Feb 4, 2013

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!

14 comments:

  1. Yum - I have a wee problem not eating a large quantity of these in one go - they remind me of a scone based biscuit that we call rock cakes. I usually chuck in a handful (or more because I like it...) of mixed fruit and peel. Delicious :)

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  2. Oh those sound so great! I should be studying, but I'm going to have to make a batch of those, I'm sure that they will increase my brain power significantly. When you say "high quality chocolate chips", which brand/type do you typically use? I'm trying out new brands right now.

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    1. I always use Ghirardelli chocolate chips -- they're a little more costly but well worth it! My kids were studying yesterday and had these as snacks ... yes, they boosted their brain power!

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  3. I wish every day could be downton abbey day! Love the post. I do with they had some inspirational knittery on the show in addition to all of those beautiful woven/sewn garments.

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  4. Well, Evelyn, if they boost brain power, count me in !

    Scones are one of my fave at our local pastry shop.
    Such a versitile treat, whether on the sweet side or not.

    Thanks for sharing Lady Mary's recipe

    Ta

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  5. Truly Myrtle beat me to it! The recipe does sound like rock cakes (as we'd call them in this part of the world). Very yummy. Those blueberries were an amazing size! I bet they tasted delicious.

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  6. As soon as I wake up from a very much needed nap I am making these! I just re signed for Netflix and the first thing in my streaming queue is Downtown abbey!

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  7. Yum!! I love Downton Abbey, waiting patiently for the next season here.

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  8. They look delicious !!! Downtown Abbey is one of my favourite programmes, I'm just watching them all again on Netflix, at the moment. Deb x

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  9. Yum!
    I do love a scone and a nice cup of hot tea, now I need to see an episode of Downtown Abbey!

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  10. I've queued a couple of Downton pattens....but Lady Mary...not such a fan..although I think she is very loyal, I just don't find her a nice person...

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  11. Sunday is also Downton day in my house, and all through January my public television station aired The Abolitionists after it. The best one-two programming on tv!

    Those scones look great, but other ingredients come to mind when I think Lady Mary - crystallized ginger, cinnamon/cardamom/pepper combo - but definitely *not* sugar. :)

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  12. These look yummy. I love how you make them look so easy.

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