Sweets for the Sweet

I had a baby a few days ago.

At my house.

With her mom.

And obviously, that was a cause for celebration!

So I made a pastry ring. Well. A pastry heart. It's more girly.

And SO easy!! But that can be our little secret.

I knew you would want the recipe.

Scandinavian Pastry

2 cups flour, divided
1 cup margarine, divided
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
2 eggs (3 for more of a meringue-like texture)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract, divided
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
3-4 tablespoons orange juice

Preheat oven to 425ºF.  Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl using a pastry blender or 2 forks combine 1 cup of the flour and 1/2 cup of the margarine until crumbly.  Add 1 tablespoon of water and stir together until dough forms.  Roll portions of dough between palms of hands to form ropes, joining ropes together end-to-end to form one long rope about 18  to 20 inches long.  Carefully place rope on baking sheet in desired shape.  Flatten dough to a uniform width, about 3 inches wide.

NOTE:  I am a total rule breaker when it comes to recipes.  The recipe is good as is, but depends on that orange juice up there for flavor.  I skip the orange juice and use milk in the icing, and then fill the ring with my secret ingredient:

Ginny's Jam (see her picture?)

Ginny is a sweet friend of mine who won the blue ribbon at the state fair many years ago now for her triple berry jam, and Gedney has been selling it ever since.  It's YUM.  But so are raspberry preserves, pumpkin butter, you get the picture.  My no-nonsense Scandihuvian ancestry has been tainted by modern culture.  What can I say?  Use filling.

But keep it away from the edges because it will want to ooze.

OK.  Back to the real recipe.

In a medium saucepan bring to a boil remaining 1/2 cup margarine and remaining 1 cup water.  Remove from heat and add remaining 1 cup flour all at once, stirring until well mixed.  Add eggs, one at a time, stirring until each is incorporated.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.  Spoon on top of dough.  If you use filling, you can use your fingers to try to seal the edges and prevent most of the oozing.

Bake 30 minutes.  In a medium mixing bowl combine confectioners' sugar, butter, remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla, and enough orange juice (or milk) to be of icing consistency.  Drizzle over warm ring.

Move to serving platter after loosening with spatula, if desired.  Cut and serve!

If you are planning to use the leftovers for tomorrow's breakfast,

I hope you have some cereal in your pantry.