Marigold Sugar Cookies

So I wanted to try baking with flowers. This is something new for me. Well, I do not count making fudge with them, but that is more tried and true. So I am adding them in to a sugar cookie mix. Add it gave a nice honey flavor to the cookies. The cookies turn out slightly nutty and butter and sweet with a nice tang.

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 4 dozen

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Marigold Petals

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. At this time add in a handful of the marigold petals.  Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
   
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

So i wanted to do a chocolate coffee cake, but husband wanted something a bit more classic. Something renaissance of his childhood. So I made that instead. I will get the chocolate one done at some point and post it here.

So this is where we grabbed the recipe from.









Ingredients
topping
1   cup packed light brown sugar
1   cup  all-purpose flour
2   teaspoons  cinnamon
1/4  teaspoon  salt
1    stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut up
cake
2 1/4  cups all-purpose flour
1   teaspoon baking powder
1/2  teaspoon baking soda
1/4  teaspoon salt
1/2  cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1   cup sugar
2  eggs
1   teaspoon vanilla extract
1   cup  buttermilk (or 2 tbsp white vinegar and 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp milk)

Directions

 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch square pan with foil; coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare Topping: In a bowl, blend brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Work butter into flour mixture with your fingertips until crumbly. Refrigerate while preparing cake batter.



2. Cake: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in vanilla.3. On low speed, beat in half the flour mixture, the buttermilk and then remaining flour mixture. Spread half the batter into prepared pan. Top with 1 cup of the topping, finely crumbling to cover batter. Top with remaining batter, spreading to cover topping. Crumble remaining 2 cups topping over batter.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Strawberry Lassi

A Lassi is a type pf smoothie, that comes from India. It is a refreshing drink that is great with spicy foods nad the dairy in it cuts the heat. On it own it can be a sweet and healthy snack, a refreshing way to beat the heat.

The Strawberry lassi  is not traditional, but it is a nice way to add seasonal fruit into a transitional drink. I found a lovely recipe here. One of the most important things I have noticed in researching how to make a lassi , is to have good, fresh yogurt.

Ingredients: 
* 1 to 1 1/1 cup Strawberries
* 1-1 1/2 cups full fat yogurt
* 6 -7 tbsp sugar or honey based on the sweetness of the strawberries.
* 1 -2 tsp of rose water
*  roses or sliced strawberries to top

Direction:
Rise, hull  and roughly chop the strawberries. Then blend to a smooth puree.
Add the yogurt and rose water.

 Pulse the mixture at intervals, until smooth and creamy.

 Top with roses or strawberries.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Dark chocolate and Rose Fudge.

So wanted to do something sweet with the roses. Summer is ending and I want to capture a bit of it in this treat. I was clicking  through pinterest when I cam across a nutella fudge. I love nutella. I have made this fudge before and it is quick and simple. Yet, I wanted to change it up.


To make this you will need the following ingredients: butter, sweetened condensed milk, rose water, chocolate, Nutella, cranberries and almonds.

 This is a simple adaption.

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Butter, For Greasing 8 x 8 baking square
1 can (14 Oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
2-3 teaspoon Rose water
8 ounces, Chocolate Chips, I used dark chocolate.
1 cup Nutella at room temperature
3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter at room temperature. Cut these into 1/2-inch pieces, they will melt faster.
A handful of almond and dried cranberries.
Roses for topping

Directions: 
Grease the bottom and sides of an 8- by 8-inch baking pan with butter. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overlap on the sides. In a medium glass or stainless steel bowl, combine butter and sweetened condensed milk.Add the rose water. Add the chocolate chips.

And finally, the Nutella. 

 Stir all of the ingredients together. The mixture will be very thick.

 Now you can great a double-broiler, by setting the bowl of a medium pot of water. I happen to have a double-broiler, so I just used that.  Sir, for about 5-7 minutes, or until the  chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.  Once the chocolate is melted added in the almonds and cranberries. Stir, the mixture for about a minutes, incorporating the the nuts and berries into the chocolate. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread the top smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle the fudge with roses if you would like. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm, at least 2 hours, or over night.

Once the fudge is chilled, run a knife under hot water, dry it off, and run it around the edges of the pan to loosen the fudge. Using the overhanging parchment paper, lift the fudge out. Peel off the parchment paper.
Cut the fudge into 3/4-inch squares. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Strawberry, rose water shrub

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Golden milk

Turmeric is wonderful herb for fighting flu and colds not only in the Autumn and Winter, but all year round. This is wonderful recipe that can be used before bedtime, to help relax nerves and ease the mind in to sleep, while boosting the immune system. Now, this has a little more kick to it then the original, but I wanted to make sure the curcumin was adsorbed into the bloodstream and did its work. To learn more about turmeric click here.

