Tea Time Tuesday: Blackberry Lime Scones

It's Tea Time Tuesday again.  This week I am putting Blackberry Lime scones on the virtual table with my dear friend Sandy.  Pour me a cup my friend!  What are you brewing this week Sandy? I think it is blackberry tea.  hmmmm.

I have no book review this week because I was all last minute with this post.  Nice weather kept me from doing stuff inside yesterday. Except for cooking and, ah hem, baking ... blackberry lime scones.

No words this evening as my bed is beckoning.  Night night!

BLACKBERRY LIME SCONES

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 ounces or 1 stick cold butter

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk

1 egg

2 teaspoons lime zest

1 cup blackberries

glaze

2 tablespoons lime juice 

1/2 cup to 1 cup confectioners sugar

Blend together the dry ingredients, including the lime zest.  I like to use my processor for this but its not necessary.  You can use a bowl and a pastry blender or a fork.  Blend in the cold butter until it turns the flour kind of mealy. In a separate bowl stir together the wet ingredients.  Stir the wet into the dry just until combined.  Spoon into a scone maker or even ramekins.  You can also pat into a round and cut into 8 pieces.  Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes.

Remove from pan after cooling for 5 minutes.  Drizzle glaze over top.

It's Tea Time Tuesday: Double Chocolate Scones

It's tea time again with my good friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us. This week we decided to get all dessert on you.  Chocolate!  Click on over to Quilting For The Rest Of Us to check out some amazing teas from Sandy.  

My book this week is The Dog Who Saved Me by Susan Wilson.  It's a heart warming story of a wounded policeman who is in the throws of a trauma from the beginning of the book.  The dog's story is interwoven with the man.  The author takes you into the man's despair and the dogs struggle. Together they learn to trust, to the greatest extent possible.  

Double Chocolate Scones

No glaze needed on these.  Dunked in some tea... heavenly

2/3 cup half and half cream 

1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a food processor or bowl, combine dry ingredients, mix well.  Add in the butter pieces. Blend until the mixture looks like sand or as they say, mealy.  In a separate bow mix in the vanilla, half and half and egg.   Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix only until it comes together.  Even if there are dry clumps in spots, better to pull it out of the processor and knead it together.  Again working it only as much as needed to get together.  Pat into a big round disc and then cut into 8 segments.  I placed them in my scone pan but certainly you can place them on a baking sheet.  Bake for about 20 minutes.  Test with a toothpick if you are uncertain.

TEA TIME AND MATCHA COCONUT AND LIME SCONES

It's tea time again with my good friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us!  Yeah.  I wish I could have real tea time with her weekly.  But alas, busy schedules prevent such luxuries.  In honor of it being tea time, of course I made scones.

I loved this book!  If I could judge a book by its cover, this was totally right on for me.  The apple and all the tiny lights, magical.  It's a beautiful story of a family of women who all have something very unique about them.  This story is fun and captivating.  The characters are rich.  I love Sarah Addison Allen's characters. (I just finished another one of her books).  She weaves beautiful stories. Very talented.  I am quite sure I will read all of her books.  Here is a link to a blog post that someone wrote about her with a little interview.

MATCHA COCONUT AND LIME SCONES

1/2 cup butter, cold, cut into pieces
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons matcha powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
zest of one lime

Lime Glaze:
juice of one or two limes
1 to 2 cups confectioners sugar
lime zest for garnish

Blend together the dry ingredients, including the lime zest.  I like to use my processor for this but its no necessary.  You can use a bowl and a pastry blender or a fork.  Blend in the cold butter until it turns the flour kind of mealy. In a separate bowl stir together the wet ingredients.  Stir the wet into the dry just until combined.  Spoon into a scone maker or even ramekins.  You can also pat into a round and cut into 8 pieces.  Bake at 350° for about 20 to 30 minutes.

It's Tea Time With Pumpkin Chai Scones

Me and my friend Sandy of Quilting For The Rest Of Us have teamed up together to do a Tea Time Tuesday Event.  Each Tuesday, Sandy will review a tea from Plum Deluxe Teas and will pair it with one of my scone recipes.  I am crazy over scones!

Check out Sandy's picks for tea this week and check out her BEAUTiful header!

I am going to do a book review with mine.  Well, I am going to try and do a book review every time. Today, I want to tell you about Ladies Night , by Mary Kay Andrews.  First, let me tell you what kind of reader I am.  Since I have had children I can't sit still to read a book.  It just isn't happening.  So, if I "read" a book, it's more like I listened to a book on tape riding back and forth to work.  The kind of books I read are light.  Not too heavy.  No serious issues.  The rest of my life is filled with enough serious issues.  Being a social worker does that.  But personally too, I have enough going on.  So when I read... or listen, as the case may be, I like it light.

Ladies Night was right up my alley.  There was a lot going on in the story but the overall flavor of the book was pretty light.  The Ladies Night group, is a group of divorced women who are thrown together in a support group type of setting.  The story is woven together pretty well with a few twists and turns leading you through the tangled mess of divorce/break up.

