"Fit To Set Before A Queen"

 

This morning my friend was popping in for coffee, before leaving Little Missy with us, whilst she went to work.

I thought it would be a little treat to bake some scones ready for her arrival.

As usual, I used my good old faithful Be -Ro recipe.

This book is incredibly useful and very cheap, but I see many (maybe all?) the recipes are now available on their website

 

I am currently using their 41st edition, which has lots of photos from the original book, which was published in 1923.

I noticed for the Victoria Scone recipe it said "Scones fit to set before a Queen."

I wondered which Queen it was referring to. The reigning Monarch then was King George V who was married to Mary of Teck I can't find out online why they are called Victoria scones and wonder if the name is unique to Be-Ro and was it a reference to Queen Victoria, after which the Victoria Sandwich sponge cake is said to be named after

 

There is a longstanding debate with this simplest of baking treats, whether to free form the scones or roll out the dough and use a cutter. There are all kinds of scientific reasons as to why one method is preferred over the other. I can't say I know which method is best, although was interested to read here

that you shouldn't twist the cutter as this stretches the gluten strands and constrains the rise. That might be why I sometimes find my cut scones don't rise as they should. Will have to experiment next time!

With a cup of tea, these fresh from the oven, buttered scones, were a real treat, even if they don't have the uniform look you get from using a cutter!

 

 

 

Once my friend had gone to work, Teen One, Little Missy and I headed off to a car boot sale that is held every week on a beach.

Its generally very busy, although today there were a few gaps in the seemingly never ending rows of cars!

I find them fascinating places to visit, without fail I always see things I once owned or lived with as a child!

Neither Teen One or I made any purchases, but Little Missy fell in love with this TY Beanie, at just £1 it was a bargain

 

 

 

Remember the time when these were supposed to hold their value!

Mind you, I regret deeply letting the Teens give away one particular TY...

 

We put it in a charity bag...only to discover its worth £62,000!

 

 

Having trawled up and down the rows for an hour, we decided our feet were tired and we were in need of some lunch...a picnic on the beach was the order of the day.

 

 

 

The clouds were rather dark and ominous at one point, but we managed to avoid getting wet.