Lavender Lemon Scones

I'm not a trendsetter. In fact, I seem to always be a bit late to the game. Especially when it comes to entertainment. Whether it's books, movies, or TV, I always find myself getting into something long after everyone else has already realized its awesomeness. (I didn't start reading Harry Potter until just before the 6th book came out.)

TV is the worst. I'm always the last to start watching things. I didn't fall hard for shows like Buffy, Angel, and Alias until they were long over. (And I've still never seen Lost.) My absolute favorite show on TV, Supernatural--it wasn't until this current season, its 8th, that I've actually watched them as they've aired. I'm always a bit behind.

Because of my habitual ignorance to anything popular, I completely missed the boat on the whole Downton Abbey deal. Until now.

I don't have Netflix or anything like it, and I'm poor, so to get caught up on what the cool kids are into, I rely on the library. Which means I put my name on a list and wait 4 months. After being nearly 500 names back for Downton Abbey, my turn finally came, and I totally binged on all things Crawley. (As much as you can binge on a series that only has 7-9 episodes per season.)

After immersing myself in hours of high British life, I found myself craving scones. And wanting to talk to the cat in a (very bad) accent, but let's not mention that part.

I wanted a scone that was light and delicate-- so I settled on lavender and lemon. A bright fresh flavor with a hint of floral tones-- they were the just what I was looking for. Warmed and drizzled with honey, they were the perfect breakfast (and afternoon snack) these past few days.

I had a bit of a hard time tracking down dried lavender that I could bake with though. My quest took me to 2 kitchen stores, 2 craft stores, Trader Joe's, and some specialty French store that only sold dried bundles for fragrance and decoration. But I finally scored some at World Market for pretty cheap. (And on my quest, I realized just how lucky I am to live near a shopping area that has all of this and more in the vicinity, so I didn't have to drive all over town.)

They're a cinch to put together, after you track down your ingredients, and you'll be pulling from the oven beautiful, delicious scones to serve with afternoon tea in no time. That is, if you like tea. (Which I don't...)

Crispy Oven Fries

I believe there should be balance in everything. Everything should have a counterpart to complete it. Like yin and yang. Peanut butter and jelly. Macaroni and cheese. Abbott and Costello. One without the other just seems strange. Lacking. I get the same feeling about my dinner plate. My meal feels unbalanced if I don’t have some sort of accompaniment to my main course. Even if it’s just a slice of garlic bread with a pasta meal, I need something else on my plate. The problem is, my hatred of all things veggie leaves me with few options to balance the plate scales.

Which is why most times you’ll find me with some form of potatoes on my plate. Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, French fries. Oh French fries, how I love you. Crunchy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside—there’s nothing better than a hot fry. But for all my love of fries, I’d much rather they come from a bag (fast food or frozen) than actually attempt to make them myself.

Google “French fry recipe” and you’ll come up with nearly 2.8 million results. And nothing within the first few pages is anything I wish to try in my kitchen. Soaking the potatoes in ice water for hours before dropping them in hot oil? No thanks. Sacrificing that crunchy exterior by throwing them into the oven instead? I want none of it. I just want a crunchy/creamy fry that I don’t have to spend 3 hours on a splattered kitchen and a burnt hand to make. Which is why I now think of Shawn at I Wash You Dry as a complete and utter genius.

Potatoes coated in breadcrumbs, parmesan, and seasonings, baked in the oven until golden brown—the perfect crunchy/creamy scenario without all the hassle! Okay, so maybe they’re not McDonalds or Ore-Ida, but they’re dang good. And so easy. You don’t even have to get your hands dirty. Throw the potatoes in a ziptop bag, drizzle in some oil and swish it around, then dump in the coating ingredients, seal it up and shake. Couldn’t be any easier! And you can customize it with any seasonings you want--from hot and spicy to italian flavors, it's completely up to you.

I’ve made these 3 times in the past week and a half, and I see these becoming my new go-to dinner companion. I may never eat French fries from a bag again. Or at least a frozen bag. Cause, let’s be real. I wouldn’t give up fast food French fries for anything. No matter how good these oven fries are.

Strawberry Galette

I spy some green outside my door! The past week has brought warmer temperatures (finally!) and the first buds of spring popped up seemingly overnight. Hooray! Spring has finally sprung!

The first taste of warmer weather makes me excited for what's to come. I can't wait to rock my dresses again. I live for days I can throw open the doors and windows and let the breeze blow in. I long for evenings spent on the patio, book in hand, surrounded by green leaves and the beginning bursts of colorful flowers. (Until they inevitably succumb to the negligence of my black thumb...) I yearn for dinners on the grill and big bowls full of ripe, juicy, sweet berries. Oh, sweet delicious summer fruit, how I’ve missed you in the cold winter months.

Strawberries are by far one of my favorite fruits. I generally eat them sliced up and sprinkled with an ungodly amount of sugar. Lately, however, I’ve been enjoying them with just a drizzle of honey to enhance their natural sweetness. A bit healthier and a lot cleaner than my usual snack, and every bit as delicious.

And it makes the perfect base for a simple, rustic, no fuss dessert.

Think of a galette as pie for people who are scared of pie crust. No messing with pie plates or double crusts or crimping. Just roll the crust out flat and relatively round, throw some fruit in the middle and fold it up. No need for perfection here. It’s as easy as… pie. Or rather, pie’s calm, laid back brother.

The honey bumps up the strawberries’ natural sweetness, while balsamic vinegar adds a subtle layer of extra flavor. Wrapped in a flaky crust and drizzled with a little extra honey, it’s a heavenly way to welcome in spring.

Chewy Mocha Cookies

It seems like most people I know need coffee to survive. Or at least function properly. A cup in the morning to wake up and get going. Maybe some more refueling later to make it through the day. While I’m not exactly a morning person, I’ve never actually been one of these people that depends on caffeine to wake me up. Sure I’d indulge in a Starbucks latte every now and then at work (because I’m a sucker for White Chocolate Raspberry Mochas. They’re just so pink!), but that was all it was—an indulgence. Until recently…

I’ve had more coffee in the past month or so than I probably have in my whole life. I couldn’t tell you why. But I think I’ve turned myself into a coffee drinker. I’ve traded in my Biscoff covered toast for a steaming mug first thing in the morning. And I have to say, with enough flavor and milk in it, it’s not half bad. I just have to keep myself from getting completely hooked.

These cookies aren’t helping at all. Laced with a healthy dose of espresso powder, they’re even more irresistible than that morning mug. They’re soft and chewy and totally chocolatey. And with the help of some cream cheese, they’ll stay tender for days. (Not that they’ll stick around that long.) And like the Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies, these bad boys are egg free, so not only is it totally safe to eat the raw dough (which I did. Quite a bit.), but they’re perfect to share with those who have egg allergies.

I brought these cookies into work to share about a week ago and my coworkers are still talking about them. That’s how you know you’ve got a winner on your hands.