Chocolate and Orange Scones

Last weekend I went on a wonderful trip to Portland.  I had a great time seeing Janssen, eating donuts, meeting new and awesome people, and generally enjoying a work trip/vacation. It was sad to leave Adam and Fox behind, but for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed my time away.  

On my flight up to Portland, I flew with Delta and they have free movies (always a win in my book) that you can watch, and they had Cinderella, the new live action that came out earlier this year.  I watched it on our way back from France and loved it, but it was fun to watch it again, this time without worrying that my baby was going to wake up in the middle and start screaming.  

I like watching movies that leave me motivated to be a better person, and Cinderella does just that.  The phrase "have courage and be kind" has been washing over the internet since this movie came out, and it feels a little overused and cliche, but as I watched it again, I was reminded of how much better this world would be if we were all just a little kinder.  My first response is almost always to be critical, and I love how Cinderella is always gracious, despite her circumstances.  She might be a character in a movie, but I definitely could benefit from being a little more like her.  

We live in a world it is cool to be judgmental, unkind, and hard to please, particularly on the internet, but if we are willing to have courage and be kind, we can leave things better than they were before we came. It isn't always easy, and we may not get a fairytale ending, but being kind is always worth it.  Have a wonderful weekend! 

Chocolate and Orange Scones:
adapted from My Baking Addiction
yields 8 scones

1/3 cup of turbinado sugar (you can also use granulated sugar)
zest of 1 large navel orange
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbs cold, unsalted butter, diced
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a stand mixer combine the sugar and zest and rub through your fingers until the sugar is fragrant.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix.

Add your diced butter and mix for about 3 minutes, until the butter is broken down into small pieces, no larger than the size of peas.

Add your buttermilk and egg.  Briefly mix until all the flour is mixed in.

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Lightly flour a clean surface, form your dough into a ball, and push it down on the floured surface.  Flip it over, and push it down again, and form the dough into a circle about 1 1/2" thick. and 7" in diameter.  Cut it into 8 equal pieces and put it in a round (or square) pan.

Cook in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the edges are starting to brown up.  Remove from the oven, and immediately press chocolate chips into the scones.  Let sit for about 10 minutes, until the scones are mostly cooled then enjoy!