Turmeric milk, golden  milk, traditional has been used for colds, congestion , headache and sore throats. This gold her is also a depression- fighter. It is something that I need to take more time to build into my everyday life. Healer heal thy self.

This a simple a quick-ish drink to make. If you have fresh turmeric and ginger please use them. If not the powdered if fine, it is what I use.

* 2 Cups of milk or milk substitute
* 1 teaspoon dried turmeric

*1 teaspoon dried ginger  

* 1/4 tsp of whole black pepper. 

* Honey to taste

One add  in that I have seen that I have not tried in a 1/4 tsp of coconut oil. 

1. Place milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
2, Add everything but the honey. Stir well to combine the ingredients
3. Let the milk simmer, small bubbles will form on the side of the saucepan. Stir
4. Continue simmering for 1-2 minutes not allowing the milk to come to a boil.
5. Remove form heat, cover and allow the mixture to rest. This will improve the infusion.
6. Strain the mixture to remove the whole black pepper corns.
&. Serve warm.


For fresh ingredients:
* 2 Cups of milk or milk substitute
* 1/2 inch fresh turmeric thinly sliced or diced
* 1/2 inch fresh ginger thinly sliced or diced
* 1/4 tsp of whole black pepper.
* Honey to taste

Please consulate your doctor before taking any herb or using any recipes or remedies.

Soucre:
http://www.freshbitesdaily.com/turmeric-milk/

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Miso Soup with Turmeric and Tofu

I love this soup. I have been making it all summer and it is about time that I shared it with everyone. It is a wonderful soup to transition in to fall. It is very light and refreshing. Miso paste can be hard to find. It can be order online or if your store has an international aisle sometimes it can be found there. I bought mine at the local Wegman's.

This recipes is from Food& Wine form the March 2014 magazine.

So what you will need.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and quartered
1 large carrot, chopped
1 small yellow onion, quartered
4 garlic cloves, halved
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
3 tablespoons white miso
Kosher salt
6 ounces firm tofu, cubed
Minced chives, for garnish

Make sure you have the whole black pepper corn. I did not the first time and just used black pepper and the soup came out this ugly brown color. It was also to spicy and overpowered the other flavors. I am glade I gave this soup another try with the right ingredients this time.

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the fennel, carrot, onion, garlic, peppercorns and turmeric and stir over moderate heat until evenly coated with oil. Add 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Gently simmer until slightly reduced and the vegetables are soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the soup into a large bowl; discard the solids.

Wipe out the saucepan and return the broth to it. Whisk the miso into the broth and cook over low heat, whisking, until hot. Season with salt. Stir in the tofu and simmer until the tofu is warm, about 2 minutes. Serve the soup garnished with chives.


Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún


http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/miso-soup-with-turmeric-and-tofu

Golden Elixer

In look over some of the lovely recipes that are coming up for Turmeric. I found one buried in the archives of the free people blog. 
 This lovely golden elixir is just perfect for upcoming time of year, flu season. This elixir can be made quick and easy in the microwave if you are feeling under the weather. It can also be maybe on the stove top. The bonus of making ti stove top , you get to breath in the wonderful smell as it comes together.  This has the benefit of helping clear up you stuffy nose and allergies.

Turmeric Elixir

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp ginger powder

a pinch of cayenne pepper

1tsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp of  whole black pepper corn

Honey to taste

Bring the water to a rolling boil. This can be done on the stove top or in the microwave. If you are using the microwave, about 3-5 minutes in a microwave safe container should do the trick.  Once the water is boiling, stir in the other ingredients. Allow the mixture to cool before imbibing.

Enjoy!

Please consulate your doctor before taking any herb or using any recipes or remedies.

Apple Blossom Festival

Welcome to the Land of the Pink and Green was the greeting we received. The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival begun. Well, it started on the 25th of April and will continue for ten days. In Winchester, Virginia home to White House Apple company there is an annual festival and parade. In honor of the pink and green I dress accordingly. It is a lovely day, not too warm and too cool. The nice thing about being up in the mountains is that Spring lingers there just a bit longer that in dose elsewhere. We spent the day at the festival and checking out farmers market and making plans to return. We bout some rout 11 chip, apple cider dounts and a gallon and a half of apple cider, cherry and balckberry. I was a nice day trip. I am thinking about getting something to commemorate the trip. 

