Dancing and Scones

Currently, I am sitting backstage at the OPTIMA Dance Show.  OPTIMA is a dance organization at the University of Wisconsin where students choreograph and students perform.  I have an insanely busy schedule with my fraternity, job, and academics.  In OPTIMA you can do as many dances as you want.  Therefore, this organization is perfect for me!  I am only in one dance for this show and thus, I have a lot of waiting to do before I perform.

Check out some of these great photos from our dress rehearsal:

My Dance: Poison and Wine

OPTIMA Dance

Kimmy and Amy are two girls who are also in the show and they are pretty awesome.  They are helping me be creative with this post as we speak!  Kimmy and I work together as Information Guides for the Visitor Information Program at UW.  While at work, I am usually talking about food and what I am excited about making.  Kimmy pointed out that I should not tempt them with my delicious food stories without offering some food to try.  I took this advice to heart, and now I bring in whatever I happen to be making for almost every shift.  This way, my coworkers can stop drooling over my stories and feeling left out and I get advice on things to make and how to improve what I am making.

Exhibit A: Kimmy suggested chocolate chip scones.  Ever since that suggestion, I have not stopped looking for the perfect scone recipe to wow Kimmy. 

I think I have found the perfect one...I usually like to find recipes that are amazing, but also not awful for your health.  Scones provided me with quite the struggle.  However, I found a recipe that attempted to make these treats slightly less awful while still tasting amazing. Plus, they are orangey and chocolaty!

I made these after dinner with my friend Margo.  I was super nervous because I had never really just made up a recipe before.  However, these came out AMAZING.  Seriously, you have to try them!  I believe this is the beginning of a new love affair with scones.

Here it goes:


Orange Chocolate Chip Scones 

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp orange extract
1 1/4 cups half and half (or heavy cream) 
1 cup milk chocolate chips 

Eggwash:
1 egg
1 tbsp of cold water


Directions:
1. Mix the dry ingredients together.

Oven Ready!

2. Mix the half and half with the orange extract.  Then whisk the half and half into the dry ingredients.  Mixture should be dry, so add some flour if necessary. Mix in the chocolate chips.
3. Spread mixture over a lightly floured surface and slice into wedges. I made mine mini scones.
4. Brush each scone with the egg wash and sprinkle with some sugar. (Margo got a little crazy with the sugar :))
5. Bake at 400 degrees for about 13-14 minutes.

Enjoy :)