Blueberry Buttermilk Scones

Our friends, Alanna and Bob, and proprietors of The Inn at Whiskey Bella Ranch shared this signature recipe with Culinary Latitudes Travel.  These scones taste traditional in every sense.  The Inn at Whiskey Bella Ranch is sharing this tasty recipe for their signature scones.  The chef is a personal friend of mine and said this recipe is the requested the most by their guests.  Enjoy! ** Note (from Alanna) - here in Colorado, the dough is very dry, so I add just a bit more buttermilk, and I dump the dough on parchment paper in order to press it into the correct shape.  Then I can use the parchment to help me roll the dough into a nice rectangle before cutting and freezing.  The parchment paper has saved my life with this recipe.

Blueberry Scones

This is a signature dish at Whiskey Bella Ranch in northern Colorado.  Guests ask for the recipe over and over again.  Enjoy!

• 3 and 1/4 Cups Flour plus 2 Tablespoons
• 1/2 Cup + 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 Cup brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 Cup cold buttermilk
• Zest of one lemmon
• 1 1/2 C Blueberries (I freeze them overnight before I use them)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a very large bowl combine the first five ingredients.  Throw in the butter and work it with your fingertips until the dough is pea and lima bean sizes.  Add the buttermilk and lemon zest and toss to combine.

   Immediately dump everything onto a clean surface with more than enough room to work the dough.  (Alanna with Whiskey Bella Ranch uses parchment paper.  It helps with shaping and cutting the scones.). Using only the heel of your palm quickly flatten the dough.  Gather the dough back into a mound two or three times and repeat.  The dough should begin holding together.  Avoid overworking the dough.  You should still see some pea size pieces of butter through it.

   Pat the dough down to about 3/4 inch, and make a 9 x 12 rectangle.  Sprinkle the frozen blueberries on top evenly and begin to roll the dough like a jelly roll with the blueberries inside.  Shape into a 12 inch long cylinder.  Lightly flatten the top and cut out 9 or 10 triangles.  Transfer to an un-greased sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours prior to baking.  Or freeze up to one month tightly wrapped.

   Remove scones from freezer and place on two un-greased baking sheets with plenty of room to breath.  Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle liberally with granulated sugar.  Bake from frozen until cooked, nicely brown, and easily lifted off pan.  About 25 minutes.

These are best when eaten the day they are made.

7 Best Places to Travel in April

Thanks to our friends at Conde Nast Travel, we are sharing this list of way to use that tax refund coming your way!   Travel with Taste!

7 PHOTOS

by MARK ELLWOOD

March 23, 2018

April is a time when folks are feeling flush, so why not spend those much-deserved tax refunds on a trip somewhere exotic? As springbegins to emerge, it’s the ideal time for a long-haul splurge, whether to Europe or Asia. Plus, almost anywhere you travel now, the first blossoms will be budding—and the flowers themselves can be reason enough to make a trip. Here is our pick of the seven places to travel in April.

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Tohuku, Japan

Spend that refund on a long-haul trip to Tokyo, where thousands of cherry trees or sakura burst into bloom each spring and mark the end of winter (April 1 is the start of the academic and financial years in Japan). The Japanese cherish this tradition, so symbolic of the fleeting nature of life since each flower lasts for little more than a week. While you're there, make sure to take part in hanami, a ritual which literally translates as ‘looking at flowers': To make like a local, pick up a seasonal bento box from a supermarket and head to a park for an al fresco lunch under the branches. You can track this year’s projected peak blooms by area and, per that forecast, the best places for bloom-spotting this April are north of Tokyo in the Tohoku region. Try the hipster-heavy city of Onagawa, which has rebounded strongly since it suffered extensive damage in the 2011 earthquake. Later in the month, head to the top of Honshu island to Hirosaki Castle, renowned as one of the best places in the country for hanami: the centuries-old keep sits in a small park that’s crammed with more than 2,500 cherry trees.

