discovering a simpiler life

discovering a simpiler life

Monday 10 August 2015

Mama's Scones

This is a re-post of a post I did back in October 2013...It's international scone week and I'm hooking up with the lovely Tandy from Lavendar and Lime who is hosting the big event.  Time hasn't and won't be on my side this week hence the re-post, but it's well worth a read and this scone recipe is the bomb!!

We had the most lovely impromptu afternoon tea yesterday.  
We were meeting up at my nan's, well she's called Mama actually, to have a play with one of my cousins daughters after school.  
When we walked through the door, much to my delight, 
Mama had the flour container out and her apron on.  
It meant only one thing....Scones!! You are in for a treat.

Mama's Scones
3 cups s.r flour, sifted
pinch salt
small tspn caster sugar
2 tbspns butter, grated OR 3/4 cup cream
1/4 cup of milk of using cream OR 1/2 cup of milk if using butter, or maybe a bit more.
Preheat oven to 250c.  Grease a baking tray.  Sift flour into a large bowl and add salt and sugar.  Grate the butter in and rub together to form crumbs then gradually add the milk, using a long bladed knife and a cutting action through the dough OR if using cream, mix cream and milk together and gradually add to flour using the knife and cutting action.  You are aiming for it to come together, not too moist, not too dry.  Unfortunately this is something that comes with experience, feel and trial and error, but I've taken lots of photos to help me remember!  So here we go....

  

Look at those hands at work.  Mama is almost 88 yrs old, an amazing woman who bore 11 children and too many grand, great and great, great grandchildren to mention, all who she has influenced along the way.  Mama is the glue that holds our family together.  She is affectionately know as Mama by all our friends, partners, husbands and inlaws.  When I started taking the pictures she initially didn't want her hands taken but we then both agreed that they were an amazing set and had weathered extremely well, and so its with pride I show them to you.
Mama is the scone wizard, 
these were whipped up in under 2 minutes, 
with little helpers expertly kept at bay but all the while with enough involvement to keep them satisfied.  
She is held in high esteem among our large family as the only one that makes the scones.  
I asked if I could do it but she said "Not today, I'm in a hurry"



No cutting them with a knife, a scone cutter is the only way




Yes they taste as good as they look!  
I was taking lots of photos and Mama kept saying, 
"don't forget to tell them they need to use fresh flour", and 
"don't forget to tell them that they are meant to be touching each other on the baking tray but I don't think you need to", and 
"don't forget to tell them the oven must be hot", and 
"don't forget to tell them to be gentle: don't use a rolling pin~my mum use to say go gently."  
So I'm telling you all!  
I'm surprised she let me share the recipe, and I promise the recipe is missing no secret ingredient.
They were devoured with hot cups of sweet tea and lots of talking with the grandies eating til they couldn't move, smothering theirs with runny cream as well.  
It truly was an afternoon that memories are built and relationships are strengthened.  I remember doing this with her when I was little, how lucky our little ones are to get to do the same ritual.  
So it is with a warm heart that I share this post with you.  I'm so pleased I finally got this recipe documented!

Ciao, Jan

34 comments :

  1. Love Mama's scones!
    Reading through, I could hear her voice in my head :)
    Sharon

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  2. Mama has just told me that this scone cutter was made by her Father (FaFa Underwood who was a plumber) by cutting a baby food tin in half and removing the top. The reason it works so well is the tin is so sharp. So this cutter is 70 years old!

