Simple Scones

Scones

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup firm butter

1 large egg beaten

½ teaspoon vanilla

4 to 6 tablespoons whipping cream (heavy cream)

White coarse sugar crystals for decorating the top

1. Heat Oven to 400 degrees F
2. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter using pastry blender (or hands or with 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions) until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in egg, vanilla and just enough of the 4-6 tablespoons of cream so dough leaves side of bowl.
3. Place dough on lightly floured surface; gently roll in flour to coat. Knead lightly 10 times. On ungreased cookie sheet, roll or pat dough into 8 inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges with sharp knife that has been dipped in flour (you can leave wedges or separate them). You can also use a cup to create round scones. Brush with additional whipping cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar crystals.
4. Bake 14-16 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Carefully separate.  

Feist + Mountain Man

Tonight I had the pleasure of seeing Feist! She was everything I hoped she would be and more. Such amazing talent. 

Feist had the cutest little back up singers and I discovered they have their own group called
Mountain Man. 

I am pretty excited to check out more of their stuff.

Song Obsession

I know I haven't blogged in forever, but don't get too excited because I probably still won't be very consistent.  I had to share this song though. My brother shared it with me a couple months ago and it has definitely been my most listened to song since then.
Enjoy.

 Suburbs by Mr Little Jeans

Home-Made Granola Bars

Today I made these delicious home-made granola bars.  I decided there is way too much sugar and unnatural ingredients in store bought ones so I think making these may become a regular occurrence.

The recipe is really simple and easy to customize and change to whatever suites your taste.
So here it is if you would like to give it a try.

3/4 cup      natural peanut butter
3/4 cup      honey (I used pure creamed honey)
1 1/2 cup   oats
1 1/4 cup   rice crisps, millet or hemp hearts (I used organic whole grain brown crispy rice, you could use a mixture)
1 cup         slivered almonds (any type of nut would work)
1 cup         dried fruit

melt p.b. and honey in microwave for about a minute
stir all dry ingredients together, then gradually add the p.b. and honey mixture
put in cake pan and squish down evenly.
place in freezer and let harden
cut into desired size

*This makes about 16 bars depending on the size you want and is best stored in fridge or freezer.

Paris

My brother made a super cute little video so he and his wife can win a trip to Paris.  

All they have to do is get enough votes to win!

So click on the link to check out the video and vote!  

Merci.

http://copperfield.strutta.com/entry/172628#box-info (I would embed it if I could)

I painted this picture today in lieu of the contest.

I can't wait until I can take another trip to Paris!  Hopefully that day comes sooner than later...

California dreamin'

Dear Mother Nature, 

Today is April 28th and it is snowing a lot!!  What ever happened to April showers?  To make things worse it is still quite cold, it is 0C and feels like -5C. Isn't it supposed to be spring right now?  Is this some sort of mean joke?

As you know winter has been very cold, snowy, and grey and the forecast shows no end in sight. Could you please please hurry up with some nice weather? If not I think I shall move to California.  Current temperature in LA, 26C.  Much better?  I think so. California, here I come!

Sincerely,

Maya

*These are finally some pictures from my California trip back in September.  

I'll gradually keep posting some more when the time is right.

My soul belongs to Thom Yorke

I didn't think it was possible to love Radiohead anymore than I already do until I saw this video...



Thom you never disappoint me.  Thanks for being so cool.

P.S. If you haven't listened to Radiohead's new The King of Limbs album I suggest you get on it.  I'm obsessed with it of course.

P.S.S. sorry for 2 music posts in a row and all in one day but I just couldn't wait to put this up!

Yes!

Iron and Wine covers George Michael's "One More Try"



Also in case it has been a very long time since you have heard the original...

delicioso!

the menu:

carne adovada tacos

guacamole
mexican rice

refried beans

mexican chocolate cake

for family day my talented chef of a brother made an authentic mexican dinner.

everything was made from scratch with fresh ingredients.  

It was absolutely delicioso!

I am still full.

Helplessness Blues

dear friends, i am so excited.
remember THIS band?  Well I sure like them and guess what?
they have a new album coming out on may 3rd called Helplessness Blues and they are going on a north american tour.
my birthday is april 8th if you want to get me tickets and fly me somewhere they are performing :)
anyway here is a taste from their new album that you can download free!

you're welcome : )


p.s. for more info about this go HERE

i luv thrifting.

these are my finds from today.  i am quite pleased.

also song of the week shared with me by my good friend karen, click here.

song for a saturday night

this video is composed of approximately 2000 watercolor images painted one after another.
i think that's pretty neat.

dinner party dreaming

As I have been starting to think about and plan my annual Christmas dinner party, I realized I still haven't posted pictures from my summer one!
So here they are, just a little late...

Happy Nintendo Day!

Today it is Nintendo's 25th Birthday!
I'm not really a big fan of video games but the original Super Mario is one of the only video games I actually like to play.  
On this Nintendo Birthday, I happened to find a website that has all the greatest Nintendo games online for free!
Probably not the best thing to come across when I have 3 exams tomorrow....

Anyway if you want to have some old school fun, click the link!

http://nintendo8.com/toplist/more/

p.s. I know this was a random thing to blog after not blogging for so long but it was quick and easy and a good little study break.  I will try to do some more blog catching up sometime soon... I hope. ha

i like this a lot

The Morning Benders - Excuses

I am currently addicted to this song and when I went to find the video so I could share the song, the video I discovered made me become even more in love with it!