This is the second Mary Kay Andrews book I have enjoyed.  I am looking forward to listening to the rest of her books.  They are a pleasure to listen to.  I am always so sad when the book ends.  I miss the characters.  They keep me company on my commute to and from work.

Pumpkin Chai Scones

2 cups flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ginger
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 large egg
3 tablespoons cream

Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons cream or milk
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Mix dry ingredients together: flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, ginger.

Add in butter in small pieces, blend with pastry blender or in a food processor. Flour should become kinda mealy.

In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients, add to dry all at once. Mix just until blended.  Remove from bowl onto a floured surface and pat into a round.  Divide into 8 "pie" wedges.  Place on baking sheet and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.  They should be just lightly golden around the edges.


Disclaimer:  I received no compensation from Plum Deluxe.  

Cinnamon Apple Scones

I love King Arthur.  Great site, great recipes, great products.  These scones were inspired by this recipe from King Arthur Flour.  Even though they are brown in appearance they are super moist.  All that applesauce and apples help with that.

I think when you are making scones or baking in general, technique is as key to the success as the the recipe itself.  A few things to remember when making scones.

1. Do not over mix (and this is really true with any flour recipe when baked- except for bread).

2. Butter should be cold.

3. Take the time to cut them into triangles or rounds, separated. If you bake as a big round (as some recipes actually suggest), they run the risk of being goey in the center or over done around the edges and perfect in the middle. Its just too thick.

4. Er on the underdone side.  Its better to have the scones a little underdone then overdone and dry. 

CINNAMON APPLE SCONES

2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) cold butter
3/4 cup chopped fresh apple, in 1/2" pieces (about half a medium apple); leave the skin on, if you like
1 cup cinnamon chips
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup applesauce, unsweetened preferred

In a food processor or large bowl, blend together dry ingredients. Add butter in pieces until mostly blended.  In a separate bowl combine, apple sauce, eggs and vanilla.  Add wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  Turn out onto flat surface and gently knead in cinnamon chips and cut apples.

Divide dough into 10 or 12 equal pieces.  I used my scone baking pan which is very handy and worth it if you make a lot of scones. Bake at 425° for 25 to 30 minutes

Cranberry Orange Scones

These scones are amazing.  A great use for fresh cranberries if you have them stored in your freezer like I do. If you don't you can use dried cranberries but you may have to adjust baking times as there will be less moisture in them.

I have made these scones twice this winter so I think that says something.  Next time I think I will add some walnuts or pecans.

CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES

3⁄4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

2 3⁄4 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 cup butter

1 cup coarsely chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1⁄2 cup sugar

1 rind grated from one orange

3 tablespoon butter, melted

3⁄4 to 1 cup confectioners sugar

little orange juice as needed

Preheat oven to 375F.

Beat buttermilk and egg with a whisk in small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Cut in butter until mixture resembles small peas.

Mix in cranberries, sugar and orange rind.

Add buttermilk mixture and stir until soft dough forms.

Using your hands, form dough into a large ball and place on floured surface.

Knead just until it comes together.

Form into scones as desired. Should be 1 inch thick. Makes about 16.

Bake scones for 15-20 minutes. Maybe longer depending on how you shape them.

Mix butter, orange juice and confectioners sugar together to create glaze. Drizzle on scones while they are still warm.

Smoked Gruyere and Butternut Squash Scones

There is no sugar in these scones.  So good, so warm, so Autumn like comforting.  This will not be the last time I make these babies.

I have been so busy working the harvest I so gratefully have acquired.  Not a lot of time for anything else.  I feel like Autumn just passed me by in a huff.  There was also the time I spent with my Father as he lived his last days.  I feel like I am running behind, freezing and preparing food to be put up.  In between there have been a few moments to bake and this was one such moment well spent making these scones.

Smoked Gruyere and Butternut Squash Scones

1 stick butter 4 ounces

2 teaspoons sage

1/4 cup minced dried onions

1 cup pumpkin or butternut squash, roasted and pureed or canned

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground pepper

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (optional)

7 ounces smoked Gruyere, reserving some for the tops of the scones

With a pastry mixer/fork or a food processor mix sage, dried onions, salt, flour, baking powder and baking soda together.  Then add butter and blend.  In a separate bowl combine, squash puree, buttermilk, heavy cream and egg.  Once the dry mixture with the butter has reached a mealy stage add in the liquid, pretty much just to combine.  Then add in the bacon and Gruyere and mix just enough to combine.

Spoon into scone pan.  If you dont have a scone pan you can drop by 1/2 cup measures onto a baking sheet.  Or do the traditional way.  Roll the dough out thickly on a floured surface and cut into triangles or some other desired shape.

Sprinkle tops with reserved gruyere and bake at 350F for 30 minutes, depending on what size you use.  I used a scone pan.  Do not over bake.  As soon as they are just lightly golden check with an inserted toothpick.  If it comes our fairly clean (there is melted cheese in there), then it is ready.

STRAWBERRY SCONES

We have a local creamery called Pittsford Dairy.  I have not been there before and finally made my way over.  What was I waiting for?  I bought some heavy cream around Mothers Day because I wanted to make some tiramisu.  Its not ultra pasteurized so it does not keep as well.  But I would rather it that way anyhow.  I decided to use it up to make some scones. I had bought these dried strawberries at the Amish store I go to and thought- PERFECT!

