Chai Scones

I'm out of OATS!
Not a crisis at all, really.
OK . . . maybe to a food blogger.

Oats are a key ingredient in the bean burgers I wrote about yesterday. I tried substituting brown rice and -- I think I used too much sweet potato this time around -- they turned to mush. A gigantic patty of delicious mush seasoned with just the right amount of cumin, thyme, and paprika.

I got nothing. I woke up early today and decided to bake scones before sunrise.

I promise I don't have some sort of baking addiction. But if I get the kitchen to myself and the house is otherwise quiet (like before Ada wakes up for the day, bless her heart), I must take full advantage.

Then while I was waiting for enough daylight so I could photograph them, I wrote a post all about how baking vegan doesn't mean using strange ingredients. The text got rather long and took on a life of its own, so I'm saving it for another day.

It's been a while since you've had a descent recipe. Let's get to it.


CHAI SCONES w/ CHOCOLATE CHIPS + WALNUTS = Vegan recipe

What you'll need . . .

• 2-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance*
• 1 cup chai tea, double-bagged**
• 1 tablespoon flax meal
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed walnuts

* I imagine you could also use oil or butter, for that matter.
** Just brew a cup of tea, but use two bags of your favorite chai.


Method . . . 

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. If you have a baking stone, place it inside you oven. Otherwise, a baking sheet should do fine, just grease a bit.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, salt, baking powder, and salt.
3. Then cut your Earth Balance/butter into small pieces and toss it in the flour mixture. Use your hands to incorporate it until the flour looks like coarse meal. (If you have a food processor -- especially if you plan to try oil -- you could also put it all in there and pulse until incorporated.) Set aside.
4. Once your tea is brewed nice and dark, pour it into a smaller bowl and mix with the flax meal. Let sit for a couple minutes. Then add in the maple syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Mix.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a spoon until just combined.
6. Then fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts. I actually folded them together with my hands -- being careful not to knead the dough.
7. I place the bowl in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or so. Then on a floured work surface, I rolled out into a round disk and cut into 8 slices. You can make smaller scones, too. It's up to you.
8. Then place on your baking stone (or sheet) and bake for 15 minutes. You may need a couple more minutes depending on the size of your scones.
9. Let cool a bit before serving. But they are delicious warm with a cup of -- you guessed it -- chai tea.

Go forth & make scones!

(And if you do, please tell me how they turn out for you!)

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Friday Things

It's legit cold here today. Like 40 degrees with blustery winds. The leaves are flying everywhere. Our little heater is working wonders. Just one more week until we get our very adult Christmas present: a brand-spankin' new furnace. I hate to turn the heat on before November anyway.

But. Well. I saw snowflakes! That's early. Even for us.

We'll be fine, though. Next week is supposed to bring warmer temperatures. To cozy up in the meantime, I made myself a gigantic mugjarful of homemade chai. And I type "homemade" in the most serious of ways. I made the almond milk and the chai mix myself.

It sounds much more intensive than it actually was.

My friend Jacqui had passed along to me this method for making almond milk. Worked like a charm. The chai mix is a recipe I shared a couple years ago. Sweetened with a little maple syrup.

I warmed it on the stove. Whisked to get some froth.


Of course, feel free to make your own chai with store-bought milk and mix. Or just go get one made FOR you at your favorite coffee shop. Whatever you do, though, drink a warm beverage this weekend. Cider is next on my list.

Ada and I ventured out after her morning nap thanks to some advice we received on Writing Chapter Three.

We bundled ourselves in big sweaters and hit up the children's museum for some fun. Ada is still young and not quite walking, so she can't take full advantage of many of the displays. She loves looking in all the mirrors and playing in the "Under 3" room.

Hello! (Mommy is having a bad hair day.)


I've been picking at this dish of vegan brownies all day.


I tried my best to invent a new, lower-in-sugar recipe last night. They taste good, but not nearly as good as the Change-Your-Life vegan brownies I made a few years ago. If you choose to take on another homework assignment from me this weekend, I instruct you to make them.

You will not be disappointed.


Now I'm going to savor the rest of Ada's nap. I have about 20 minutes left. The heater is blasting at my feet. I've got a cat to keep me company.


This weekend includes an 8 mile long run (tapering for the half next weekend!), a photo shoot of two adorable sisters, and some alone time. For me. I need it!

Have a lovely weekend. (I haven't been sharing much from Writing Chapter Three -- so if you'd like to get caught up, head over there for stuff about Ada's first birthday, DIY baby booties, notes on getting out and about, and more.)

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