Fresh Red Currant & Dark Chocolate Scones {gf + vegan}
Being off of school and practicum for several weeks this summer has been soul-nourishing to say the least. This past year has been one of the most rigorous and challenging of my life and the lack of sleep, stress, and the dairy-free ben and jerry's addiction I developed while writing papers has taken a toll on me mentally and physically. So this summer I'm attempting to eat a little healthier and be a bit more active than I have time for while in school.
I've actually made it to yoga or class or gone for a run nearly everyday since practicum wrapped up two weeks ago. It makes me FEEL strong until I remember that I AM strong. I've also noticed that I'm not always the nicest to my body. I call it names and pick it apart for being bigger and thicker than I'd like. Then I find my way onto my yoga mat and I'm reminded of all my body does do for me. It functions miraculously well on 5 hours of sleep, it demos poses as a yoga teacher and teaches others how to be present in their bodies, it can hold plank for a solid two minutes, ride a bike everyday to get me to and from work and school, it can run 4 miles without stopping to rest, and it allows me to stay present with the suffering of others in my work as a psychologist in training. My body is the instrument through which I live my dharma.
I plan to write my dissertation on the relationship between mindfulness, self-compassion and empathy. I believe the deeper ones self-compassion the deeper their capacity for empathy. And I'm starting to think that my yoga practice, or any self-care practice for that matter, is self-compassion in action. The deeper I grow and strengthen my own roots the further my branches can extend. I'm feeling especially grateful for this time to re-connect and ground.
And now onto these scones! I had never cooked or baked or eaten fresh currants until I saw them at the farmer's market a couple weeks ago and was overtaken by their beauty. Seriously, they look fake they're so beautiful. Chocolate and berries are probably my favorite flavor combo ever so I through them in some scones. I guess you could call these healthy because they have a fairly small about of sugar and are made entirely with oat flour (hello protein) so all your gluten-free friends can enjoy, and they come together with coconut oil so they're vegan! The rich dark chocolate balances out that bright tartness from the currants beautifully.
Notes: I encourage you to make a trip to your local farmer's market, support small farms, and try to find some currants but if you can't raspberries (or any berry for that matter) would work great too!
Makes 8 scones
For the scones:
2.5 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup coconut (or cane) sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons chilled coconut oil
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons almond milk, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
1 cup fresh red currants (see notes above)
3.5 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
For the glaze (optional):
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons almond milk
1 tablespoon fresh currants
In a blender/food processor, blend the oats until they've reached the consistency of flour. Measure out 2 cups and reserve the remaining oat "flour" for dusting later on. In a medium bowl whisk to combine the oat flour, coconut flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Spoon clumps of very cold, solid coconut oil into the flour mixture then use your fingers or a pastry blender to cut the coconut oil into the flour until it looks like crumbly sand with pea-sized clumps of coconut oil. In a liquid measuring cup combine 1 cup of cold almond milk and vanilla bean paste. Pour the almond milk mixture into the dough and stir to combine.
Sprinkle a work surface with reserved oat "flour" then transfer the dough onto it. Roll the dough out into a large circle and sprinkle with chocolate. Fold the dough in half and press flat so the chocolate chunks get pressed inside the scones. Flatten again and top with the currants, fold the dough in half pressing the currants inside, it's okay if some of them get smashed. Shape the dough into a flat circular disc (about 1.5 inches thick). Slice the dough into 8 pieces. Place the pieces on a parchment lined baking sheet and transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Just before baking, brush the tops of the scones with the remaining 2 tablespoons of almond milk. Bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown.
To make the glaze, blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Let the scones cool slightly then drizzle with glaze if using.
Rhubarb Goat Cheese Rugelach
We spent Memorial Day weekend in Madison and Milwaukee, WI. We went to Madison a couple months ago and despite raining literally the whole weekend we loved it. This weekend was beautiful. We'd heard about their infamous farmer's market but I didn't realize it it's actually the largest all-produce farmer's market in the US. It was dreamy. The market wraps all the way around the capital building and takes about an hour to walk through. It was incredible. We especially love the farm-to-table vibe that Madison has been embracing since before it became cool.
The markets are filled with rhubarb this time of year. And I may or may not have come up with this recipe during the savasana of a yoga class. It's surprisingly light and summery.
Makes 48 rugelach
For the dough:
1 cup unsalted buter, at room temperature
8 ounces (1 brick) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour
For the filling:
1 cup rhubarb vanilla compote
10 oz goat cheese, softened
zest of 1 small lemon
2 tablespoons milk (I used almond)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
For the glaze:
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon water
turbinado sugar for sprinkling
Make the dough. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together on high until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl whisk together salt and flour. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time until completely combined. Be careful to not over-mix. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap and cover, forming it into a solid disc. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
Prepare your fillings. In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese, zest, milk, and powdered sugar.
Divide your dough into 3 equal parts. Place 1/3 of the dough on a lightly floured, cold, work surface (keep the remaining refrigerated). Roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle. It doesn't matter at all if it's a perfect circle. Spread 1/3 of the goat cheese onto the dough in a smooth even layer, keeping a half inch border around the edges. Top the goat cheese with 1/3 of the rhubarb compote. Using a pastry wheel or a knife, cut your dough into 16 pieces (like a pizza - see photos). Starting from the outside, roll each slice. Transfer the rugelach to a baking sheet lined with parchment, then place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water. Remove rugelach from freeze, paint the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops just begin to brown. Continue with remaining two thirds of the dough.
Notes:
Stores at room temperature for three to four days, in the fridge for about a week, and in the freezer for up to two months (but you and I both know they won't last that long!)
Rhubarb Vanilla Compote
The Farmer's Market opened two weeks ago! There may only be like 7 vendors at this point in the season but I was so excited to trek down there with Pumpkin on opening day it felt like Christmas. We've been eating lots of asparagus, strawberries, and RHUBARB. I love the start of summer.
I especially love the delicious specks of vanilla bean in this rhubarb compote. It's perfect for spreading over toast, putting in overnight oats, or serving over ice cream. Check back next week and we'll be using it in my favorite Jewish treat! Any gueses?
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
1 pound rhubarb
1/2 cup cane sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon lemon juice
pinch of salt
Dice the rhubarb into small pieces. Slice the vanilla bean. Using the back of a butter knife, remove the vanilla beans and combine them along with the vanilla bean pod, rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until it becomes a jam-like consistency, about 15 minutes.