The boys were busy saving the planet yesterday. With Legos.

The little ones did their part in wold domination via cuteness.

…they’ve at least conquered their mother’s heart.

I taught a class on the art of Afternoon Tea this past weekend. I’ve done this class several years in a row, but each time is a new experience. All 20 students this time were all so pleasant and enthusiastic while sipping tea, watching me cook, and listening to my ramblings on history, etiquette, and recipes.

I love to serve fresh-baked scones from the oven in this class. I have several recipes for scones, and for this class, I switched up the recipe from a buttermilk scone to a cream one. Half-way through the demonstration of cutting butter into the flour, I had the overwhelming sense that I had more flour than was called for. Re-measuring quickly ensued, as did my elevated blood pressure! Thankfully, I recovered gracefully, and served up some decent scones–not my best by any means, but definitely palatable when slathered with homemade clotted cream and lemon curd!

One student from the class wrote me and said:

I’m Irish and make scones on a regular basis but I make sure all the flour is incorporated and roll before cutting. I was amazed at the difference in the consistency that makes. Mine are good to take on the run out the door but yours were heavenly for a tea. Thank you for showing me that difference.”

So…I thought you might enjoy a few of my tips for perfect scones. (I’m no professional, so please chime in if you have more suggestions!)

1) Chill everything–your bowl, pastry cutter, and butter!
2) Don’t mix with anything but your pastry cutter. (No fingers, spoons, etc.)
3) Work quickly!
4) Keep dough consistency dry when all incorporated, only adding a tsp of ice water at a time if needed at the end.
5) Turn dough onto board, one big handful at a time, mashing it down in one stroke, and cutting immediately with biscuit cutter. No kneading and rolling!
6. Always bake on parchment paper.

Here’s the recipe I shared this weekend. For my buttermilk recipe, look here.

Traditional Cream Scones
2 C. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
4 T. butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream
4 tsp. raw sugar
*biscuit cutter, parchment, cookie sheet, pastry brush

Preheat oven to 400F. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Using a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal; make a well in center. Separate 1 of the eggs; reserve egg white. Stir together egg yolk and remaining whole egg, then stir in cream. Pour into well and mix with pastry cutter, blending quickly throughout.

Sprinkle board with flour. Divide dough into 2-3 parts, and turn one part out at a time onto floured board. Gently knead once, and flatten dough to 1/2 inch. Cut with biscuit cutter. Repeat with remaining dough until all is used. Arrange scones on parchment lined cookie sheet. Brush tops with reserved egg white and sprinkle with raw sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 8 scones.

Sit down to a cup of tea this afternoon, with your kiddos or with a good book. Try a perfect scone with jam to make it just that much more special…

With not enough tomato sauce to make spaghetti sauce, and a pound and a half of ground beef thawing on the counter, I checked what was available in the pantry, and threw together an easy pasta bake for dinner last night. It seriously took 15 minutes. I made mine with the simplest of ingredients. If you want to complicate matters, mince your own garlic and make your own salsa!

This will make one 9×13 pan for dinner, and one 9×9 pan to freeze for another time. 2 meals for under $10. What a deal!

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 Tbs. taco seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder)
2-3 Tbs. dried onion pieces
2 cups Trader Joe’s frozen Bell Pepper Trio w/ pre-sliced combo of red, green, and yellow peppers…must keep on hand!)
1 can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cup salsa
1 cup cup water
2 cups frozen corn
1 can red kidney beans, drained
coupla shakes of oregano
salt and pepper
14 oz. pkg. whole wheat elbow macaroni (or any pasta really!)
6-8 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

Cook elbow macaroni. Meanwhile make sauce: brown ground beef. Turn off heat; drain. Turn heat back on, add taco seasoning, garlic, onion, and frozen peppers. Saute. Add tomato sauce, salsa, water, corn, beans, oregano, and salt/pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Drain macaroni, and dump 2/3 pasta in 9×13 pan, and 1/3 pasta in 9×9 pan. Layer sauce over top of pasta, approximately 2/3 and 1/3 of sauce in respective pans. Top each pan off with shredded cheese. Cook one, and freeze the other…unless you are having the soccer team over. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes.

Okay, so it’s really more like 30 minute Tacosagna….but, you’ll be spending that time marveling at the one pot you might actually scrub before dinner’s ready to serve.

