New tradition | A Christmas failure

Alex and I started a new tradition yesterday, something we have wanted to do ever since we got married, but haven't been able to until this year.

Christmas chocolate chip scones for breakfast!

I made Alex chocolate chip scones one time before we started dating, and I think that was the day I won over his heart. This is his all time favorite recipe of mine, so I figured I had to make them as a treat for Christmas morning.

This recipe was put together from a mixture of other recipes I had found, plus one 'special' ingredient. Typically they turn out delicious... this year was an exception. I failed to follow my own recipe and used baking soda instead of baking powder, which apparently is a big no-no for flavor! Somehow, Alex claims he can't even tell the difference. Trust me, there is a difference, and it is unmistakeable. Hopefully I never mix those two up again!

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tbsp sugar

5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

*2/3 cup honey butter, or sweet butter  

2 eggs

Mini chocolate chips

Half and half or evaporated milk

Vanilla

*You can still use regular butter, I just prefer using a sweet butter. It just adds an extra bit of flavor.

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. The mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut butter into mixture until it resembles fine crumbs. Stir in eggs, desired amount of chocolate chips, and a drop of vanilla. Slowly begin adding half and half, about a Tbsp at a time, only add enough to bring the dough off the sides of the bowl. Roll onto a well floured surface and cut into wedges. Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sugar (if desired). Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe yields 10-15 large scones. Dough can be stored in freezer up to 4 months.

I'm not an expert baker, or cook for that matter (obviously) but this is one recipe I am typically proud of. I'll just have to make a new good batch.

Hope everyone had a terrific holiday!

My grinchy ways

I'm really not one to carry on traditions simply for traditions sake. Call me a grinch, but I just like to be different sometimes. If you tell me to do something, chances are I wont want to do it simply because I want to make my own choices. All you have to say to turn me off to an idea is, "But you have to, it won't be [fill in the blank] with out one."

For example:

Christmas trees.

Alex and I were not all about the Christmas tree tradition. We just didn't see the point in doing all that work just to have a tree in the house for a month and then have to throw it out. "But you have to have a Christmas tree! It won't be Christmas without a tree!!" 

And thus, our non-tree home idea was born. 

But if you follow me on instagram, you know that this year I was out the the weekend after Thanksgiving getting my tree. Just like all the other die hard Christmas people. And from my pictures you know that there is nothing I have loved more than my tree these last few weeks.

It turns out there are just some traditions that I have come to fall in love with all on my own.

Like Christmas trees.

Last year, I caved and decided to test out getting a tree, and that was all the convincing I needed. There is nothing like having your very own tree. To cut down, to make room for, and to decorate.

In love I fell with that one little tree, and I will get a tree from here on out.

And now I'm caving on my no Christmas card plans...

As much as I feel like they might be pointless, I love getting all those cards in the mail. I love being able to display them. To see that our friends and family love us and want to shower us with some of those kind words.

Yeah, maybe they aren't personal. Maybe they don't have hand written messages (all the time). Maybe the same card gets sent to everyone. But dang it, I love them. And who on earth has the time and energy to write messages to everyone they know? Because I sure don't.

Thus my Grinchy ways are dying, one by one.

And this year I actually wanted to send out Christmas cards of my own. Yep, for the first time.

Unfortunately, with our nearly non-existent Christmas budget, I'm still trying to figure out if we even have the money for that this year.

To friends and family, if you don't get a card in the mail, take this as a card from us this year!

Hopefully next year we can send cards to everyone!

How do you feel about traditions?