Eats: Lady Mary Scones

Eats: What's Cooking in the Kitchen?

As yesterday was Sunday, or otherwise known in my house as Downton Abbey day, I thought it would be nice to whip up some scones. I've been a Downton fan since season one, and what has been especially wonderful about watching this period drama is the chatter that has been going on among us knitters. It's almost impossible to miss the various Downton Abbey knitalongs, and I love seeing how both designers and knitters are inspired by the fashions seen on the characters.

I have a feeling I'm not the only person who has had conversations with friends about which is our favorite character and while I enjoy them all, I have a special fondness for Lady Mary whose love and loyalty to her family's name and estate is fierce and unshakeable.  So, as I pulled together the ingredients for this scone recipe, I decided to name these English-inspired treats after Lady Mary.

I doubt very much that blueberries were are a typical ingredient in traditional English scones, but I love them and at the market found these beauties.  

That's what I call plump!

Making these scones could not be simpler.  All you need is flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, milk, and an egg, all staples in my pantry.

After dropping spoonfuls of the batter onto the baking sheet, I dotted each one with either blueberries or semi-sweet chocolate chips and sprinkled a bit of extra cane sugar on top before baking.  What's especially nice about this recipe is that you can add whatever extras you like:  nuts, cranberries, currants, crystallized ginger ... the list is endless.

Lady Mary Scones
Makes 10 scones

4 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cane sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons sweet butter, cut into pieces
1 2/3 cup of milk (1% is fine)
1 egg
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup semi-sweet high quality chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.  With fingers, add pieces of butter and knead until incorporated into small lumps.  Beat egg into milk and add to flour mixture all at once.  Stir with a wooden spoon until the dry and wet ingredients are combined.  Add flour if the dough is too sticky but do not over mix.  

Drop large spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheet and top with either blueberries or chocolate chips.  Bake in oven for 35 minutes.  Serve with tea on pretty china accompanied by linen napkins, of course!