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Amsterdam

Picture a rowdy, raucous mashup of St Patrick’s Day and Mardi Gras, and you’re still not close to the annual King’s Day or Koningsdag celebrations that sweep the Netherlands on the last Saturday in April each year. It’s the official, rather than actual, birthday of the monarch—currently, King Willem-Alexander (until he took over from his mother, Queen Beatrix, in 2013, it was long known as Queen’s Day). Celebrations start the evening before—King’s Night—with street parties across the city, and continue the next day with more partying and huge flea markets selling trinkets and food. Just make sure to pack some oranje clothes if you want to fit in: the Dutch festoon themselves in their national color for the day. Even better, April marks the peak of Dutch tulip season, so you expect riots of color both across the revelers and in the parks around them.

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Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a popular winter sunspot for northern hemisphere types, but the muggy Porteño summer can make exploring the city unappealing. Come instead as fall begins in April, with the foliage gently turning and daytime temperatures consistently in the 60s and 70s (bring a light sweater for the cooler evenings). The city’s annual answer to Tribeca, BAFICI, turns it into a hub of Spanish language indie cinema for ten days, while the Nuestros Caballeros riding showcase offers the chance to experience Argentina’s horse-made culture first-hand. Hole up in the Faena Hotel + Universe, a sprawling hotel-cum-culture complex that singlehandedly helped revive the historic Puerto Madero neighborhood. And don’t miss a cocktail in the award-winning basement speakeasy, Floreria Atlantico, hidden beneath a chic flower shop.

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Malta

This tiny island nation’s hub, Valletta, snared designation as a European Capital of Culture this year. That honor has helped spotlight a country whose strategic location saw it passed between successive empires, each leaving indelible legacies: north African-influenced architecture, Sicilian-style food and British politeness—not to mention several branches of U.K. department store-slash-national treasure, Marks & Spencer. This month, the country’s calendar includes the three day-long Fireworks Festival and a chance to gorge for the day on locally produced strawberries, known across the Mediterranean for their sweetness, in the village of Mġarr. Mark the Easter weekend here with a trip to the sister island, Gozo, where the Christian holy day is splashily marked—even non-believers can try a slice of figolla, the moreish Maltese Easter cake filled with almonds.

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Zambia

April is shoulder season in Zambia, with the downpours of the artfully rechristened Emerald (or wet) Season dwindling but the heat, and prices, of high season not yet in full force—making it an affordable time to travel there. It’s the first month when weather makes the country widely accessible, so while the parks are usually quieter, the landscape is lush and green in the Lower Zambezi: many birds burst into full breeding plumage (look for heron and stork nests in the trees) and the impala begin calving. More than anything, though, it’s the finest time to witness Victoria Falls: The waters will be at their maximum, plunging noisily more than 300 feet, and the river is high, making water safaris more viable. Try a dual location safari from Robin Pope, to explore the Luangwa Valley and Lower Zambezi.

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Alaska

There’s still ample powder for outdoor adventuring this late in the season, especially if you want an extreme adventure with former Olympian Tommy Moe, who co-owns Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, a short flight out of Anchorage. (One recent storm in Alaska dumped 10 inches of snow in an hour.) Come here for an all-inclusive getaway packed with extreme sports like heli-skiiing, snow hiking and fat biking. Combine it with a trip to nearby Denali National Park, the six million-acre wilderness that’s home to North America’s tallest peak, the namesake, 20,000-foot mountain.

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Montgomery, Alabama

This month, another noteworthy monument joins the impressive haul in Montgomery. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum will host a two-day summit over its opening weekend aimed at exploring issues of justice in America. The two new institutions join the Maya Lin-designed Civil Rights Memorial and Center, plus the Freedom Rides Museum and Rosa Parks Library, in a city where the Civil Rights movement is considered to have begun—it’s where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. began as a pastor, and where Rosa Parks was first arrested for refusing to cede a seat on the bus in 1955. These new memorials, set in and around a six-acre park, will act as a further reminder of struggles, both past and ongoing.

