Friday 14 January 2011

Friday morning baking...




We set out to bake a banana/brandy bread (its a new invention and comes from the fact I have left over brandy butter - if it works I will post about it). Anyway the chickens have stopped laying in protest of being made to stay in their run (we spotted the fox on the meadow earlier in the week) and I only had one precious egg left in the cupboard. So as not to disappoint my daughter we decided to make scones.

I've forgotten how good these are. Simple and delicious. We are supposed to be saving them for coffee with my parents tomorrow but I'm not confident they will last that long. Recipe below.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 stick/50g butter
  • 2 cups /225g all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 oz/ 30g fine/caster sugar
  • 1/4 cup/ 50g sultanas or chopped dates
  • 1/4 pint / 150 ml milk
  • 1 egg beaten with a little milk

Preparation:

  • Heat the oven to 400F/205C/Gas 6
  • Grease and flour a baking sheet.
  • Sieve the flour into a roomy baking bowl then add the butter, baking powder and salt. Quickly rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and sultanas and stir.
  • Make a well in the center and using a dinner knife, stir in enough milk to make a soft, pliable dough.
  • Turn the mixture on to a floured board and knead very lightly until just smooth then lightly roll out to 2cm / 3/4" thick.
  • Cut rounds with a 7.5cm /2" cutter or cut into triangles with a sharp knife.
  • Place on the baking tray and brush with the beaten egg and milk mixture. Bake near the top of the hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and well risen.
  • Cool on a wire rack before eating.
Serve with butter, or lashings of jam and cream.


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