A Haven for Vee

Monday, July 20, 2015

Gifts and Scones

Saturday brought another gift! This time from *Michele at Finch Rest.* I remembered that she had mentioned sending a book. The book, Blackberry Wine, arrived with a cute tea mug, a darling and delicious package of Brookside dark chocolate-covered blueberries, all sorts of tea samples, and a sweet bookmark with a tea pot charm. I was charmed, Michele. Thank you so much for thinking of me. 




If you have never visited Michele, you will love Finch Rest. She takes beautiful photos and gives wonderful tea parties. 




In honor of my gifts, I made Orange Blueberry Scones. John was in need of baked goods therapy on Saturday and he thought blueberry something would be nice. I wanted to use up some orange juice as I didn't have a lot of milk left so the result was my recipe inspired by *this recipe* from King Arthur Flour, but changed quite a bit. 


Orange Blueberry Scones

3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
1 stick butter (½ cup)
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup orange juice
½ to 1 cup blueberries




Topping
3 to 4 tablespoons coarse white sugar (sparkling sugar)

Preheat the oven to 400°F. 

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. 

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender until butter is mostly incorporated.

Whisk together the egg, vanilla, and orange juice. Add this to the dry ingredients, stirring gently till everything is well moistened and just combined. Dough will be sticky.

Divide dough into two equal pieces. On a parchment-covered cookie sheet, pat first half of dough into an 8-inch circle, add cup of frozen, fresh or canned blueberries to the top. Add the remaining dough by dropping it on top of the blueberrries. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake the scones in a preheated 400°F oven for 30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven, and sprinkle more sugar, if desired. After cooling 5 minutes, turn the scones out onto a rack, sugar side up. While they’re still warm, cut each round into wedge-shaped scones. (I had eight.)


(I used to hop through the hoops of providing a document for a printable recipe. This is a simple copy and paste, folks. I am giving up printable recipes for good. I hope that Vickie at Sand Flat Farm will find this scone recipe to her liking!)


Sunday evening brought more gifts. *Delicious bread from *King's Landing* and two Coffee Crisps. Oh yum! My son and his family were vacationing at the cottage in New Brunswick, Canada and they remembered us. So sweet of them! 
 

We had horrid thunderstorms last evening that rocked the entire house. We were told to expect hail the size of tennis balls. Yikes! That's why this picture of the bread and candy is so dark and the sky is such an angry color.


*Some of you may remember that I worked very hard to create a similar bread. You can find that recipe *here.*

Guess that's it for today! 





*P.S. In light of the daily news, a blogger could easily give up blogging about the inconsequential things of this life like candy bars, books, and scones. If you have not yet had the opportunity to read Brenda's Sunday Post titled For Such a Time as This at Coffee Tea Books and Me,  I assure you that there is much perspective and wisdom to be gained there.*

43 comments:

  1. Oh what a lovely gift, Vee. The scones look good, as does the bread. Those storms passed us, it is hot and humid and my mood matches that (unfort.). Sigh, it is what it is, smiles.

    Have a beautiful Monday (waving to John). Blessings

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  2. Hello, lovely gifts from your friend, I love the cute charm. Your scone recipe sounds delicious. I will have to copy it and try it someday. Enjoy your day and the new week ahead!

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  3. The scones look and sound so yummy! I will have to try the recipe soon! What a nice ensemble of gifts from your friend! I'm sure they were a welcomed surprise! ~Rhonda

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  4. Such a charming assortment of gifts! Thanks for the recipe for the scones. They look delicious. We hope to visit the farmer's market today to buy blueberries and peaches! That sky is angry looking...hope you did not have damage. Enjoy your day.

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  5. How sweet of Michelle! Your scones sound wonderful.

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  6. It's the little things in life that make us happy, gifts from friend sin the mail, and scones. In light of the things happening in the world, (which we really have no control over), it is exactly such little things that we should share. It reminds us that not all is doom and gloom and horror. Sending hugs and heading over to read that article.

