Blueberry Oat Scones

Mother's day is around the corner which means most women are going to hang up their aprons for a day and kick their feet up. Now, I'm not a mother but if I was I would start dropping some hints on how I'd like to spend my morning in bed munching on these delicious scones. Just a thought...

Blueberry Oat Scones
Epicurious

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 11 tablespoons (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (about 5 1/2 ounces)
• 1 3/4 cups chilled half and half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 teaspoons raw sugar*

Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and coarse salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter. Using on/off turns, blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add 1 cup oats and blueberries; stir to blend evenly.

Stir half and half and vanilla in small bowl. Gradually add to flour mixture, tossing until dough just comes together (dough will be very moist).

Using 1/2-cup measuring cup for each scone, drop dough in mounds onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Sprinkle tops with remaining 3 tablespoons oats, then raw sugar.

Bake 15 minutes. Reverse sheets and continue baking until scones are golden and tester inserted into center from side comes out clean, about 12 minutes longer. Transfer scones to rack and cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Blueberry Oat Scones

Recipe of the Week: Ginger-Pumpkin Muffins

Nothin' says the month of October better than ginger-pumpkin muffins.

Ginger-pumpkin muffins
Bon Appétit November 1995

Servings: Makes 16.

Ingredients
5 1/2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
2 tablespoons brandy
2 cups sifted unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cooked pumpkin puree or canned solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup unsulfured (light) molasses
1/4 cup vegetable oil


Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line sixteen 1/3-cup muffin cups with paper liners. Mix 2 1/2 tablespoons crystallized ginger, currants and brandy in small bowl.
Sift flour, ground ginger, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Whisk pumpkin puree, buttermilk and vanilla in another bowl. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and egg in large bowl until foamy. Add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar; beat until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in molasses and oil. Beat in dry ingredients alternately with pumpkin mixture in 3 additions each. Stir in currant mixture.

Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Mix 3 tablespoons crystallized ginger and 1 tablespoon brown sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over muffins.
Bake muffins until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool on rack.

Recipe of the Week: Ginger-Pumpkin Muffins