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  3. How inspiring is 'Mama'. Loved your heartwarming story Jan. She's a treasure. And thanks for the reminder - I don't make scones often but when I do it's not till I put the last few on the tray that I remember they should be touching - thank Mama for me! x

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    1. I sure will, she is an amazing, inspiring woman. I've been so fortunate to have her in my life, gently guiding me. I want to share her with the world :) x

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  4. Oh, these scones look divine! And I love the Bonne Maman in the background- what a perfect jam for such a post! Your mama sounds like a gem. Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. She certainly is Cassadie :) thanks for stopping by x

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  5. They look lovely.....YUM...I could do with a scone....your photo a day challenge looks great too. Thanks for getting back to me on the pizza scrolls...embarrassingly when I looked at my last photos of them myself they were June last year...how crazy when it takes less than 5 mins to make the dough and go away and then spend about 10 mins doing the other bit before popping them in the oven. The kids loved them for school lunches for a change. I also love that they just go into a freezer bag in the freezer. A sundried tomato one with some cheese would be nice too. So easy but look so fancy and as you say, very affordable compared to going to Bakers Delight or the supermarket. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane PS..my sister and I took our crocheting and knitting down the coast with us last weekend but we were too tired from our week we just chilled out but I haven't lost hope yet. Kathy

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    1. At least you got us back making them Kathy!! They have been a huge hit this week with requests for more next week. Haha you and your crochet!! I'm onto another blanket and can't stop hooking :) Jan x

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  6. What a beautiful exchange! Yep, they look like real scones. My dad used to test how good an oven was y how god the scones were. "Needs to be really hot, got that, really hot". I felt like he was whispering in my ear when I read this. Thanks. :)

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    1. Isn't it lovely when those memories come up for us :) Sounds like your Dad was a wise scone cook!! xxx

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  7. These scones look so good and I love the step-by-step images. How lovely to have a recipe of your mother's xx

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    1. Thanks Charlie - although that is my grandmother, my mum wouldn't know the first thing to a scone, bless her!! xxx

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  8. thank you for sharing this memory again, and I shall always remember to be gentle with my scones xx Tandy

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    1. I've loved sharing them Tandy, it just makes me happy....yes, gentle and no rolling pin!! xxx

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  9. What a great story and recipe. Mama certainly knows best.

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    1. She sure does Gretchen and she isn't shy in letting me know, but I love her honest approach as it makes you hone your skills that bit more.

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  10. Hopefully this comment will publish (I've tried twice) but I just wanted to say that I love the generations of hands. They're such a wonderful part of the body to photograph! :D

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    1. Got it!! Internet gremlin perhaps? Thanks for persevering lovely....aren't the hands rippers...I love them too. xxx

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  11. What a wonderful post, I bet mama makes the best scones, my mother-in-law can make anything out of a bag of flour. Happy ISW!

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    1. Thanks so much Cheri :) She does make the best scones ever...but I'm trying to get to her standard! Happy ISW to you too x

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  12. Hi Jan, great blog name, I am going to make them small so as not to eat too much or many.

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    1. Thanks Kris!! I actually love the scones smaller instead of big, big ones - enjoy them x

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  13. yum! they look wonderful and i hope i am still making scones etc till that grand old age. how masterfully she does it:) yes a gentle touch is a must.

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  14. My grandmother always used a knife to mix her scones, too, and I always get lighter scones when I remember to do the same.

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    1. It's a great simple trick isn't it, I wounder why it is - possibly the thin blade....

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  15. What a great post that made me "scone smile" today thanks to Mama! They look very light and fluffy! Glad we are connected through our love of scones!

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    1. it is smile worthy isn't it Joanna!! I'm glad too :)x

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  16. Family recipes are the best! They become part of the collective memory and are so special to share. I'm glad Mama was willing to pass the recipe along.

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    1. They are aren't they, shrouded in nostalgia...I think Mama is surprised that anyone would be interested to be honest!!!

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  17. Oh, what a delicious treat, Jan. I can taste them melting in my mouth. I'll have to write this down and give it a try when I get my baking mojo back.

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    1. I wish I could whip you up a batch Susan - I hope you give them a try and enjoy them warm from the oven....heaven xxx

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  18. Your mama has beautiful hands! God Bless her x

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  19. What a heartwarming story. Every step is filled with love and I consider these scones as classic!

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