A friend is coming over at lunchtime but you've nothing in the fridge. Or your children/husband/wife/partner has had a long day and you want them to return to a warm, inviting home. Or, you simply need some comfort for yourself; the touch of dough on your fingers, the scent wafting through the house, the taste of that first mouthful.
You just need a few ingredients. Flour, butter, sugar, milk. A few bits of kit. An oven, a baking tray and a pastry cutter.
Scones. One of the easiest bakes to whip up at a moment's notice. Seriously. Do not be afraid of making and baking a scone. Just a few ingredients, no specialist equipment needed, and in twenty minutes from start to finish you can have them on the table ready to be smothered in butter and jam. Or cream, too, if you're that way inclined. (See recipe below).
RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE SCONES
INGREDIENTS
325g self raising flour
40g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
85g cold butter, diced into small pieces
160-200ml milk
1 beaten egg to glaze
EQUIPMENT
Baking tray lined with baking parchment, 6cm pastry cutter (or drinking glass), egg wash brush.
Preheat oven to 180 degrees fan.
Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
Rub in the butter with your finger tips to resemble breadcrumbs.
Add the milk gradually to the dry ingredients and stir in. You may not need all of it.
You know it is ready when the dough is sticky but can form a ball.
Turn out onto a floured surface and flatten gently with your hands to about 2cm thick.
Cut out the shapes and place onto baking tray.
Re-form left over dough and gently flatten again. Continue until all dough has been used up.
Glaze with the beaten egg.
Place in oven for about 12-15 minutes.
Serve plain, with jam and butter or with clotted cream.
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