Wednesday 21 December 2011

Strawberry Center Scones

I was introduced to this sinful but glorious tea time delight on my maiden trip to London..my best friend from college and her husband took me to this lovely little tea house where I think my mouth started drooling as soon as the display window started to come into my view (check out the last photo for proof :)) So the in-house speciality was scones with a variety of jams and clotted cream so that's what we ordered off course..been 2 years since that trip and haven't found any place yet in Mumbai that serves these delectable little quick breads..simple solution--bake my own! This recipe is adapted from joyofbaking.com which is a must visit site if you are fond of baking...if you wish you can skip making the filling sauce and eat the warm scones with your favourite jam and butter ..and if this your first time eating a scone, then you know you've made it right if you get a texture between a bread and a cake with a crisp outer crust and you can't stop at one! :))

Ingredients

For the scones (makes 6)

1 cup flour (maida)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
50 gms butter,cold
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tablespoon vinegar

For the filling
7-8 strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice
Butter or cream

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
2.Add the vinegar to the milk and leave for 15 minutes to get buttermilk.
3.In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture to look like bread crumbs
4.Add the buttermilk ,little at a time,and stir just until the dough comes together (add more buttermilk if necessary)...second photo below
5.Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently and press with your hands into a round that is about one fingertip high. Use a 2 inch round biscuit cutter to cut the dough into circles.
6.Transfer the scones onto a baking sheet lined with butter paper,keeping a gap of about 2 inches between the scones..third photo below
7.Bake on the center rack for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of a scone comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
8.For the filling, chop the strawberries into small pieces and heat with the sugar on a slow flame till you get a thick sauce. Add the lemon juice and turn off the gas.
9.To serve, slice each cone along the center, spread butter/cream on one half and top with some strawberry sauce. Cover the scone with the other half.....best served fresh and warm with tea..


This is what the dough should look like when the butter milk is added





Unbaked scones on the tray..




And finally..my inspiration :))..the display window


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