Wednesday, October 8, 2008

{tasty tuesdays} Two autumn recipes

Since this is a day late, I decided to make it up to you by posting not one but TWO recipes!! Good things come to those who wait, yes indeed.

I was quite happy yesterday because I got to bring dinner to my good friend Stacie whose third child was born a week ago. It was a great excuse not only to spend the afternoon cooking and enveloping my house in delicious smells, but also to hold her little daughter Lucy again, who just so happens to be one of the most adorable babies ever and positively makes me ga-ga.

As you all know, fall has been occupying my mind lately, so of course I picked two recipes that, to me, are very fall-ish. This first one has been a favorite of mine for some time, and I could simply eat these until I pop.
Cranberry-Nutmeg Scones

1 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup warm water

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar-- plus 2 tsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp nutmeg, divided

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, chilled, cut into 8 pieces

3/4 cup buttermilk (I always use this instead)

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsp milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees; grease baking sheets. Combine the cranberries and water in a small bowl; set aside.

Place the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a mixer bowl.

Drain the cranberries and add to the flour mixture. Turn mixer to low speed and mix for about 15 seconds until the cranberries are coated with the flour mixture. Add the butter pieces. Continuing on low speed, mix for about 30 seconds, or until the butter is the size of peas. Stop and scrape the bowl.

Add the buttermilk and sour cream. Continuing on low speed, mix for about 30 seconds, or until a soft dough forms (it will be sticky).

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 4-5 times, using enough flour so it doesn't stick to your hands. Flatten dough out (I just use my hands) into a 1/2 inch thick circles.

Cut the dough with a 2-inch round cutter. Place the scones two inches apart on the baking sheets. Combine the remaining 2 tsp sugar and 1/4 tsp nutmeg; mix well. Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle with the sugar mixture.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until light golden brown. Delicious served slightly warm. Makes approximately 12 scones.

Note: if desired, pat all of the dough into a 9-inch round on a greased baking sheet. Using a floured knife, cut the dough all the way through into 8 wedges; do not separate the wedges. Brush with milk and sprinkle with the sugar mixtures. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes or until light golden brown. (this makes for some very LARGE scones, so I prefer the previous method, even though this one is a bit less labor.)

Breakfast this morning: one leftover scone, warmed slightly, with a steaming hot cup of vanilla chai tea. Ahhhh, perfect, especially when enjoyed with my morning devotions, in peace and quiet as my girls played outside

And now for the second recipe. Unfortunately, like a bad blogger, I forgot to take a picture of this before making my meal delivery, but I can tell you that it is one of my most favorite soups ever, and it is ridiculously easy to make.
Tortellini Meatball Soup
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
4 cups water
2 bouillon cubes
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 1/2 to 2 cups dry tortellini pasta
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
thyme and basil
12-16 frozen meatballs
shredded parmesan or mozzarella cheese
In large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and cook for several minutes before tossing in garlic. Season with salt and pepper (you can always add more later) and stir frequently while you let the garlic cook. Pour water into pot and turn heat to med-high. Bring to a light boil. Stir in bouillon cubes and carrots. Allow carrots to become semi-tender before adding tortellini. Immediately add can of diced tomatoes and season with thyme and basil. Reduce heat to medium. Allow soup to simmer, stirring occasionally, until tortellini is almost done (it's easy to overcook tortellini, so keep a close watch on it).
Meanwhile, prepare frozen meatballs in oven as according to package directions. Stir these in at the very last, when the soup has simmered for a little while and the tortellini is done.
Once you have ladled the soup into individual serving bowls, top with desired amount of shredded cheese.
This makes a good-sized pot of soup that is about 6 hearty servings.
Note: This is kind of a made-up, do-it-how-you-like-it recipe (from my mother-in-law), so as with most soups there is a lot of freedom as to what you can put in it. I've found that leaf spinach is a delicious addition, for example. Also, the way I make it, it tends to be low on broth and thick with all the other good things. If you prefer a "broth-ier" soup, you can simply use less tortellini and meatballs, or add more water. (you can also substitute chicken broth for the water and bouillon cubes)
What are some of YOUR favorite autumn recipes, all you comfort-food-loving cooks??


11 comments:

alyssa said...

Yummm...need to make these like, now.

bandofbrothers said...

um, i don't have any fall recipes. i hate to cook(shocking, i know). will you come please be my wife, pretty please:)

Mommy Diffee said...

Both look amazing! Talia I am consumed with fall right now also! It has taken possession over all of my thoughts! All of our fall clothes (including Peyton’s) are washed, hung by size and color, and begging to be worn! My pumpkin spice tea is just sitting on the counter begging me to brew some hot water, the decorations are all in the proper places. I even bought candy corn! And to top it all off, it is going to be 90 freakin degrees today ... what is wrong with Bakersfield? It is either summer or winter around here, I want some FALL! =)

Cheri said...

I have an almost identical recipe for this soup and we had it two nights ago!! I have been waiting all summer to make it again....a family favorite! My recipe calls for Italian sausage (instead of hamurger).
YUM! Now I am trying to think of what I should make this weekend in light of the forcasted 70 degrees!!
I'm with you.....it doesn't get any better than Fall!!

Unknown said...

Dinner is done! Thanks to you!

Peace - Rene

Kourtni said...

YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM....... YUM. =D

Talia said...

Davi-- sure, I would love to come be your wife and cook yummy things for you to eat, if you will sew me many beautiful things. Um, do you think our husbands would mind??? ;)

Angela-- I KNOW what you mean, I keep waiting for the weather to match my fall mood. Hooray for this weekend's weather!!

Cheri-- I bet Italian sausage would be SO good in this recipe. I must try it sometime!

.jimaie.marie. said...

i LOVE scones and i LOVE chai and i LOVE fall so all i can say to this post is YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!!
*sigh*

sarah marie p said...

Awww ... so sweet you brought your friend a little treat! Those scones look so yummy! And I adore that little plate! So cute!

Unknown said...

Yum I've never made scones before but I've always wanted to. Maybe someday I'll try these out

Sunny said...

I can attest to the yummy goodness of the scones! Talia has even made them for me for my birthday because she knows I LOVE them! :)

The soup sounds good. I am glad it is going to be soup weather this weekend! Too bad it's supposed to be 86 again next week.