20 of the Best Travel Tips - Save Time, Money, and Stress

We are sharing this great article with you so you will feel informed and ready for travel!  For great ideas on places to visit check out this site:  CULA Travel - Travel with Taste! Travel should be relaxing, so how come we get home from vacation feeling more exhausted than before? Make everything smoother with these expert travel tips.BY JONATHAN THOMPSONArticle by:  Jonathan Thompson, Fashion BeanExperienced travellers know that everything from overpriced flights and foreign transaction fees to the dreaded middle seat can put a serious damper on an otherwise perfectly planned trip.

Travelling can be complicated - but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re scouring the internet for the best flights or landing at a destination for the first time, there’s a hack to help you out.

We asked a collection of leading experts and professional frequent fliers for their best tips, tricks and shortcuts to make your next travel experience a cheaper, smoother and more relaxing one. If you’re in it for the long haul, here’s what you need to do…

LAND ON THE BOOKING SWEET SPOT

"A good rule of thumb is that Tuesdays are usually the cheapest days to book air travel," reveals Phil Bloomfield of Cheapflights.co.uk.

“Generally the best fares are advertised 50 days ahead of departure, with the most expensive being three days beforehand," he continues. "Always fly in the evenings when you can. Aside from Fridays, the most affordable flights tend to be those which take off between 6pm and midnight."

BREAK YOUR JOURNEY, NOT THE BANK

"Flying indirectly with a short stopover to simply switch planes can often save you large sums, while adding relatively little to your journey time," Bloomfield says.

This means more spending money for a better hotel at the other end, too.

DITCH THAT WHEELIE BAG

“Duffels make better cabin luggage than wheelie bags,” says Lee Thompson, co-founder of solo adventure travel specialists Flash Pack.

“Many budget airlines are now getting stricter with their carry-on rules, and wheelie bags are always the first to get checked," continues Thompson. "A duffel is much more flexible when it comes to onboard storage and you can often fit more possessions inside them from the outset too. The real trick is to invest in a one with hidden wheels, like the Eastpak Strapverz, for the best of both worlds.”

“Many budget airlines are now getting stricter with their carry-on rules, and wheelie bags are always the first to get checked," continues Thompson. "A duffel is much more flexible when it comes to onboard storage and you can often fit more possessions inside them from the outset too. The real trick is to invest in a one with hidden wheels, like the Eastpak Strapverz, for the best of both worlds.”

GO FAR, FAR AWAY

If you’re travelling to de-stress, putting a lot of miles between you and the office / ex / family is the best way to ensure genuine rest. In a survey by the Institute of Applied Positive Research, 84% of people said travelling to other countries was the surest way to beat stress.

Alex Zivatar

This confirms a separate study by Twitter, which found that users’ posts are happier the further away from home they’re geotagged.

SANDWICH YOUR SEATS

If you're travelling as a pair, always book “sandwich” seats - the aisle and the window seats in a row of three. Unless it’s a full flight, it’s unlikely that anybody will then pick the middle seat, ensuring you have the entire row to yourselves. If somebody does end up between you, simply ask to switch seats so you can sit next to your partner.

Dallas Morning News (via StarTribune)

READ BETWEEN THE LINES AT SECURITY

"If you’re in a hurry, don’t just look at a line’s length - look for the scanners that seem to be filled with frequent travelers, like businesspeople," says Mark Sansom, editor of Food And Travel magazine.

These people will have mastered the art of getting through quickly. Meanwhile, avoid any lines filled with people who will undoubtedly take more time, particularly families with young children.

ADAPT EASILY IN A CHARGING CRISIS

Every now and again, we all forget to pack the right international adaptor. The good news is that it shouldn’t affect your ability to charge your phone.

iStock

As long as you’ve packed your standard charger, you can simply plug the lead into the USB port on the back of your hotel TV.

TO ROCK A LOOK, ALWAYS ROLL

“To maximise luggage space and minimise creases, always roll your clothes when packing,” says Sloan Sheridan-Williams, spokesperson for accommodation portal booking.com.

Alex Zivatar

Not only will your first-night wardrobe be ready to wear, but this technique also provides useful safe havens for delicate items like electric toothbrushes, razors and chargers.