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  7. That should read gifts from "friends in the mail", not "sin the mail". hahah...oh dear.

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  8. Blog friends are just some of the best folks on earth. A very nice gift from your friend. The scone recipe sounds and looks so good. Hope your new week is happy and stress free.

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  9. Good morning! What a wonderful gift! It all looks and sounds soo good! We actually had some thunder here in Ca [almost un heard of!] and RAIN this week-end. Though it was sooo humid and horrid it was almost unbearable, lol. Have a good day Vee!

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  10. What a fantastic plate of scones - they look delicious. Glad you were gifted from Michelle. She's a wonderful blogger!

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  11. Good morning Vee. Hope that the hail ended up being mild or non-existent! What nice gifts you received. I'm wishing I had a fairie in the kitchen baking up some goodies for me right now. I am uninspired these days. Thanks for sending me over to Brenda's this morning. That was a good read and I'm cracking up about the trump comment. I have said "Come Lord Jesus" a few times this past week...

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  12. Hello Vee, Everything looks lovely at the Haven. Wonderful gifts, scones, bread and candy. Hope the storm didn't do any damage to your home. It's crazy hot and humid here at our home. Looks like a good day to stay inside. I may need to try your yummy looking scones. Enjoy your day! ♥

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  13. What lovely gifts from friends and family!! And those scones...oh my. I love blueberry and orange together. I'd get right up and make this now, but I just ate a doughnut left over from the weekend. Not a good choice, but there it was. I am definitely going to try your recipe though...they look so good!

    We are hoping for some storms tonight to break this oppressive heat and humidity...though I am not hoping for tennis ball-sized hail!! That is HUGE!

    Will visit Brenda...

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    1. I was wailing a bit after that weather news hit when John looked at me as if I had two heads..."that is not going to happen." I wondered why not and he said, "I rebuked that in the Name of Jesus the second I heard it." Well goodness, why hadn't I thought of that?! The good news is this: no hail that I have seen or read. Some areas of New Hampshire did have bad hail.

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  14. How very sweet of Michele to send such lovely, and useful gifts, Vee. The scones look scrumptious and I'll bet John was a happy man! Please give a review on the book. I'm always in need of a new read. Right now I'm reading a new to me series, called the Bregdan Chronicles, and I just ordered another Rosamunde Pilcher hardcover because it was cheaper than the kindle version!!
    Enjoy your new gifts.

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  15. What sweet gifts! Your scones look and sound delicious. Now I'm off to read the blog you mentioned at the end of your post.

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  16. What a sweet gift, and those scones look so yummy!

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  17. I'll hop right over for tea and scones - if there are any left! What a sweet gift to receive in the mail. I enjoyed reading Blackberry Wine several years ago.

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  18. Oh Vee, seeing your Coffee Crisp made me want to jump through the computer screen and take a bite....or the whole thing! :) As you know, my family and I like to stock up on Canadian candy, but I am out right now....wish you and I were neighbors {{smiles}}

    Michele is such a precious lady and blogging friend. That was incredibly sweet of her to think of you. Enjoy! Hugs and blessings!

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  19. Vee, your baked goods always look so delicious! I have never heard of or seen Coffee Crisp bread before but sure looks wonderful and your version looks amazing! What a sweet blogging friend to send you such a nice bunch of goodies...and I did go visit her too :)

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  20. Wonderful gifts! Your scones sound wonderful! I may have to try them!

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  21. I love that your John took care of that hail for you - I read your comment to Cheryl!
    I still love a good storm but NOT one with that size hail in the forecast!!!
    Everyone in the entire World of Blog loves VEE!!!! Your scones look delicious! So does that book!

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  22. Great gift...and it sounds like an appropriate one for your weather. Stay indoors, curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. Oh...and Brookside chocolate covered blueberries are yummy! Did you know that Brookside started right here in the Fraser Valley in 1954?