What do you think?

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Top Ae long and lean
pants New York and company

Wicked !!!

Happy Belated Birthday!!! So went out to see Wicked with my family, yesterday. Hence, why i am a few days behind.I was along drive there and day and I slept in most of the next day and puttered around the house.My weekend is in the middle of the week.  It was wonderful. I was not sure what to wear as theater outs have become very casual in the last few years. Oh my word. I sound like my mother. This was something that did concern me, so I chose something that I could wear anywhere that was not a formal event. Yes, society often dictates what people should wear and how they should act. Often, I chaff against this, but I think dressing in what make you feel comfortable and toward the institution that  you are visiting are not mutually exclusive. I thought had worn this outfit earlier this month and I have oh well. These things do happen >.< It is a nice outfit in my defense.

Wicked is great play about accepting  yourself and fighting for what is right. It is based off of the book by the same title. There are few book in this series, review on them to come.
















Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Dress Target and Sweater New York and Company 

A rainy day reflection.

This has been no stop rain here for the last few days. Hopefully April showers will bring May flowers. This semester is over and I have a two week break between now and summer semester. I have been craving fresh food now that winter is over. Such a wonderful about of product is soon to be in season.  In the next few months pineapple and kiwi will ripe. Right now it is strawberry season.  Breakfast was simple scrambled eggs with fresh rosemary, tomato and cheese and toast. 

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Pants JC Penny, Top American Eagle, Sweater Khol's  

Spring Pasta

Just a quick picture of the lovely meal I was able to make. Pasta with fresh asparagus and Alfredo sauce. Very simple, paired with a nice white wine. Spring. Welcome.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Green and lavender

Today is a great day. I finished my final exams for spring semester. Only  four more semesters to go. It is nice to have them out of the way. So I celebrated with a lovely brunch of strawberries, sharp white cheddar cheeses and tiramisu. Washed it down with a nice chocolate wine. It was a nice brunch. Luckily, I did not work until evening. 

 Once I was done enjoying brunch a good four hours later. I went to work. One glass of wine is fine during the day. I will enjoy the rest of the bottle some other time. I wore a simple dress and sweater combination to work. Not pictured are the cream tights I put on at the last minute.The temperature dropped rather quickly today, and I figured it would br colder tonight.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Dress Target and Sweater New York and Company 

A cup of tea

It is late. The day is done and tomorrow we do it all again. Life, feels like it s dragging on, and dragging us with it. Our hearts feel heavy and burned. But we can open them up. Open them up to care. To care and to let go. Something’s can not be changed. They are as, they are. Be accepting and tolerant. Be strong and kind. Kindness is strength. You need to know yourself. To know your own person and what can allow, while still being accepting of others. This dose not mean, you allow for other to hurt you or abuse you or use you. Deception happens. It happens when we trust. When we open ourselves up to others. But understand, life can be very lonely, take a chance and learn. The people that are meant to be in your life will come to you and never leave. We chose to care. Caring is wondering. Ego can sometimes times get in the way of caring. Let go of ego. Care for others. Fix problems. Let things get better. Life goes on. It dose not stand still. Move, let go. Enjoy it all. BREATH. Care about those who care form you. The others who take up space in your mind. Who live in your head and heart rent free. The ones that poison you, with every breath you take. Evict them. Evict them for head and your heart. Evict those who despise you. Who hurt you! Give them their notice and let your loved ones in.  The ones who love you. The people who matter. 

Love them. Love them and fill your soul with love. Until it is brimming over. Until it shins from your fingertips. 

Love, Love, Love! Love yourself. Fill everyday. Every moment that you can with incandescent Love. 

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Easter baskets

Easter baskets and Easter Morning, just seem to go hand in hand. So I was given a a cute little Easter basket.I had a lot of  foot products from Avon. I also received a bunny from build a bear.

 Once I removed the cup there  was chocolate. Chocolate!  along with a magic wand.
Really Easter bunny!? Halloween chocolate. Well I hope it is still good. More chocolate for me.

Have a berry orange day,

Sú talún

Rainy days are here to stay

I did not want to get out of bed today. But I had too. I got up and threw on a sweater, it was very cold this morning. It still is quite chilly. There is talk of freezing rain and ice. I thought we were past that. Past the tinkling of ice, chiming off the windshields. Past the howling wind. I had thought we had made it into the clear. To warm winds and fields of flowers. To spring. *shigh* Maybe it is just a few more days off.

Lunch was about the time I felt human. I made a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese.