How Very British!

I'm a bit of an anglophile. I love British humor (humour), British TV shows, British cars, and of course British accents. The food is a little hit or miss though. Fish and chips - hit! Steak and kidney pie - miss. Shepherd's pie - hit! Blood sausage - miss. You get the idea. But a huge hit in my book is the scone! Crumbly and buttery, it hits the spot for afternoon tea, breakfast, a midnight snack, lunch, dinner, mid morning snack, mid afternoon snack, whenever!

Here's what you'll need: flour, baking powder, butter, sugar, cream, salt, an egg and some type of add ins. I used craisins and pecans but you could also use chocolate chips, currants or other dried fruits, any type of nut, or orange zest. You are only limited by your imagination!

Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut the cold butter into chunks and work into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender, fork or your fingers. Work the butter in until the mixture is crumbly. Mix together cream and egg and pour into flour and butter mixture. Mix until dough is moistened and comes together. Stir in dry fruits and nuts.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and pat into a rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut into wedges. (You could also cut them in circles like biscuits.) Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush with beaten egg white wash. Sprinkle with some sugar if you'd like.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Mmmmmm. Perfect with a cup of tea. Or coffee, or milk, or orange juice, or a soda, or a beer, or a nothing at all, or you get the idea. Enjoy!

Cream Scones
recipe courtesy of my friend Nathania

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup cream
1 egg well beaten
1/2 - 1 cup (depending on what you like) of craisins or other dried fruit, nuts, etc

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl. Cut in the butter
with a pastry blender, or rub in with fingertips (Cut cold butter into bits
then blend in with fingers.) Mix in egg and cream with fork. Stir in craisins.
Turn dough out on a lightly floured board, and pat out in a rectangle about one
half inch thick. Cut in wedges. Brush tops with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.