Monday, February 8, 2016

Tea time...a recipe for Scones.

Hosting an afternoon Tea is a lovely way to savour time and enjoy a visit with a friend.
(or friends)
Serving a hot cup of tea and a simple scone with jam is my idea of casual elegance.
It is much more upscale when you use china cups and your silver service...
but still satisfying when served in a pretty mug.


I always like to have fresh flowers on the table.

I like to brew a pot of tea with tea leaves...offer milk, sugar and honey on the side.
Some people like lemon wedges squeezed in their tea but they are not used among my friends.

Scones can be purchased from a bakery but they are so quick and easy to prepare that I bake my own.

This is my recipe and I have used the same one for the last 30 years!




Hostess Scones


Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a big bowl combine:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
3 Teaspoons baking powder
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of raisins or grated cheese or dried cranberries ~ optional

With a pastry blender
Cut in 4 Tablespoons cubed cold butter

MIx in a separate bowl:

2/3 cup milk
2 large eggs beaten

Add wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a spoon until it clings together.
Use hands to mix in the rest of the flour and form into a large ball.

Place on a lightly floured board...press or roll until flat and about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut into rounds with a small glass or a biscuit cutter.
Place on a sheet pan.
Sprinkle with a Tablespoon of sugar

Bake on a sheet pan for 10-12 minutes





Cool and serve on a pretty tea plate with butter and jam on the side.
Devon or clotted Cream makes a lovely addition and then you are serving a traditional "Cream Tea!"

I serve my scones with fresh grapes and berries on the side.


Are you inspired to host an afternoon tea party?
It is easier than a luncheon and equally as enjoyable.

It is Family Day here in Victoria and the sun is shining...
I will be getting out for my walk later and look forward to a hot cup of tea when I return.

Be Well and Be Kind

26 comments:

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

OH YUM! What time is tea? My recipe is similar, but I will try yours next! {I just made scones yesterday.}

Jen Lawrence said...

That looks like a good recipe. I'll have to try it out.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hostess I too adore the ritual of Devonshire Tea in the company of good friends- so comforting and delicious. R

Mary Anne Komar said...

What a lovely post, have one question about real clotted cream, where can you buy it? We live just south of Bellingham, so just a short jaunt up to B.C. Haven't had real clotted cream since living in Ireland in 97, too long ago❣ Will try your scone recipe, thanks.

Pondside said...

Doesn't the house smell wonderful when scones are baking? !

marmielu said...

I enjoy a good scone. They used to be a staple here when my girls were both home. I'll have to try your recipe. How do they freeze? Thanks for posting it. Glad you've had sunshine. I hope you enjoyed your walk.
Mary Lou

Sandra Sallin said...

Love scones but there is not one woman in Beverly Hills that would allow one to pass her lips! and that's why I need Weight Watchers!

Seaside said...

Oh so yum! Hostess, you have made me so hungry! 😉

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Mary Anne, you can buy Devonshire Cream in Canada; but I haven't found clotted cream. Devonshire cream comes in a jar and in my supermarket it's found on the shelves above the international cheeses.

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Good for you Leslie! I have never made scones in my life, so your recipe is inspiring.

I do love "Tea"; though it usually rolls into champagne, caviar and foie gras. lol.

materfamilias said...

Your lucky friends! I haven't made scones for ages and ages, but since you've been kind enough to post a tried-and-true recipe, I think it's time. . . I did have a tea-and-scones (with clotted cream! and strawberry jam!) experience just last week in Heathrow airport -- such a lovely consolation for a delayed flight. They're definitely comfort food...

Rosie said...

What wonderful looking scones Leslie ... I'm sure they tasted delicious. The pictures remind me so much of the ones my mum made. .... good memories! I'm keen to try your recipe but as I've considerably more weight to loose than you I'll wait a while! :) An afternoon tea party sounds a lovely idea though. Also I'm visiting Switzerland soon ...fondues .. Great cheese, Alpen Macoroni etc I just love the food there but it's generally very calorific!! :) However, it balances with being outdoors walking in the mountains in the snow! So I usually only put on a few llbs!!
I hope you're having a good week.
Rosie

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Love the look of those scones! Warm with butter - that's how I like them!
Liz

Anonymous said...

They look delicious. I do enjoy a cream tea!

Anonymous said...

Oh boy, so beautiful...will definitely make these on the next rainy day...which means later in this week. Thank you for sharing a tried snd true recipe!

Carolyn said...

Your scones look fabulous. I too, will try this recipe! I love a tall scone!!! I just learned a trick of not twisting the cutter when you cut the scone or biscuit...is that how you do it???

Unknown said...

I love afternoon tea and scones. I will try your recipe very soon.
I am so happy you are blogging again......you make my day.
Just bought Jane Iredale pressed powder foundation and I love it.
Please let me know when you come to Florida.....I'd love to meet you. We'll have tea and scones.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

I haven't tried to make scones for a long time...but now I am going to try again this time using your recipe. They look delicious!

Kristien62 said...

Your scones look yummy and I will have to make some. When I was in Ireland, I traveled on the bus from city to city with a bag of scones. When the bag was gone, I would find another bakery and load up for the bus trip. It was amazing that I didn't gain a ton of weight, but thankfully, all the walking kept it off.

Anonymous said...

Yum Yum. I will try making these, they look so delicious. Also, very pretty flowers.
Maggie

Marilyn Snell said...

Hi Leslie,

Your scones look lovely and I am going to try your recipe! I just made some on the weekend and used a recipe that I got from a very dear English friend. It too is a wonderful recipe so I am passing it on to you:
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 egg
Combine the two and mix.
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
Mix and crumble the dry ingredients and add the yogurt and egg mixture. Gently knead the dough together and cut out.
375 degrees. (middle oven rack)

Lorrie said...

Scones with cream and tea with honey make a perfect pairing for me. So delicious!

BeachGypsy said...

Tea at your house looks so nice!! I love both hot and iced tea. Its a very pretty and sunny day here in charleston but very cold! And im drinking iced coffee!! Ha ha lol

BeachGypsy said...

pS....your scones turned out lovely!!

Anonymous said...

If I don't do an egg wash over the scones, they don't brown nicely . . . but yours did! Thanks for the recipe.

Linda Pakravan said...

Your scones look fabulous! Definitely will give them a try. Thanks!