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| Heart-shaped chocolate chip scones. Yum! |
Valentine's Day is tomorrow and as parents of kids with severe food allergies know, we have to remain vigilant to prevent reactions. This holiday of love and treats is not always as "sweet" as we sometimes wish it could be with those concerns on our shoulders, but I hope it is helpful to know that you are NOT alone in this struggle. Just imagine as you drop your child off at school tomorrow that a lot of other parents are going to worry a little more about their kids because candy is not always safe for them to eat. Or maybe they will have to say "no" to a special treat that others can have. It can be hard to deal with the various issues and concerns, especially with regard to health and safety.
Remember that your attitude makes a big difference. Let your child know you'll have something special for them after school, or treat them to a nice breakfast that includes the heart-shaped scones above (recipe in a minute). Put a note in their lunch. As busy parents, sometimes we just have time to give kids a hug and a Valentine card--and that's enough!
How you express your loving care doesn't really matter--you would be surprised at how important your simple support is. Truly, it's the best gift you can give. After all, love and not food is what this holiday is all about!
However: If you need safe treat ideas, and you're looking for last minute supermarket finds for Valentine's Day, here's a link to a previous post with several options.
Now onto the scones! I was thinking of a relatively simple and sweet treat that can be easily made into a heart shape without messy frosting, etc. So scones it is! You can use dried fruit in these if you like or make them plain; I used Enjoy Life Foods mini chocolate chips--nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free. The scones have eggs and dairy. For an egg-free variation, see below. Those of you who adapt recipes for dairy free, you can use dairy-free shortening and non-dairy milk in these, but your results and baking times might be slightly different.
These are a nice breakfast treat, lunch dessert or after-school snack.
Jenny's Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Scones
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (I use Gold Medal)
2 - 1/4 tsp. baking powder (I use Clabber Girl)
1/4 cup sugar (Domino's) plus extra for sprinkling on top of scones
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 stick cold butter or cold non-dairy shortening or margarine
1 large egg (if you need egg-free, you can omit the egg but your scone will be more like a biscuit--and that's not a bad thing!)
1/3 cup milk or cream
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life, at Whole Foods, some SuperTargets and supermarkets) or dried fruit like Craisins
Stir together dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Then, using two knives used scissor fashion or a pastry cutter, blend in butter until it is the size of small peas.
Stir in chocolate chips or dried fruit and make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Beat milk or cream with egg and then pour into the well. Mix together lightly but thoroughly; do not over mix or you will have a tough dough. If it won't come together into a ball, add a little more milk. Then, use your hands to mix the dough together. Place on a floured surface and pat into a rectangle (or an approximation of one, as I did. See below).
Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter or other cutter (or alternatively, pat into a circle and cut into triangle shapes), cut out scones and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with additional granulated sugar, if desired.
Bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown. These are best served warm, or reheat for about 15 seconds in the microwave.
Regarding food allergies and Valentine's Day, here's a post from a few years ago that you might also like.
Lots of love to you all! Here's to a safe and happy day!
