{Foodie Post No. 5} Pumpkin Spice Scones

Today I had a hankering for scones.
Probably because we're having some nasty rainy, miserable cold weather and making scones meant running the oven (HEAT) and I'd of course have to have a nice hot cup of coffee or tea with them.
I headed to the kitchen and turned the oven on to 350 then poked around my fridge to see what sort of scones to make.
I found this yogurt that I'd gotten for 49 cents and turned out to be kind of nasty.

Normally I would use heavy whipping cream in scones but I know my mother-in-law uses yogurt and her's always turn out yummy. (NOTE: this yogurt does not have the fruit mixed in, I just used the unsweetened Greek yogurt part in the recipe to come;))
I also had a mostly used up can of pumpkin in the fridge so that settled it; Pumpkin Spice Scones.

I grabbed several spices from the cubbard. 

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper, chili powder, and vanilla. I know a couple of those seem odd but trust me, they work. Branch out and be more adventurous with your spices. There are some amazing combinations out there to discover!

I used I used about 2 cups of flour, 2 Tbsp of sugar, a sprinkling of all the spices (heavier on the cinnamon), and about 1/2 of Baking Powder but between you and me, I actually didn't bother measuring. 

Next was the 1/4ish cup of yogurt from the yogurt cup (minus a few bites I saved for my daughter who was begging for it) and the 2 or 3 Tbsp of Pumpkin Purée. I also splashed some milk in which ended up being too much so I had to add a little more flour..

 Mini chocolate chips. I would've preferred white chocolate I think but miniature semi sweet is what I had.

 Turned it out on some flour and tried to carefully shape it.. It was still a little sticky for "carefully shaping".

 Once I got it in the general shape of a circle I floured and knife and cut it into baby wedges. (Re flouring the knife between cuts).

Next it was onto the pan and into the oven; but not before a dollop of butter and generous sprinkling of sugar. Generally I'd use whipping cream on the tops but again, I don't have any.

I set the timer for 8 minutes and quickly washed up my dishes

 Obviously I had more dishes to do than just the ones created by operation scones ;)

 The timer went off and I added 4 minutes because they were still looking pretty doughy.
While waiting I whipped up some glaze. Powdered sugar, cinnamon, a little chili powder for color, and maple extract.

 Then I accidentally added too much milk so had to add twice as much powdered sugar; turned out perfect.

                              

 Waiting on the scones to cool a bit...

 Plated and trying to get a nice picture..

"Mommy, you're done." She wasn't quite so eloquent but I knew that's what she meant ;)

We then tried about a million selfie attempts but Jerusha was extremely uncooperative. 

Eventually we gave up and dug in. This is the look of a mommy giving up on selfies. 

The scones were yummy but pretty cakey. 

Pumpkin Spice Scones

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

2 Tbsp Sugar

Generous dash of Cinnamon

Dash of Nutmeg

Dash of Ginger

Dash of Black Pepper

Dash of Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Vanilla Exteact 

Sift together. 

3 Tbsp Pumpkin Purée

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt

Splash of Milk

2 Tbsp chocolate, or white chocolate chips or pieces 

Gently mix and pat into disc.cut into desired amount of wedges. 

Transfer to pan. 

Dot with butter or brush with cream. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 12 minutes. 

3/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Sprinkle of Cinnamon

Sprinkle of Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Maple Extract

A little bit of Milk

Wisk into a glaze and drizzle over scones 

Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee, or tea! 

Own Your Own Path

This morning after nursing, Bible reading, diaper changing, forcing a my poor baby to breath through her inhaler, then fixing and feeding oatmeal I read an article.
This article reminded me who I am.
I am a wife and mommy but first I am a child of the One True King and I am doing His work here on earth.
Sometimes it slips away, amidst the day to day messes, the whining child, crying baby, skipped lunches, sometimes I forget that what I do is important.
I am raising a generation for service to God.
It may not be the glamours missionary life I once dreamed of and idolized as the most important way to serve God. It certainly isn't the home-business I once would have dreamed as a picture perfect life. No, it is the life of a regular family. A husband who works hard sacrificing time away in order to provide for our every need, a wife who stays at home and wipes snotty noses and spit up on the hem of her shirt, and of two girls who are going to be raised in the joy of the Lord.

I am where God has put me and I embrace that. I love the life he has given me, I want for nothing. I know we are following in His will as our life can be held against His word and be tried and proven. Are there things for us to work on? Yes. Are there changes He may show us along the way? Probably. But today we are where He has chosen to put us and with hearts soft and ply-able He will continue working in us, accomplishing His will through us.

God has given us such a beautiful life.
I read a question on the internet today which asked 'if you died tomorrow what would you regret about your current place in life' it was supposed to be a motivational question, to inspire more sacrifice, more service but for me it actually did the opposite.
If I died tomorrow what would I regret?
Nothing.
Not one little thing.
I absolutely am in love with my life.
My identity is found in what Christ is doing through me and I have confidence that my life is bringing Him honor and glory. I believe God is not only watching as I start the laundry machine, clean up a spill, blow raspberries on tummies, and all the other parts of my day, but that He is guiding me through it all. Just as I know He is guiding my husband. We are the work of His hands. He has written our story and I love watching it unfold.

Join me in owning the path God has set you on.
I am a wife, a mommy, a keeper of the home and I own that and give God the glory. It's the path God gave me and it may be similar to many but it is also entirely unique and one in a million.
Who are you?

And now, just because I'm so blessed by him and can, I'm going to take a moment out to shed a little overdue praise on the husband in this picture.
Wesley, my Wesley. He's a dreamer, oh how he dreams. He has the lottery won, invested, and a new home built in one castle in the air. He owns and runs a burger joint in another. Leisurely taking trips around the world in others. He dreams, who doesn't? There's nothing wrong with dreaming as long as it does't get in the way of doing. It may be that not one of those dreams come true, who knows. What I do know is this: Wesley takes care of me, he takes care of our girls, and with not one word of resentment. He does his job away from home well which provides monetarily for us but that doesn't stop him from providing the leadership we need as a family. Wesley has embraced his role as our provider and leader doing the Lords work daily, enabling me to serve here at home and I will forever be grateful. Because he is following God's way of training our children I can correct Jerusha's misbehavior in his absence and know we are unified, because he is following God's plan in providing I could take poor raspy Eowyn to the doctor last week and not worry about how much it may cost.
Thank you for putting our needs above your dreams, for gladly bearing the cross put before you and for choosing to serve our Lord and savior with such joy. I will forever love you and learn from you. <3 Haley