For make packing a breeze, check out these 5 suitcase packing hacks!

CAP YOUR SHOES

Whether your shoes are dirty when you’re packing them - or they get muddy during your trip - that's an easy way to prevent them from marking the clean clothes they’re now bag sharing with, according to Sansom.

Simply grab a cheap shower cap to place them in during transit, and prevent any dirt from getting on your clothing.

Packing a small tumble dryer sheet for a fresh smell in your luggage is always a good idea too.

DON’T PAY TWICE FOR CAR INSURANCE

“Once you’ve decided on the right car hire deal, only buy the basic package,” says Thompson. “Sometimes daily insurance can cost many times what it’s actually worth, as car hire firms make their profits by selling add-ons, which can be absurdly expensive. Instead, arrange your own cover beforehand - or get a general travel insurance package which covers car hire too.”

BOOK EARLY

As well as saving money, booking a trip well in advance also has big psychological benefits. A Dutch study in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life (which sounds like a must-read title to us), found that holidaymakers are happiest not when they’re on holiday, not when they get back, but when they’re looking forward to it. By booking early, you maximise that excitement and anticipation - even if your productivity checks out early because you’re Googling pictures of your destination at the office.

TAP INTO FREE WIFI

As you’re walking around, plenty of places will have free Wi-Fi, but they’ll probably be password protected - and they won't give out that password if you aren't making a purchase. “Sidestep that problem by checking FourSquare, where previous visitors will often post passwords,” says Sansom.

Alex Zivatar

Certainly beats paying the equivalent of another air-fare in roaming data costs.

COMBAT JET LAG BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS

"It might sound obvious, but leaving home well-rested will minimise any subsequent jet lag," says Sheridan-Williams. “Ensure you have a relaxing 48 hours before your departure, and pre-prepare a chilled playlist to help you zone out in-flight.”

SLEEP OFF YOUR JET LAG

To further minimise holidaying like a zombie, the Sleep Foundation recommends choosing a flight that gets you to your destination in the early evening, and staying awake until around 10pm local time.

Set your watch to your new time zone as soon as you board the place and, unfortunately, you’re going to need to avoid caffeine and alcohol in the three to four hours before you go to bed.

PRE-MAP YOUR DESTINATION

"Download the area you're travelling to on Google Maps before you leave home," urges Thompson. “The GPS in your phone will work without using mobile data, and with a downloaded map you'll always be able to navigate your way around an unfamiliar area.”

ALWAYS MARK YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE AS FRAGILE

“[Marking your luggage "fragile"] is a great way to ensure that your baggage is handled correctly,” says Thompson.

iStock

“Your luggage will be kept at the top of the pile because of this, which will make it one of the first bags to be released too.”

BUILD YOUR HEAT TOLERANCE

If you live in a moderate climate and holiday in the tropics, the danger is that you spend your entire vacation in the shade because you can’t stop sweating in the sun. Fortunately, multiple studies have shown that you can increase your heat tolerance simply by exposing yourself to it in the days before.

iStock

Hit the sauna or sign up for a hot yoga class and your body won’t get a heat shock when you leave the arrivals lounge.

STAY HYDRATED WITHOUT LEAKING MONEY

Plane filtration systems might ensure a clean environment for passengers - but they also ensure parched throats, dizzy heads and a higher risk of jetlag. Luckily there’s an easy fix: “Invest in a reusable water bottle that looks great and does good,” says Thompson.

Alex Zivatar

“Just take one to the airport empty and fill it up once you’re past security. Something like BRITA’s fill&go Active bottle is ideal: it even improves the quality and taste of tap water.”

STAY AWAY FROM THAT PESKY COLD

Flying can dry out the membranes in our nose - which, when moist, help keep germs moving to flush them out of our system. This can be easily solved with a saline spray you can find in most drugstores - as well as making sure you stay hydrated. Even getting in some of the steam by having a good whiff of your pre-flight coffee is worth a try.

