Monday, April 11, 2011

Sunday Morning Scones

When I was young - around high school age - my family had Sunday Night Teas.  We kept the tradition, every Sunday evening for nearly five years. It was usually a fairly simple affair: small sandwiches, always scones, and tea of course.  Though those days are long over, I've always kept this favorite recipe for Tender Scones close at hand.  Last weekend I made them for a simple Sunday Morning Breakfast for some over-night company. 



Recipe for Tender Scones

Ingredients
2 cups flour (I sometimes use 1 cup whole-wheat and 1 cup white)
5 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 1/3 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup plus 2 T. heavy whipping cream
 3/4 cup dried fruit, chocolate or chopped nuts (or any combination equaling 3 cups - I usually do currents and walnuts)

Instructions
1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Cut in butter with a pastry blender until it resembles small pebbles.
2. Mix in egg and 1/2 cup of cream.
3. Stir 3/4 cup of any combination of dried fruit, chocolate or nuts.
4. Preheat oven to 400.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently. 
6. Pat into a 1/2-inch-thick 9-inch circle.  Cut out circles with biscuit cutter or cut into wedges.  
7. Brush tops with remaining 2 Tab. cream and sprinkle with 2 T. sugar. 
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until light brown.

Serve warm with Mock Devonshire Cream and Fruit Preserves

{Mock Devonshire Cream}

1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sour cream
1/8 tsp. almond extract

Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form.  Fold in sour cream and almond extract.  Serve chilled. 



Setting a pretty table, and sitting down to slowing savor freshly brewed tea and warm scones made for such a pleasant start to the day.  Makes me think I should start a new tradition - maybe Sunday Morning Teas or just a Sunday morning Special Breakfast?  With three little people underfoot I hesitate to commit to something constant - but I do want traditions for our family.... so what am I waiting for?



View Today's Post {HERE}





25 comments:

  1. What a fun memory! Scones look so tasty!

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  2. Oh, these sound so yummy. I love the idea of Sunday Night Teas! Around here, the Sunday evening meal is usually leftovers or popcorn, and everyone waits on themselves (in keeping with the "Mom's night off" tradition that MY mom started. =) We might have to try something new... ~Sally

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  3. Dear Everyday Lovely,
    I have been admiring and admiring your blog for some time. I love what you do, and enjoy coming for a little escapist browsing. But I must ask, where oh where is the buttermilk in your scones? A good scone, as my neighbors over here in England have taught me, is "all about the buttermilk." Please speak to this issue. That said, I love this post, I love your work, and thank you!

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  4. Dear Where-Oh-Where-Is-the-Buttermilk,
    My sister and I tried so many different scone recipes during our tea years - some with cream, cream and eggs, even yogurt, and certainly buttermilk. The results, of course, varied widely with an array of different textures and tastes. I would completely trust anything anyone with a good British accent told me about scones, but without that assistance we did end up preferring this recipe with cream and egg. However, if you would be willing to pass along a good buttermilk scone recipe I would try it with all my heart. :)

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  5. Love your dishes....mind sharing what pattern and where to get them?

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    Replies
    1. Dear Angela,

      So sorry not to reply sooner! The dishes are Johnson Brothers British Castles, you can find them around the internet - even Amazon - here's a link. I especially love that they're dishwasher safe.

      http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Brothers-Britain-Castles-5-Piece/dp/B0000B2M81

      Thanks for writing :)

      love,
      cailan

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