This was in my newspaper and thought I would share:
Scones: not just for inns anymore
02/26/03
Marialisa Calta
Scones are one of the oldest and most basic of quick breads, according to my dog-eared copy of the King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook (Countryman Press, 1992). The word "scone" probably derives from the German word "schoonbrot," which means "fine bread." Since wheat did not grow well in Scotland, scones were originally made from oat or barley flour mixed with water to form a dough, and "baked" on a griddle. With the advent of commercial leavening agents, reliable ovens and affordable wheat flour, scones have evolved into a light breakfast bread. In England, they are an essential part of "Cream Tea," in which they are split and served with jam laced with clotted cream. In the United States, I associate scones with country inns and bed and breakfasts. It's been my experience that any place featuring wall stenciling as part of its decor is sure to have scones on the breakfast table. But scones are making a path toward more sophisticated venues. I was delighted to find a delicious recipe in the new, serious, "foodie-centric," cookbook from Judy Rodgers, "The Zuni Cafe Cookbook" (W.W. Norton & Co., 2002). Who would have guessed that a cookbook with recipes for pickling glasswort, and that calls for such exotic ingredients as Zante grapes, gypsy peppers, and Kabocha squash, would include a simple, yummy recipe for Orange Currant Scones? The other recipes here come from the King Arthur book, and from Beth Hensperger's "The Bread Bible" (Chronicle Books, 1998). I've also included my personal favorite breakfast bread, which are scone-like in shape and method but have no shortening or eggs. They are from Deborah Krasner's book "From Celtic Hearths" (Studio Books, 1991).
ORANGE CURRANT SCONES 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 sticks cold butter 1/2 cup dried currants 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest 1 large egg 1/2 cup whole milk
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Cut in the butter until it is the size of small peas. Add the currants and orange zest and toss well. Whisk together the eggs and milk. Add to the dry ingredients and mix and fold until the dough clumps together and the flour is absorbed. Don't worry if the dough is a little streaky. Divide the dough in half and shape into 2 balls. Pat each one into a 6- to 7-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Roll about 1 inch thick and cut like a pie into 6 wedges each. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. These are best served warm from the oven. Yield: 12 scones Recipe from "The Zuni Cafe Cookbook," by Judy Rodgers (Norton, W.W. & Co., 2002)
LEMON CREAM SCONES 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder grated zest of 2 lemons 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces 2 large eggs 1/2 cup cold heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon mixed with 2 tablespoons sugar, for sprinkling (optional)
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. In a medium bowl using a whisk or electric mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and salt. Using a fork or electric mixer, cut in the butter. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until a shaggy, sticky dough is formed. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently, about 6 times, just until the dough holds together. Divide into 2 equal portions and pat each into a 1-inch-thick round about 6 inches in diameter. Cut each round into quarters, making a total of 8 scones. The scones can also be formed by cutting them out with a 3-inch biscuit cutter to make 10 or 12 smaller scones. Place the scones about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar, if desired. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crusty and golden brown. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 wedge-shaped scones or 10 to 12, 3-inch round scones Recipe from "The Bread Bible," by Beth Hensperger (Chronicle Books, 1998)
SOUR CREAM SCONES 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. In a mixing bowl, blend the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together. Scoop in the sour cream all at once, and stir together for 20 seconds, or just until the dry ingredients are damp. Turn this light dough out onto a floured board and knead, very gently, 10 times. Pat or roll it out into a 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick round. Flour a metal spatula, bowl scraper or knife and cut the round into quarters. Flour a pancake turner or metal spatula again and gently lift each scone onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm from the oven. Yield: 4 large scones
Recipe from "The King Arthur 200th Anniversary Baking Book," (Countryman Press, 1992)
OAT FARLS 2 cups "old-fashioned" rolled oats (not quick-cooking or instant) 2-1/4 cups buttermilk 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, preferably unbleached 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda
The day before serving, mix the oats with 1-1/4 cups of the buttermilk. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the oat-buttermilk mixture, adding as much of the remaining buttermilk as is needed to form a soft dough. (You may not need to use all of it.) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat or roll it out to form a 1-inch-thick circle about 9 to 10 inches in diameter. With a sharp knife, cut into 8 wedges, and place on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes, or until browned. Serve warm with butter and jam. Yield: 8 servings Recipe from "From Celtic Hearths," by Deborah Krasner (Studio Books, 1991)
Copyright 2003, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Sherrie