RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE SCONES

These delicious scones are a popular item here in the Pacific Northwest!!

Located in Lynden, Washington, there is a wonderful little place called the "Lynden Dutch Bakery."  They bake scones similar to these for their shop and for many local coffee shops.  The scones are HUGE, moist and oh so yummy!!  If you're ever in the area, be sure and stop by!!   

I have tried many raspberry scone recipes but these are about as close as they come to the ones made by the Lynden Dutch Bakery.

  

Raspberry White Chocolate Scones

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups raspberries

1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

5 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Powdered sugar for dusting tops

Raspberries for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cream butter and sugar together until smooth.  Add the eggs and mix until combined.  Beat in the milk and vanilla until smooth and well blended.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix well. 

Stir flour mixture into the creamed mixture until JUST combined.  DO NOT OVERMIX.  Fold the raspberries and white chocolate chips into the batter.

Scoop by 3/4 cupfuls onto a greased and floured jelly roll pan.

Bake at 375 F. for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden on edges.

Remove from oven, let cool slightly while still in the pan.  Then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Lightly dust the tops with a layer of powdered sugar.

Top with a fresh raspberry if desired.

Linking to:

"DAYS FOR GIRLS" GARDEN PARTY

On July 30th, we held our 2nd Annual "Days for Girls" Garden Party.

 This wonderful event celebrated the work of thousands of giving volunteers and generous contributors that help make this mission possible.

100% of the profits raised by the organization go to assisting the girls and there are no 'overhead' costs involved, as everything relies completely on volunteers.

Even our garden party was generously arranged and organized by many people who contributed their time, talents, dishes, food, auction items, etc. to this event.

Have you ever heard of "Days for Girls"?

It is an organization formed by a woman who was helping organize sustainable orphanages in an impoverished country. 

While she was there, she realized many girls were missing DAYS of school and/or work because they did not have access to feminine hygiene products.  She was also horrified to learn that some of the girls were using corn cobs or tobacco leaves as make-shift pads, which caused many infections!!  AND/OR they were being sexually exploited in exchange for feminine products!! 

So...she decided to do something about it.

She wanted to give them back their 'DAYS'.

And she has...

And she still is...

Here is our Founder, Celeste, surrounded by MANY appreciative girls!!

Drifting out of the kitchen windows in the background, is the delicious aroma of lunch.
The chefs prepared a delightful selection of 'sweet' and 'savory' treats for our enjoyment.

The tables were set and ready to go.

I was the "Tablescaper"

Is that a TITLE?  Because I want it... ;)

It was soooo much fun!!

I borrowed little birds, nests, candy dishes and other decorations to decorate the tables with.

AND we had an INCREDIBLE florist who took flowers from many of our yards and arranged them into MASTERPIECES for all of the tables.

Everything worked out perfectly and it was a beautiful day!!

All the napkins were tied with the crocheted strings that we use for kit bags...so precious.

A short stroll on a beautiful path led to a gazebo where we enjoyed delicious 'savory' foods.

Look at the adorable butterfly tongs!!

A "Kit Assembly Table" was located nearby for those wishing to assist us with filling orders.

Each "Kit" contains:

A fabric carrying bag

A Gallon Ziploc Bag filled with:

2 water-resistant shields

10 flannel pads

1 pair of panties 

2 safety pins (to adjust panty size)

1 washcloth

1 bar of soap

1 extra gallon Ziploc (for carrying wet items)

Here's what a typical kit looks like.

Everyday, "The She Castle" receives huge boxes of wonderful items sent from many generous people:

Some send washcloths.

Some send panties.

Some send handmade shields and pads (the patterns can be found on the Days for Girls website).

Or other items.

As you can see...there are MANY WAYS to assist this endeavor!!

And we LOVE the help!!

 If you'd like to get involved,

it makes a great service project for youth groups, church groups, or anyone wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of girls all over the world.

For more information:

http://www.daysforgirls.org

or on Facebook:

Days for Girls

Or if YOU would like to send items:

Days for Girls

810 H Street Road

Lynden, Washington

98264

The Silent Auction included a fantastic array of items!!

The Auction tables were FULL.

And so were our hearts...

ITS ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS.

Currently, Days for Girls is organizing some teachers to go to the impoverished countries and help the women learn how to make the kits for themselves and for people of their communities.

Linking to:

RASPBERRY PRESERVES

I spent 3 hours in a raspberry field yesterday picking LOTS of berries!!

My 3 hours yielded me 6 half-flats which I brought home and promptly processed.  Out of it, I got:

6 jars of syrup

8 jars of jam

2 dozen muffins

1 buckle

1/2 flat frozen

1/2 flat fresh for eating all day

A partial sunburn and

2 very sore feet

BUT WHAT A PRODUCTIVE DAY!!   

 This year I decided to top my jars with something pretty.  I used 6"x6" scrapbook paper squares in coordinating colors and then tied them on with a piece of twine. 

 I wrapped the twine around once and tied a square knot and then around again to the opposite side and finished with another square knot (so that there are two knots...one on each side). Then I clipped the ends.  I think they turned out so pretty!!  I can't wait to do Blackberries now!!

 In addition, while it is easy to find a recipe for jam, I also wanted to make some syrup to use on crepes, pancakes, waffles, etc.  One of our local berry farms, called "Barbies Berries", has a great recipe that can be made and used immediately, frozen or canned in jars for future use.  It can be used for any type of berry.  Here's the recipe...it is simple and yummy!!

BERRY SYRUP

2 cups berry juice*

Boil, then add:

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

Boil 1 minute.

Pour into bottles and can in warm bath like jelly or freeze. 

Keep opened or thawed berry syrup on the refrigerator.

*To make berry juice, boil berries until soft,

then strain through cheesecloth to remove seeds. 

I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday at:

 And Debbie's Newbie Party at:

HYDRANGEAS

I love this time of year!!

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have GINORMOUS Hydrangeas everywhere!!

They are simply stunning. 

From far away and up close; every little detail...from their leaves to their petals is perfect.

    Come with me on a beautiful path laden with these gorgeous trees...

  

Hydrangea Trees

Harmony would follow Spring's appearance

In the eternal bond of their adherance

And also would come the birds and their choir

All added together, made spring conspire

Bees covered the flowers, jasmine, the air

When fair was time and time was fair

And in the tire swing, my feet slashed through clovers

For the Seraph's peaceful weather had taken over

I danced in it, I loved the sweet jubilee

That bloomed the little hydrangea trees

The dandelions that floated on the bottom of the sky

Days when ground squirrels forgot to be shy

And even butterflies came to enjoy the breeze

Fluttering beside the hydrangea trees

Careless children within it parade

And sit out selling lemonade

And old couples remember times like these

On their rockers beside the hydrangea trees

 The blue and purple fragile bunched blooms

Never appear a minute to soon

They make life simple, they make life sweet

Remember to admire the hydrangea trees

~Whitney Albright~