March Recipe: Snickerdoodle Cookies

     Snickerdoodle Cookies

March 20th. Spring is here

The planting has started.  We have planted the Celebrity , San Mariano, Purple Cherokee, Sweet 100's and yellow pear tomatoes.  We also planted a sweet yellow onions, white onions and purple onion.  The Ennis Farmers Market is two weeks away with an April 1st start date.

During spring break we made a visit to the Mercatile in Pawhaska, Oklahoma.  Ree Drummond has created the perfect general store/ deli/ restaurant/bakery.  The cinnamon rolls were truely exceptionally delicious. The bakery has windows for customers to watch the preparation of cinnamon rolls and other delicacies.   The restaurant served breakfast and lunch.  By chance we received an invitation to tour the ranch lodge where the Pioneer Woman cooking shows on the Food Network are filmed. After a 30 minute drive through the middle of the Drummond Ranch we arrived at the lodge. The lodge is not a kitchen set up for a TV show.  It is a full kitchen and lodge for guest.  We were able to take pictures and talk with a ranch hand.

Her recipes are easy to prepare and delicious. She is definitely the real deal.

The Mesquite Tree

The Texas Mesquite Tree

The Mesquite tree is showing small buds which means spring will be coming early.  There is always a chance of a freeze before Easter, April 16th.  Today we broke ground for the first planting of our garden. With spring break a week away we hope to plant onions and potatoes.  These two should have been in around Valentine' Day.  There is still time.  As the month progresses we will begin planting spinach, lettuce, and radishes.  Planting of the tomatoes is about two weeks out.   More signs of spring to come.

Valentine Almond Glazed Cookies

1cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 t. almond extract 

2 cups flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

Glaze:

1 1/2 c . powdered sugar

1 t. almond extract

4 to 5 t. water

Sliced almonds

Heat oven to 400 F.  Combine butter, sugar and almond extract in large mixing bowl.  Beat at medium speed, scraping  bowl often, until creamy.  Reduce speed to low; add remaining cookie ingredients. Beat well.  Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until

edges are very lightly brown.  Cool completely.  Stir together all glaze ingredients in small bowl with wire whisk. Decorate cookies with glaze and sliced almonds.

Yields 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Orange Cranberry Scones

Cranberries are a winter fruit native to North America.

Fresh Cranberry Orange Scones

1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 T. Sugar
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 salt
1/4 nutmeg
7 T. Chilled unsalted butter. Cut into small pieces
1 c.cranberries
1 egg. Lightly beaten
2 T.fresh orange juice
1 c powdered sugar
2 T. Orange juice

Preheat oven to 400*F

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour , sugar, baking powder, salt , nutmeg.  Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small peas. Add cranberries. In a small bowl whisk together egg and 2 T. orange juice. Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredients stirring until a soft dough is formed.
Roll dough out on a lightly floured board into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick.  Cut in long strips followed by triangle cuts. Place on untreated cookie sheet . Baked until golden brown , about 15 minutes.
Prepare icing by mixing powdered sugar and orange juice.  Drizzle over warm scones