super quick scones

We were tired. Tired from long days at work. Tired from traipsing around the 'burbs all day. Tired from not having eaten since lunchtime and tired from the prospect of facing a sizeable wait til dinnertime. But we cannot have people being tired. And so "Scones?" was the question, and "Yes, please!" was the quick-and-gleeful answer. It wasn't hard. One picked up the paper, another switched on the TV, and by the time the article was read and the show was over, piping hot scones were ready for consumption.

These scones only took me half an hour to make (and took the family even less time to consume). I don't think that's an altogether bad effort, especially when the half hour includes the time it took me to photograph the process, wash everything up & beat the cream. Perfect for when you get that unexpected "Hellooo darling, so we're in the neighbourhood and were wondering if you were free and..." because you can sound oh-so-domestic-goddess and reply "Yes, of course, come over. We have scones." Well, until you greet them at the door with flour on your nose and butter in your hair.

super quick scones
AWW again. But all fixed up. My style.

ingredients:

2.5 C self raising flour
1 tbs white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
30g butter
1 handful (approx 5 tbs sultanas)
1/2 tsp cinnamon sugar
3/4 C milk
1/2 C water (I used 1/4 C)
2 tsp milk

method:

1. Roll up your sleeves baby, we're getting physical.

2. First things first (well, in this case, second). Get your flour, sugar & salt and toss them in a bowl. This is not a sponge. You do not have to sieve. Hell, you don't even need to measure! (Ok, you do need to measure. Scratch that last sentence).

3. Cut the butter up into itty bitty cubes. Think the lovely lumps of sugar you get at high tea. (Pat yourself on the back for the dollahs you are saving by myo scones. Fyi, myo = make your own).

dry ingredients plus butter - all rubbed in

4. Rub the little lumps of butter into the dusty whites. Use your fingertips. We don't want the butter to melt in your sweaty palms you see. Butter is not the same as M&Ms.

5. Now toss your sultanas & cinnamon sugar in. Cinnamon sugar is truly optional. I like it because it is warm and spicy. Also because I've had to stop slathering it on my toast for fear of diabetic repercussions.

6. Liquid time. Make a dent in the centre of your lovely white-ish sutana-speckled dusty mound. Now tip the 3/4 Cup of milk in and also 1/4 Cup of water. Using a knife, cut through the liquid / dry stuff until it starts coming together. Then grab & knead until you get a ball.

cutting out the scones

7. Tricky part over. Next step involves grabbing a baking dish of some sort and buttering it up like a mother to her child post the "skin cells in trauma!" ad. Then toss a handful of flour in it and tap tap tap til all the butter is covered in a lovely coat of flour. This way your scones will not stick. Also, they will rise better.

8. Flatten your dough out onto a floured surface and use a cutter to cut the rounds out. Don't like rounds? Use a knife to cut the squares out. It's impotant that you cut the scones out instead of just balling and squishing. This way they have an easier time rising and are far more lovely eating-wise.

ready for baking

9. Place your scones in the baking tin. Make sure they touch each other. This will also help with the rising.

10. We're baking in a 220C fan forced oven for about 15 min. In this time you can beat your cream up ("ouch!" says the cream) and brew your tea.

11. Ding! Half hour and the washing is done, the scones are hot to trot and your guests have arrived. If not, start without them.

all done!