I decided to make scones but can never find self-raising flour in the supermarkets in France. I looked in my mother’s ancient, handed down, recipe book and found a handwritten entry from my Grandmother for date scones… using plain flour (or all purpose flour as it’s also called). The next time friends arrive for afternoon tea they will be offered “French” scones!
Oh! And of course there are lots of other variations to experiment with eg Cheese, Cherry, Mixed Peel or indeed Dates! Substitute the raisins, cherries and sultanas, chocolate shavings for one the above ingredients of your choice or devise your own depending on how adventurous you want to be!
The list may be endless!!
Ingredients for French Scones
225g Plain Flour
3 tsp Baking Powder
1g Salt
25g Butter
1 heaped tsp Caster Sugar
50g Raisins Blonds (Sultanas)
150ml Milk
1 Egg for glaze
Method:
Pre heat oven to Gas Mk 7/220C/425F
1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Rub in the cubed butter.
1. Add sugar and raisins/sultanas. Mix with milk to form a soft, but not sticky, dough.
Roll into thickness of about 1 cm on a floured board. Cut into rounds with a fluted cutter and place on a greased baking tray.
3. Brush tops with beaten egg and bake for about 10 mins or until pale golden brown.
4.Place on wire rack to cool.
Best eaten fresh… with butter and jam… and cream!
