CHERRY ALMOND SCONES ~ Tuesdays With Dorie
TUESDAYS WITH DORIE
Here it is, July 1st already! Where has the time gone? Tuesdays with Dorie is now in its 7th month and 24th recipe, having started on January 1st, 2008 with just one obsessed baker (Laurie) and a few of her soulmates. TWD has now risen and puffed up like a hunk of bread dough to 213 baking fools. There were more, but they have come and gone over the months. We bake every Tuesday and if you miss a few weeks as I have, you better have a darned good excuse otherwise you'll be asked to take your Kitchen Aid Mixer elsewhere. It's pretty strict, but it has to be. It's a commitment.
Speaking of Excuses....
I STILL don't have a working oven. Evidently, a 23 year old marine stove is hard to find parts for. I'll make a loooong story short, but suffice to say, I've been duped by a snake of a business man that sold me a bill of goods, knowingly gave me the wrong part for cash only, and now won't make good on it. (I even had the part number, serial number and model number AND a picture!) I'm upset beyond belief that someone in business can take advantage of a woman's need for her oven! I have a good mind to say "Screw the $75.00! Keep it and I'll order it from someone who cares!" The other alternative is to buy a new stove for $1000.00-$1200.00! YES, You read that right! $1200.00 for a marine grade stove! I could go to Best Buy and get a stove for $350.00, but it won't fit in the space or stand up to marine life and the salt air.
I WANT MY OVEN BACK!
Anyway...I've been three weeks without an oven in LADYHAWK. Our old boat, NIRVANA, was put back in the water last week. It's only 2 slips down the dock, so I've been baking like a mad woman trying to get caught up with my TWD posts. I never did get to my Daring Bakers project. However, NIRVANA will sadly be going out to the mooring with a FOR SALE sign on it in a day or two. So, that means I'll be without an oven AGAIN! It has been so very frustrating for me, a woman that used to have a 10 burner restaurant stove in her kitchen, to be reduced to tears over my easy-bake-oven. Is it too much to ask? I just want my oven back! Please, pity me, sympathize with me...I need to know someone feels my pain!
SCONES, SCONES & MORE SCONES!
Karina of The Floured Apron chose Apple Cheddar Scones for her recipe. It comes from the book Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan. For those of you that own Dorie's book already, you can find the recipe on page 32. For those that don't have the book, I'm sorry, but I can't reprint it here on my blog because of copyright policies. BUT, Karina can, sooooo, if you'll click over to her blog, you'll find the recipe APPLE CHEDDAR SCONES in all its glory!
CHERRY ALMOND SCONES
I'm not sure where Karina lives, but I had no luck finding apple cider in Rhode Island at the end of June! It's just NOT apple season right now! I couldn't find dried apples either, but I did find dried and fresh cherries! As any obsessed baker would do when the right ingredients are not available, I improvised...again! Cherries are out now and they looked gorgeous! I followed the recipe for the most part, substituting frozen concentrated apple juice straight from the can and undiluted for the cider and dried and fresh cherries for the apples. I left the cheddar cheese in, added a touch of almond extract and sugared and sliced toasted almonds. They were yum-my!
HEART-SHAPED SCONES & SHORTCAKES
I was going to pat them out and cut them into wedges and then I remembered my heart-shaped pan. Perfect! They came out nice and fluffy and smelled oh, so good! The best part? I made up a fresh fruit compote of blueberries, raspberries and fresh chopped cherries and served the scones shortcake-style with fruit and a HUGE dollop of sweetened whipped cream. I have all the pictures to prove it, except the shortcake. We had company that night and we ate them so fast. I remembered the camera AFTER they were in our bellies and by then it was way too late!
They were quick and easy even on a boat. I'll definitely make them again. Maybe in the fall when the apples and cider are in season. I'll through some cinnamon into the batter too. Ooooo, I have so many ideas running around in my head!
I'm so sorry to hear about your oven!
On the other hand, your scones look beautiful!
