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Just a couple of cookies, please

You know, there are times what’s needed is …

a cookie hot from the oven!

Rarely does this occur when you actually have time to make a batch.

The other issue? Once made, cookies, in our house at least, rarely last more than a day.

We’ve discovered a system that allows small amounts of cookies, oven fresh, anytime and eliminates a cookie jar full of temptation.

For fifteen bucks or less you can get two Casabella freezer cookie trays, enough for a batch. Order online at either Amazon or King Arthur Flour. Each tray holds 15 tablespoon sized scoops of your favorite dough (chocolate chip, right). Easy seal lids protect cookie nuggets from the taste of last month’s frozen burrito’s. The scoops pop out easily. We found that cooking time is maybe a minute or two longer than the original recipe. It may be a bit too easy, but very convenient.

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Is everyone in Yellowstone National Park?

 

Sulphur Caldron (one of the most active areas of Yellowstone’s buried volcano)

The geological phenomena that is Yellowstone National Park (NP) attracts a global array of tourists. It’s July and it seems like everyone is at the same overlook we’re at.

We’d picked July because the Flyfishing Federation International meeting was in Bozeman. 

No surprise …

it’s not a good idea to go at the peak of the season.  That said, Yellowstone is the kind of park you can see from your car.

Pretty much most national parks are not dog friendly. Tip was banned from nearly every trail, boardwalk, and even short-paved paths to scenic overlooks. That, and the jam of people kept our visit to a day and a half, but in that time we managed to see a lot of cool sites.

Artist Point (Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River)

It should be noted that we avoided the geyser basins. My childhood memories of Yellowstone are of unpleasant odors (gagging and retching), rather than magnificant views.  We managed to find some un-occupied pull-outs along the Madison and Firehole rivers that made perfect picnic stops.

It’s a beautiful park, just a bit crowded which is to be expected.  We did manage to catch bison stopping traffic, as well as a couple of bull elk in velvet. Yeah, the classic Yellowstone picture ops.

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A basic scone recipe

Simple is good when it comes to getting scones on the table. This recipe can be brought together quickly in the food processor and it is pretty easy to add dried fruit and/or nuts at the end.

Print Recipe

Folkestone Inn Scones

Nice basic scone recipe
Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

  • 2 cups All purpose (AP) flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5½ Tablespoons butter chilled and cut into cubes
  • 1 egg
  • 1 yolk
  • ⅓ cup milk more if needed

glaze

  • 1 egg white
  • ¼ cup sugar use as needed for frosting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to food processor and combine. Add cubes of butter to mixture and mix until the flour resembles a coarse crumb.
  • In separate bowl combine egg, yolk and 1/3 cup milk.
  • Add egg mixture to the food processor bowl and run until a ball forms. You can add more milk to soften the dough.
  • Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently. Form into a ball.
  • Roll out to 1/2 inch thick circle and cut into wedges about 2 inches wide. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet.
  • In a small bowl beat egg white until frothy and then brush over the top of dough wedges and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
  • Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
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A Pilgrimage of sorts

Montana’s version of coal mining occurred in the late 1800s in the Ruby Valley. Placer mining, basically dredging up the earth to find gold, made a few people very rich and left a swath of what was once a beautiful valley a patchwork of rock hillocks.

At one end of the Ruby Valley and north of the notorious Nevada and Virginia cities, is the town of Twin Bridges. Sitting along the Jefferson River this small town is home to a premier rod building company. Winston Rod Company makes some of the finest fly fishing sticks in the world and they do it all from a factory in this small Montana town.

Been there and got the hat.