Tate's Bake Shop Cookies & Cookbook Review PLUS My First Giveaway and a great oatmeal scone recipe!

This weekend I had the opportunity to try some of Tate's Bake Shop cookies and what a treat they were! Thin and crunchy with the wonderful flavor of butter, these cookies were great. They aren't filled with preservatives and other questionable ingredients, but instead the ingredient list includes all the items you'd find in your own home kitchen.

These cookies were perfect to munch on while we decorated our tree, drank eggnog and enjoyed being together as a family. My son loved them, of course what young child doesn't love cookies. He decided they were the perfect size for his 3 year old hands and felt like modeling his cookie for the camera! :-)

Not only did I get to munch on some delightful cookies, but armed with a variety of recipes  from Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook I did some baking!

 Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook includes many of the classic American recipes that grace many a table. However, instead of having numerous cookbooks to look at because you like one recipe out of one cookbook and another one out of a different cookbook, Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook looks to have excellent recipes from beginning to end. The recipes are simple to understand and include ingredients that are regularly found in the kitchen. I love making food from scratch, but know there is a learning curve to go with it. If you are new to baking you'll love these easy and straightforward recipes.

Doesn't a giveaway seem like a good way to start the work week? I think so and because Tate's Bake Shop has been so generous I have a special gift for one lucky reader. This lucky person will receive a gift box of chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, plus the Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook so that they can enjoy the taste of Tate's Bake Shop goodies in their home whenever they want.

Now are you thinking that these cookies and cookbook look so good that you don't want to wait to see if you won the contest? Perhaps they will be the perfect Christmas gift for some friends and family. Well then how about 15% off of your purchase? Use the discount code "cookie" through December 31st. to take advantage of this extra bonus. Check Tate's Bake Shop out on Facebook and take a little time to see their website and do some holiday shopping.

Wondering how to enter the contest? It's not hard. There are 5 ways to enter. After doing one or all five, leave a separate comment for each entry you make.

1. Become a fan of Tate's Bake Shop on Facebook (good for 1 entry)
2. Comment on this post and let me know what your favorite baked good is. (good for 1 entry)
3. Subscribe to Artistta through an RSS feed. (good for 1 entry)
4. Become a fan of Artistta on Facebook. (good for 1 entry)
5. Follow Artistta on Twitter (good for 1 entry)

The winner will be chosen using random.org on Friday, December 10th and notified by email. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. 

Now I couldn't just leave you with a review and tell you a bit about a cookbook without actually sharing one of the recipes that is included! So, because I've been in a scone sort of mood lately and they are actually one of my all time favorite treats, I thought this would be the perfect recipe to share! Try it and don't forget to check out Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook! 

Oatmeal Scones

14 scones

What You'll Need

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 cup firmly packed dark or light brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup salted butter, cold and chopped into pieces 

(If you use unsalted add an extra 1/4 tsp. of salt.)

1 cup dates, pitted and chopped 

(or another dried fruit, I actually used dried cherries)

1 3/4 cups half-and-half

1 large egg

1 tsp. sugar

Getting Started

 1. Preheat your oven to 375°. Grease or line with parchment two cookies sheets.

2. In a large bowl mix together both flours, rolled oats, baking powder, brown sugar and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knifes, cut in the cold butter until the mixture until it's crumbly and the butter pieces are no larger than peas.

3. Stir in the chopped dates or other dried fruit. Slowly add half-and-half while stirring or mixing continuously. Beat mixture for 1 minute. The dough will be moist and sticky.

4. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead briefly, then pat it out to about 3/4" thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a glass dipped in flour to cut 3" rounds out of the dough. Place them on prepared cookie sheets.

5. In a small bowl mix together egg and sugar for an egg wash. Brush it lightly on each scone.

6. Bake the scones for 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Enjoy and don't forget to share!