Posted by: Carrie | July 01, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I can't believe that you have only been blogging since Jan--seems that we are "old" friends!!! These scones look delicious. Hope you can get your oven fixed. It must be horrible for you. Do you have room for one of those new toaster ovens that has convection with it? My camper has a convection microwave in it and I am still trying to learn how to use the little sucker! I am such an old fashioned girl. Thanks for the blog.
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl Sims | July 01, 2008 at 10:33 AM
What a horrible fiasco with your stove - I hope you can get it fixed in time to not miss out on too many baking projects. Your heart-shaped scones, however, are absolutely adorable. I can't get over them, actually. Too cute.
Posted by: Caitlin | July 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Donna - these are just beautiful! I am sorry to hear that a jerk screwed you out of $75 - that'll buy a lot of baking goodies! I do hope you'll be able to get an new oven soon...I mean, how are you gonna cook us anything when we come to visit this fall? Oh, you didn't know? Well, now you do. get to cleaning.
Posted by: Susan | July 01, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I am telling you, I hate to hear when bad things happen to good people. Nevertheless, your scones look amazing. If you weren't such a long car ride away, I would have taken you up on your offer of a scone and cup of tea..
Posted by: Liliana | July 01, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Have you tried sitting with your oven and just talking to it? Perhaps it just needs a good stern lecture. Your scones are very loving and cute looking. Good luck with everything!
Posted by: rainbowbrown | July 01, 2008 at 07:01 PM
Love your heart shaped scones. They look so pretty :)
Posted by: Y | July 01, 2008 at 07:46 PM
I hope you get an oven soon or get the correct part. The scones look delicious.
Posted by: Karen R | July 01, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Your scones look so lovely and cherry almond just can't be beat. Best of luck with your oven. I spent 1 year with no oven and it just about killed me!
Posted by: Erin | July 01, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Your scones look so lovely and cherry almond just can't be beat. Best of luck with your oven. I spent 1 year with no oven and it just about killed me!
Posted by: Erin | July 01, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Cherries are such a fantastic fruit, and these look great. Nice contrast of flavour to the butteriness of the scone.
Posted by: Graeme | July 02, 2008 at 04:59 AM
I absolutely love cherries and this looks like a great recipe! Doubt I'll try it, but it's fun thinking about it ;)
Posted by: Olga | July 02, 2008 at 05:34 AM
I love scones and have never made them - You just inspired me to get off my rear and dive in..
Cheers
Cathy
www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
Posted by: Cathy C | July 02, 2008 at 07:38 AM
i luv your cutie heart shaped scones...you are SUCH a trooper...traipsing down to the other boat to bake..!! i LOVE cherries and almonds. fab mods!
Posted by: Mara | July 02, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Donna I just gave you an award on my blog, check it out when you have a minute between running from one boat to the next. ;)
Posted by: Mara | July 02, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Those cherries really are beautiful! The scones look great but you should definitely try the cheddar apple version, it's fantastic!
Posted by: brilynn | July 02, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Oh, I do sympathize with you. At least you have these fabulous scones to sooth your troubles! These are just darling. I can't wait to try them. Cherries and almonds together are some of favorite combinations.
Posted by: Madeline | July 02, 2008 at 02:23 PM
No oven? ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!!!
But those photos are absolutely beautiful. ;)
Posted by: Rebecca | July 02, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I feel your pain! How frustrating for you!! But your scones are adorable - you seem to thrive on adversity! It certainly makes for good storytelling, anyway!
Oh - and P. S. I found dried organic apples at the Whole Foods in Cranston. I was on the verge of subbing something myself, but then there they were.
Posted by: Jayne | July 03, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I hate to even imagine life without an oven! I feel for you. Love your scones, though. Hope they made you feel better!
If you can't get your money back, why not report the guy to the Better Business Bureau and your state Consumer Protection office, and tell all your local oven-owning friends about him -- he deserves it and so do all the other folks he might try to take advantage of! While talking to people you might hear about someone more reliable, too.
Posted by: Barbara | July 04, 2008 at 12:48 PM
So sorry to hear about your oven problem.
These scones look Yummy!!
I will definately be trying this one!
TFS
Posted by: Dee | July 05, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I feel your pain. And I wish I had one of your scones. Belated congratulations on a great interpretation of last week's assignment.
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