    Coffee Crisp are easy to come by in these parts...but I'll gladly sample your orange blueberry scone! And maybe I'll sample some of that bread next month at King's landing. Any chance you will be crossing the border heading north around August 21-23? :)

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  23. Your place sounds like heaven on a spoon. You had me at the Dark Chocolate ... *lol*

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  24. What a lovely gift. Michele does have a wonderful blog. Glad you got some KL bread and Coffee Crisps... :)
    Your scones look/sound soooo good!

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  25. Now that is the sweetest thing ever....sending such a lovely gift! What a beautiful friend to have!

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  26. Gifts ~ what's the occasion? I'm thinking they were sent your way just because we all love you!

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  27. Sweet gifts for a sweet lady. As to your post script, in light of what is going on in the news these days I'd rather read a blog of something quite normal like books, tea, and recipes, all soothing balms in opinion.

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  28. What lovely gifts you receive. : )
    Yummy, that sure look good.

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  29. What a nice gift! I find scones quite addictive--there is something about the taste of baking powder, of all things, that makes them linger on my palate.

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  30. I've known Michele for some time and she likes to send gifts 'just because', that's her sweet and giving personality. Enjoy your book, treats and tea.
    The bread looks tasty, as do your scones. I've always used buttermilk for my liquid ingredient, the orange juice intrigues me.

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    1. Yes, I often "play" with the liquid ingredients in a recipe. Can't say that there have been any epic fails as a result either.

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  31. I visit Michele often..and she is indeed, a really sweet lady.
    I love everything she sent to you...and I also love scones to pieces. Yours sure look delicious.
    We are supposed to get rain tonight but so far, only lightening. I surely hope there's no hail, no matter what siZe. Cotton farmers have their tender cotton plants to worry about.

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  32. A lovely gift to have received, and the perfect scone to go with it too! xx

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  33. Oh Vee - your scones look wonderful and such thoughtful gifts! That bread sounds delicious as well - wish we had made it to KL last month! Hope that storm has passed without damage. I too received a precious gift a few days ago and am enjoying some snuggles at my daughter's home in Alberta!!!

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  34. What a sweetheart Michele is! Such a happy thing to receive a special package from a blogging friend.
    I often feel I am blogging about fluff -- I will have to go read Brenda's post.

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  35. What lovely gifts you have received. I think Michele thought of everything to make your reading/tea time a memorable experience.
    Your scones look delicious and I thank you for sharing the recipe. I happen to have fresh blueberries in the fridge. Think I'll be trying this one.

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  36. Oh what a sweet gift and your scones look so good Vee. May just have to try this recipe. We had some hail here while back that actually dented a vehicle of a friend it was so large. We've been getting some afternoon thunder showers but oh my pond needs it so badly. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  37. hey, Vee. nice to see you are still blogging. i love scones ... not had one in a very long time. i love tea ... drink it daily ... only coffee on a special occasion. i really found it was not nice to me ... made me very jumpy & nervous. have a great day. & thank you kindly for the bloggy visit. ME, Mildred Elizabeth is a true sweet friend. love her to pieces. ( :

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  38. What nice gifts!! Love scones. Did you get the predicted hail? Hope not. It is so destructive! Now I'm in a mood for scones.

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  39. Such a lovely gift; the scones sound delicious. I like your header photos, Vee. Glad your hail wasn't as large as predicted. Have a great week!

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  40. What lovely gifts you received from Michele. I enjoy her blog and her tea parties. I love the brown bread form Kings Landing!! And Coffee Crisp bars too. Lucky you.

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  41. VEE- well life has been crazy, but I just now found this post - haha - and I try to never miss your posts.

    Well, I am so happy you are happy. It's nice to get things in the mail besides junk and bills, yes?

    Your recipe sounds great and boy oh boy does it look GOOD. I think I gained a pound just thinking of it, haha. Big hugs. xxx

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