Cinnamon Walnut Scones

My first activity, after one week of resting up and having a babymoon with my family, was to make these scones. Big sis helped me. They are very simple to make so even though it was the longest time I had spent standing in a week, it was very manageable.


Cinnamon Walnut Scones

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (I use unbleached)
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
4 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter
2 eggs 1/3 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup buttermilk


In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients; cut butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine eggs and cream; stir in dry ingredients just until moistened. Turn onto a floured surface; gently pat into a 7-inch circle, 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges; place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush tops with buttermilk. Let rest 15 minutes. Bake at 450 degrees for 14 - 16 minutes or until golden brown.



I suggest making whipped cream to put on these, although if I had had any mascarpone kicking around I would have made devonshire cream... my recipe for homemade whipped cream can be found in this post. In one of the generous food packages at friend dropped off was a jar of homemade strawberry jam which was JUST PERFECT on the scones. I need to make some jam, I had forgotten how amazing it is when it is homemade. These scones are delicious enough to eat plain but why?

Etsy Baby Shower Gifts - Part Two - BuggaLove

I have been blown away by the generous gifts I received for my new baby from the Etsy Baby Shower. To find out more about it you can read post Part One.

Part Two brings us to BuggaLove. Jessica makes a fun line of baby onesies as well as custom nursery decor including wall letters and butterfly and bird mobiles. She has participated in the Etsy Baby Shower for two years. She sent me not one but THREE amazing onesies, in varying sizes, so my babe will be in style for the next year!


At almost three weeks old, Emmanuelle can now wear my favorite of the three onesies, the one that says "I am new here." It makes me smile every time I see it. I have washed it twice and it looks brand new. I look forward to seeing each onesie on my babe.


Jessica and I have exchanged some nice convos and I will be sure to keep her, and all the sellers who sent me their handmade items, in mind when I need to give baby gifts. She is currently having a sale in her shop so go and check her out. Thanks so much, Jessica!

Nutella Cookies, Yes, NUTELLA Cookies...

Finally, I made them! I have been wanting to make these ever since I read a post about them on the awesome cooking blog, Ginger Rose. I have been back to her blog a few times to read through the mouth watering recipe, and I have now tasted these cookies in all of their wonderfulness. I changed up the recipe a bit, mostly because I could not find hazelnuts anywhere in my grocery store. I decided to use macadamia nuts, since they are so darn yummy in white chocolate macadamia nut cookies...


Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (I used unbleached)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt (if unavailable, regular salt is fine)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts (mine were salted and so was my butter, so I didn't need the kosher salt)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, chocolate hazelnut spread, sugar, and brown sugar. Cream the ingredients together, about 3-4 minutes.

4. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 minute.

5. Hand stir in the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until JUST combined. Add the macadamia nuts and chocolate chips until JUST combined.

6. Using a teaspoon measure, spoon out cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the mounds evenly apart so they will not spread into each other when baked. Bake until lightly golden around edges, about 10-12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cook.

Make these, ASAP!

Etsy Baby Shower Gifts - Part One - Lynn's Lovelies

This spring I was fortunate enough to participate in a very special baby shower. A large group event, it included people from all over the WORLD, and it was actually "virtual". Etsy sellers who make items for babies, got together to throw a baby shower for Esty Sellers who were having babies. My Etsy friend, HeavensEarth, told me about the opportunity. I was assigned to four lovely Etsians, and each one sent me a LOVELY gift for my babe-to-be. I had originally thought to showcase each seller, and the images I had taken of their gifts, right away, but then life got in the way, and well, now my baby-to-be is here! She is about two and half weeks old, which means that some of the items already fit. I figured it would be more fun to show my images AND the images of my baby, Emmanuelle, wearing the items that were made with such care and generosity.

Let's start with LynnsLovelies.


Lynn emailed me to introduce herself and to ask me what colors I like. I told her orange and pink, and that I like bold colors. She specifically crocheted a custom gift for Emmanuelle. I enjoyed communicating with Lynn. She has since sent me a lovely email. And she packaged her gift in bright colors with a nice handwritten note, and dried rose petals. She has gone above and beyond in her kindness.


Lynn's attention to the details really shows. Both in her packaging and in her handiwork. Many of the items in Lynn's shop are in sweet pastel colors, but I love that she created an amazing set of hat and booties that is so flashy, fresh, and fun. I am sure if you like something in Lynn's shop, but you would like it to be changed to suit your tastes, that she would be happy to oblige.

And now for La Belle Emmanuelle modeling Lynn's creations...


(Don't you just LOVE the scalloped edge on this sweet little hat?)


(And the super cute milk tongue on Emmanuelle?)


(And the sweet little buttons in the middle of the adorable flowers on these booties?)


(I even love the little hole in the top of the hat, which I am told is common for crocheted work, which goes out from the middle).

Thank you so much, Lynn! It means so much to me that my little one, who is the second girl in our family, has some handmade items that she can call her very own. We will cherish them!!

Wedding Cake - Maine

Ok, so do any of you have more than one blog? Do you sometimes post to the wrong one? That is what just happened here. This was supposed to go on my other bloh, http://iheartpolaroid.blogspot.com. Whoops! But it is such a lovely image I am just going to leave it here... Another lovely image from my friend, Kiki's wedding, in Maine.
Image by Tiffany Teske