What’s a girl to do when she finds Gianni Bini cowgirl booties at 70% off, and a gift card to buy them with?

Wear them at home, of course…

…during recess in the backyard…

…while practicing photography skills on herself as a shoe model…

…and, while on a 5 minute date with her Main Squeeze Number 3.

It was my delight and privilege to fulfill an order for a custom tutu and headband set…

…to be worn by baby Violet, who is six days old and a little over 5 lbs! Her photo shoot debut will be done by my super talented friend, Amy.

Can’t wait to see baby Violet in this tiniest of headbands. Sweet. {Sigh}

Before sewing, before beading, before tutus and headbands…there was paint and canvas.

Some of you may know that painting is my artistic first love. I don’t do much of it on account of time and space, and had not painted a thing since last year when I did this one for my home, and this one for the school silent auction.

But, a special occasion prompted this painting last week:

…which concurrently brought forth these two paintings,

…that are now in the shop.

“Sterling”   18″x24″

“Bloom”   9″x12″

A little GraceLaced for your home. So…if you or someone you know is in the market for original artwork, send them over to my shop. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I knew those slippers would be super popular!

The winner of the cute and cozy crocheted slippers from Jenster76Designs goes to…

….Heatherj, the 15th comment of 21 left on the post. Congratulations, Heather! Please contact Jenny at her etsy shop with your address, color and size!

And, don’t forget, for all of you who would still love to have a pair of those adorable slippers or any other custom order crochet creation, Jenny is offering a 10% discount to GraceLaced readers through March 10 just for mentioning this blog!

Every mother needs reminding of the greatness of her calling, the joy in her sacrifice, the purpose of her mission, and the reward of her investment.

I am one of those mothers.

During this season of life that is often overwhelming and deficient on time, I can at times, feel as though I am a drill sargeant, rather than a shepherd–commanding discipline instead of training lost sheep.

Encouragement this week came through the voice of Sally Clarkson, in her book, The Mission of Motherhood, who in her chapter on Building Loving Relationships with Our Children, helped me to remember what kind of mom I want to be:

It’s important to realize that spending time with kids means so much more than just getting the parenting job done. Sometimes it’s easy for busy parents to forget this. We become so focused on training our children, correcting them, teaching them responsibility, and providing them with enriching activities that we forget how important it is just to be around them…Simply being with them, enjoying their company, playing whatever game they choose for us to play (even another round of Candyland!) matters most to our children and best fosters a loving relationship with them.

Relational time is the glue that will make all our efforts in disciple-making, shepherding, disciplining, educating, and molding caught and not taught.

(And for those of us who school at home, Sally Clarkson’s book, Educating the Wholehearted Child, offers wonderfully practical help on teaching children in the home.)

When we are in the throes of mothering, it is encouraging to have those that have traversed this well-worn path, come alongside to spur us on towards the finish line. And, my friends, the finish line is where we will not find our victory met with impeccably trained children, but grace in Christ himself, who lends our children to us in the first place…for their formation and ours.

A fabulous giveaway awaits you today…

But first, my foray into the world of crochet:

I need a new craft like I need a hole in the head. {sheepish grin}

But how can I refuse picking up a crotchet hook and ball of yarn, when it’s so much of what I currently love and drool over.

I asked my mother-in-law, who comes from a long line of crocheters, to teach me how to make a granny square. And now…I’m hooked.

Here’s my first granny square:

This crocheted doily pin and flower pin are little experiments that have made it in the shop.

So, imagine my surprise and joy to find a fellow etsy artist (local too!) who crochets, and sells her beautiful creations at Jenster76 Design:

My favorite of her items are these adorable slippers that come in all colors and sizes.

So, you guessed it…Jenny at Jenster76 Designs is giving away a pair of these Favorite Pair of Slippers to one of my readers!

Contest Details:

Prize is one pair of Your Favorite Pair of Slippers from Jenster76.

Contest ends Sunday, February 28th at 9:00pm

Winner chosen at random

To enter: In the comment box, tell me if you’ve ever tried crochet, and what you would make if you were (or are) a pro at it!

*Jenny’s also offering GraceLaced readers a 10% discount off the purchase price (excluding shipping) on anything in her store, just by mentioning this blog post through March 10th! Isn’t she sweet? She’s happy to do custom orders as well, so go check out the  Jenster76 Shop!*