NEVER ORDER THE TAP WATER ON A PLANE HOME

Speaking of hygiene, there’s a damn fine excuse for having a beer instead of water on a plane.

iStock

A study by the Wall Street Journal tested tap water on 14 international and domestic flights. They found everything from salmonella to tiny insect eggs. Likewise, don’t ask for ice if you’re flying from a country with a suspect water supply. The trays will have been filled there, not at home.

GO FAR, FAR AWAY

If you’re travelling to de-stress, putting a lot of miles between you and the office / ex / family is the best way to ensure genuine rest. In a survey by the Institute of Applied Positive Research, 84% of people said travelling to other countries was the surest way to beat stress.

This confirms a separate study by Twitter, which found that users’ posts are happier the further away from home they’re geotagged.

Alex Zivatar

SANDWICH YOUR SEATS

If you're travelling as a pair, always book “sandwich” seats - the aisle and the window seats in a row of three. Unless it’s a full flight, it’s unlikely that anybody will then pick the middle seat, ensuring you have the entire row to yourselves. If somebody does end up between you, simply ask to switch seats so you can sit next to your partner.

READ BETWEEN THE LINES AT SECURITY

"If you’re in a hurry, don’t just look at a line’s length - look for the scanners that seem to be filled with frequent travelers, like businesspeople," says Mark Sansom, editor of Food And Travel magazine.

These people will have mastered the art of getting through quickly. Meanwhile, avoid any lines filled with people who will undoubtedly take more time, particularly families with young children.

ADAPT EASILY IN A CHARGING CRISIS

Every now and again, we all forget to pack the right international adaptor. The good news is that it shouldn’t affect your ability to charge your phone.

iStock

As long as you’ve packed your standard charger, you can simply plug the lead into the USB port on the back of your hotel TV.

TO ROCK A LOOK, ALWAYS ROLL

“To maximise luggage space and minimise creases, always roll your clothes when packing,” says Sloan Sheridan-Williams, spokesperson for accommodation portal booking.com.

Alex Zivatar

Not only will your first-night wardrobe be ready to wear, but this technique also provides useful safe havens for delicate items like electric toothbrushes, razors and chargers.

For make packing a breeze, check out these 5 suitcase packing hacks!

CAP YOUR SHOES

Whether your shoes are dirty when you’re packing them - or they get muddy during your trip - that's an easy way to prevent them from marking the clean clothes they’re now bag sharing with, according to Sansom.

Simply grab a cheap shower cap to place them in during transit, and prevent any dirt from getting on your clothing.

Packing a small tumble dryer sheet for a fresh smell in your luggage is always a good idea too.

DON’T PAY TWICE FOR CAR INSURANCE

“Once you’ve decided on the right car hire deal, only buy the basic package,” says Thompson. “Sometimes daily insurance can cost many times what it’s actually worth, as car hire firms make their profits by selling add-ons, which can be absurdly expensive. Instead, arrange your own cover beforehand - or get a general travel insurance package which covers car hire too.”

BOOK EARLY

As well as saving money, booking a trip well in advance also has big psychological benefits. A Dutch study in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life (which sounds like a must-read title to us), found that holidaymakers are happiest not when they’re on holiday, not when they get back, but when they’re looking forward to it. By booking early, you maximise that excitement and anticipation - even if your productivity checks out early because you’re Googling pictures of your destination at the office.

TAP INTO FREE WIFI

As you’re walking around, plenty of places will have free Wi-Fi, but they’ll probably be password protected - and they won't give out that password if you aren't making a purchase. “Sidestep that problem by checking FourSquare, where previous visitors will often post passwords,” says Sansom.

Alex Zivatar

Certainly beats paying the equivalent of another air-fare in roaming data costs.

COMBAT JET LAG BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS

"It might sound obvious, but leaving home well-rested will minimise any subsequent jet lag," says Sheridan-Williams. “Ensure you have a relaxing 48 hours before your departure, and pre-prepare a chilled playlist to help you zone out in-flight.”

SLEEP OFF YOUR JET LAG

To further minimise holidaying like a zombie, the Sleep Foundation recommends choosing a flight that gets you to your destination in the early evening, and staying awake until around 10pm local time.

