in to eat. We swam in ponds, built forts in backyard forests and strolled down to the corner store to spend our pennies on candy. Our moms spent afternoons chatting over coffee and detailing the latest happenings around town. Funny enough, for such a small town, there was always something interesting going on. It was a place where waking up to your father rounding up a wandering dairy cow, or watching a load of pigs escape around main street wasn't uncommon. The townsfolk were interesting to say the least. More than a few used their lawn tractor as their daily mode of transportation. It's the only place where the town morgue could be transformed into a bistro, which surprisingly became the classiest place to eat. There was one place to get a greasy breakfast on Saturday morning and one place to pick up your mail. It had one of everything actually. It consisted mainly of one street - King Street, that was lined with mature trees and old century homes. They showed movies at the town hall in the summer months and had a grand fireworks show before everyone went back to school in the Fall. One of the places I spend many Saturday mornings however, was the market. It was small, and full of the most interesting people, but it was fun - a lot of fun. There were always the cutest baby animals that we begged our father to take home, piles of old junk waiting to be auctioned off and even a candy booth! Rows of cardboard boxes were overflowing with bags of every kind of candy imaginable. My favourite were the animals. They were all just so darn cute.

This week, I was staying just outside of Woodville. Since the wedding wasn't until later that evening, I decided to venture out to the market for the morning with my son. Though he's still small, I knew he'd love the animals and we were going to make the most of the beautiful weather and spend some time outdoors, smelling the pungent smell of a livestock barn! It didn't disappoint. There were just as many varieties of chickens and rabbits as I imagined and even more adorable little creatures than I could handle. It took extreme discipline to not buy a pair of everything to bring home.

Without currently having anywhere to put them however (partially due to my collections of junk waiting to be sold), I began thinking about what it would be like to have a little hobby farm. You know, just a few laying hens for fresh eggs. May be a few rabbits, some geese waddling around the yard and maybe even a pig. It would be so self-sufficient and it would mean I could design a quaint little farm and barnyard! I stopped myself before I got too carried away. My backyard isn't that big and I currently have enough on my plate as it is. Maybe one day. Until then, I would have to be content viewing them through a cage on market days.

The little potbelly pigs were my favourite! I think it would be so great to have a pet one that just wanders lazily around the yard!

Little baby chicks - just two days old!

Ducklings, of course!

And who could resist those eyes? I could use a Jersey cow for ... milk ... right? Actually, that's a total lie. My dad milked cows to help out farmers when we lived in Woodville and one that he often milked at was a Jersey farm. After milking, he could bring home a jug of fresh milk. It sounds so wonderful, but I hated the taste of it!! Now, however, I would use it for fresh whipped cream and to make butter or buttermilk with.

I actually prefer Highland cattle and the woolly sheep that look similar with their super furry heads that are dreaded with long strands of wool.

I wanted this little Border Collie puppy but she was way too expensive - not to mention, I already have a dog! She reminded me of Holly, the Collie we had growing up. As little girls, my mom would let us all play in the backyard and she would round us up and herd us like sheep.

A Country Wedding

As promised, here are just a few photos from the wedding I attended this past weekend. It was a simple evening wedding held in a beautiful backyard garden. The tent was set at the bottom of hill that overlooked the town and was surrounded by forest, meadows and gorgeous gardens. To the soft glow of chandeliers, with music playing in the background, we ate as the sun set. It was a wonderful wedding that was celebrated with a beautiful fireworks display to conclude the evening. It was elegant and simple with just a little bit of country flair.

The bride and groom - this was their third wedding: The first was a simple beach wedding in Denmark with the state (since she is from Canada and he is from Brazil but both are living in Germany). The second was their church wedding and reception in Germany. And, the third, this one, was just the reception for all her friends and family here in Canada. They really know how to celebrate!

The old school bell atop her parents garage rang, announcing their arrival as they came down the hill.

The tent and table settings. Everything was in shades of purple.

The flowers were just simple arrangements of cream gerbera daisies, pink wax flower and purple status tied together with twine in old mason jars - very country chic!

The view from the hill.

Her bouquet was very elegant with cream roses and various purple and green accents.

The cake was fantastic! One layer was vanilla with a creamy frosting and raspberry filling and the other was chocolate with a chocolate ganache filling.

Even the gardens were co-ordinating! Everything was blooming in beautiful shades of purple and luscious green.