What Makes A Good Scone?

 

Today we had no particular plans, so I decided to crack on with the scone making for the family wedding this weekend.

With 400  36 to make it was enough to do some experimenting!

I have used Be-Ro basic recipes since a small child, as did my grandmother before me, but of course over the years various things come into fashion, so today seemed as good as any to try one or two things out.

 

 

The first batch was using the basic recipe, but with the addition of some sugar and sultanas ( since I understand the groom prefers fruit scones and the more the better!)

Unusually I used caster sugar as called for in the rich scones recipe, and as suggested by my Monday Recycled Teenager, who won prizes for her scones, add some vinegar to the milk.

They turned out pretty much the same as scones I have made before, Teen Two and I tested one, yep, tasted pretty good...

 

 

...the next batch I used the "rich scones" recipe, which used an egg with the milk, I also used granulated sugar to see if it made any difference.

Well the colour was slightly different, but when Teen One did a taste test ( having just come down for her brekky!) she reported they tasted the same as usual....yummy!

 

 

The next stage of the experiment was to switch flour.

I had been using the premium Homepride for the first two batches, but was now going to use the supermarkets own brand, which is what I always use.

It is less than half the price after all!

 

 

Batch three was made using the basic recipe, again with sultanas and some sugar ( granulated) added,

milk no egg, and of course the cheaper flour, which I sieved.

They haven't risen any more than the Homepride, the only difference I am detecting is the batch made with caster sugar have less cracks on top that the batches 2 and 3

However, they cut and taste just the same.

 

 

 

 

The final batch was made using the basic recipe (with the addition of fruit and sugar) and instead of plain milk, or milk and egg, I used half yoghurt and half milk...

...and you know what...I really don't think there is anything to call between them!

They all taste the same, the batch(2) using egg are a slightly different colour, but I actually prefer the more rustic look of the ones without egg.

I believe the ones containing egg will have stay fresher longer, but lets face it, scones are always best eaten the same day, so I don't think the addition of egg is worth it to be honest.

 

 

 

So I now have a drawer full of scones in the freezer, which will hopefully taste as fresh as the day they were made when I take them out Saturday morning.

All of us Scone Makers received an email  from the Bride yesterday, asking for around 30 each, it will be interesting to see how different they all are!

I went for the largest cutter, figuring you could get more jam and cream that way!

A cream tea is my most favourite thing to eat....ever!!

But if its a shop bought scone....the disappointment is huge!

A tea shop lives or dies by its ability to serve homemade scones as far as I am concerned.

I suspect it must be the improvers put in the flour, to give a longer shelf life that spoils it for me.

 

 

Benjy bunny had a good night and is doing all the usual bunny things, which is a relief.

I did have to smile.....we were told to remove all sawdust from the hutch and put down newspaper or an old towel.

We went with both, but it appears the towel is not to his liking and he has cleared away a corner so he can sit on the paper alone!

 

 

Here he is, as inquisitive as ever!

We will be glad to see the nurse tomorrow and get the all clear to let him out of his hutch, he must be a bit bored cooped up in there.

I was very impressed with the surgery, who called this morning to check all was well overnight....only trouble was, I didn't actually hear the call, I just happened to see the missed call on my mobile.

When I called them back to make sure that's all they were calling about, I could barely hear them!

On testing the phone back home, it would seem the speaker has gone, so looks like I will have to get a new phone pretty soon.

 

A friend sent a text mid afternoon to say she was popping in with her foster child for a cuppa, and only minutes before their arrival the door went, it was a child I used to support in Infant school, with his mother, calling to say goodbye.

They are moving up north ready for starting senior school in September and wanted to thank me for all I had done when he first started school, and ultimately was taken out of school for several reasons.

I was glad to pass on what little experience I had, our boys are both very different, so my experience was not necessarily going to be of any benefit to this mum, but turns out my recommendations did work out for the best.

It was lovely to see him, although we were all pretty exhausted when he left, peace and tranquillity has returned to the house once again and I can only wonder at how tired his parents must go to bed each night!

But it was really lovely to see him and to receive unexpected thanks for work done several years ago, and for my part, almost forgotten about.