Set your watch to your new time zone as soon as you board the place and, unfortunately, you’re going to need to avoid caffeine and alcohol in the three to four hours before you go to bed.

PRE-MAP YOUR DESTINATION

"Download the area you're travelling to on Google Maps before you leave home," urges Thompson. “The GPS in your phone will work without using mobile data, and with a downloaded map you'll always be able to navigate your way around an unfamiliar area.”

ALWAYS MARK YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE AS FRAGILE

“[Marking your luggage "fragile"] is a great way to ensure that your baggage is handled correctly,” says Thompson.

iStock

“Your luggage will be kept at the top of the pile because of this, which will make it one of the first bags to be released too.”

BUILD YOUR HEAT TOLERANCE

If you live in a moderate climate and holiday in the tropics, the danger is that you spend your entire vacation in the shade because you can’t stop sweating in the sun. Fortunately, multiple studies have shown that you can increase your heat tolerance simply by exposing yourself to it in the days before.

iStock

Hit the sauna or sign up for a hot yoga class and your body won’t get a heat shock when you leave the arrivals lounge.

STAY HYDRATED WITHOUT LEAKING MONEY

Plane filtration systems might ensure a clean environment for passengers - but they also ensure parched throats, dizzy heads and a higher risk of jetlag. Luckily there’s an easy fix: “Invest in a reusable water bottle that looks great and does good,” says Thompson.

Alex Zivatar

“Just take one to the airport empty and fill it up once you’re past security. Something like BRITA’s fill&go Active bottle is ideal: it even improves the quality and taste of tap water.”

STAY AWAY FROM THAT PESKY COLD

Flying can dry out the membranes in our nose - which, when moist, help keep germs moving to flush them out of our system. This can be easily solved with a saline spray you can find in most drugstores - as well as making sure you stay hydrated. Even getting in some of the steam by having a good whiff of your pre-flight coffee is worth a try.

NEVER ORDER THE TAP WATER ON A PLANE HOME

iStock

Speaking of hygiene, there’s a damn fine excuse for having a beer instead of water on a plane.A study by the Wall Street Journal tested tap water on 14 international and domestic flights. They found everything from salmonella to tiny insect eggs. Likewise, don’t ask for ice if you’re flying from a country with a suspect water supply. The trays will have been filled there, not at home.Editor note:We hope these tips will help you with your next vacation destination.  For great ideas on places to go check out this site:  CULA Travel - Travel with Taste!

 We are here for you and will guarantee to meet or beat prices you find on-line!  Bon Voyage!

How To Make the Classic Blue Hawaiian

   

Blue Hawaii

• 1 ½ ounces silver rum
• 1 ounce blue curaçao
• 1 ½ ounces Coco López cream of coconut
• 1 ½ ounces fresh pineapple juice

1. Stir ingredients over ice (or combine with crushed ice in a blender) and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, and an orchid.

From the Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast

The Spirits

Bols Blue Curaçao ($12) It’s the original blue curaçao, flavored with an intense variety of bitter orange grown on its namesake Dutch Caribbean island.

Selvarey Rum ($25) An impressive new brand from Panama with a suave vanilla nose and layered, not overly sweet flavors, sure to kick any rum cocktail up a few notches. Also try the cacao-flavored version.

Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum ($23) A minerally, fruit-packed entry from rocker (and part-time Aloha State resident) Sammy Hagar, distilled from the first pressing of virgin Maui Gold sugarcane.

Tanduay Silver Asian Rum ($20) A connoisseurs’ rum that works on its own or in cocktails. Availability is limited, but this Philippines-crafted stunner is pure and focused from start to finish, a worthy addition to a serious bar.

Caliche Puerto Rican Rum ($25) Created by nightlife impresario Rande Gerber with Puerto Rico’s Serrallés distilling family, lively Caliche is bright with complex flavors, charming rustic notes, and scuba-worthy depth.

Originally appeared in Virtuoso Life magazine, July 2014.