STRAWBERRY SCONES
Recipe adapted from this recipe at Food Network by Ina Garten

4 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 ex large eggs
3/4 pound unsalted butter, cold
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 cup chopped dried cherries

glaze:

1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon plus more as needed of water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter.  Do this until the flour seems "mealy".  Mix together eggs and cream and add into dry ingredients all at once.  Stir as minimally as possible.  You just want it mixed and that is it.  Make into biscuit like rounds or spoon into scone pan.  This recipe makes about 16 scones.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  Don't over bake.  It should just be golden around the edges.  With scones it always better to air on the side of under baked rather than over.

COCONUT LIME SCONES

These are the most fluffiest and moist scones I have ever eaten.  So creamy. The lime taste brightens your mouth.  Perfect for your morning breakfast.

I have said it before, if you have any preconceived notions about scones being dry, put that aside and make your own scones.  You will be richly rewarded with tender delicious, melt in your mouth awesomeness to go along side you coffee or tea.

COCONUT LIME SCONES

Use the coconut milk that comes in the can, not in the quart containers in the dairy aisle. Very important:  for a creamy moist scone- do not over bake!
Makes 8 scones

2 1/2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)

1 cup coconut milk

1 extra large egg
zest of 2 limes, plus more for topping

For the glaze:
2 tablespoons coconut milk
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
juice of 1 lime

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Or, if you have a scone pan, grease it up.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and whisk until well combined. Cut in the butter.  You can use your fingers to work it into the flour.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the coconut milk, the egg, and the lime zest. Add to the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula to combine. Turn the dough out to a floured work surface. Lightly flour your hands and work the dough until it comes together into a ball. Flatten the ball into a disc about 9 inches in diameter. use a dough cutter to cut the disc into 8 even wedges.

Or, if you have a scone pan, spoon it into the wedges evenly.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges. Wait about ten minutes and then move the warm scones to a cooling rack.

Cinnamon Scones

I just recently had a garage sale here at the house.  I have had garage sales in the past.  They are exhausting.  I had some company so that helped quite a bit.  If it wasn't for her I don't think I would have opened the sale on day 2.  My head hit the pillow after it was all over the first day and I was out like a light. Switch to off.  Boom. Out cold.

I got rid of a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff!  But so much more to get rid of.  Donation.

Will I do it again?  eh.  Probably not.

I love going to garage sales.  Apparently, I have liked it a little too much as indicated by the pile of stuff I had to sell.  So, from now on, only what I need.
 
Cinnamon Scones

2 cups flour, unbleached
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup thick buttermilk or heavy cream

Glaze
1/2 cup sugar, blended fine in a blender
1 tablespoon half and half

cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a scone pan.  If you don't have a scone pan, some parchment on a cookie sheet will work very nicely.

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until mixture is crumbly and resembles coarse meal.


In a separate bowl, mix egg yolk, sugar and buttermilk. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

If you are using parchment: form dough into a ball and roll on a floured surface. Roll or pat out to half an inch in thickness and eight inches in diameter. Cut into eight equally-sized pieces. Move shapes onto parchment.

If you are using a scone pan: (yes, I have one and I love it):  Spoon mixture equally into the triangular compartments.

Place parchment on baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
In a blender place sugar and grind for a few moments.  Add in the milk.  Drizzle over scones while they are fresh out of the oven.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Scones

I went to the store today because I had to get one more thing.  I went to Kohls to get some lounge pants for my Dad and I had to stop and laugh.  The store was filled with last minute, procrastinating men. It's particularly funny because my husband does the same thing.  And I know, he probably is out there right now as I write this.  He said he is going to the gym but is he really... ?

Sometimes I am amused by this and sometimes it irks me.  Why can't he have the foresight to think of me early on, consider what I might like... and then go and buy it- you know, like, a couple weeks ago.  Why?  Is this a man thing?  Or is this my husband and a few other procrastinating men out there?

Well, if you are home and not last minute shopping- make some scones.  Have them tomorrow morning for breakfast with some jam on them and a spot of tea.

Buttermilk Scones

Printable version here.

1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2  teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted butter

Beat together the buttermilk, egg and sugar.  In another bowl, combine 3 cups flour together with the baking powder, soda and salt.

Add about 2/3 of the flour mixture to the buttermilk and stir well.

Gradually add the melted butter, incorporating it thoroughly into the mixture.

Stir in the remaining flour mixture. At this point you can add whatever you like.  Raisins, chips, blueberries, cranberries...

A little more flour may be necessary to form a stiff dough.

Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes.

Shape into a circle and cut into 8 triangles. I put them into my scone pan.

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Err on the side to short in the oven because they can dry out easily if left in too long.

If you have them the next day, pop them into the microwave for about 20 seconds.  My daughter likes them with some butter and some sugar sprinkled over them.

Tell you about my sweet potato version soon...

Now, for some pictures of she-wolf with her Christmas duds on.  I do have to say that Caina loves wearing fancy collars. 

Does this face say "love" or what.