Phrase Writers Group

Scone recipes

My scone recipes have evolved. Initially I used Stork margarine. Now it’s butter, slightly salted where possible.

The normal ratio is 1:4. That is 1 ounce of butter or margarine to 4 ounces of self-raising flour.

I go for a 1:3 ratio, using butter. The added ingredients are about 1:2 ratio. Used to add limited amount of fruit sugar, but cannot find it at present. Spices are added in quite large amounts. And I always add ground almonds in sweet scones, and often parmesan in savoury scones.

You’ll note a mix of ounces, grams and handfuls. Comes from my “Looks about right” school of cooking. And I don't measure out the ingredients any more, just do it by sight. So no two scone mixtures are the same! There are some interesting flavours and textures.

Cucumber & Bell Pepper scones

INGREDIENTS
1 Bell Pepper, red or yellow or orange, your choice

Half a small cucumber. More is better

Rapeseed or nut oil

Ground black pepper, be sparing

Half teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon dried mint

Salt

100g of cream cheese

6 ounces wholemeal self-raising flour

2 ounces butter, preferably soft

1 tablespoon dried oregano

Olive oil, preferably from sundried tomatoes jar

Milk (optional)

PREPARATION
Finely chop a bell pepper

Use half a small cucumber. Wash and cut lengthways. Scoop out seeds and keep. Chop cucumber into very small pieces

Add some rapeseed oil to a pan. Add ground black pepper, turmeric, dried mint

Turn on heat, till herbs & spices are releasing their goodness

Turn heat medium

Add chopped bell pepper, chopped cucumber & cucumber seeds

Add pinch of salt

Gently sauté for five minutes. The cucumber releases a lot of water

Stir in 50g cream cheese

Transfer to a bowl & let cool for an hour

PREPARE SCONE MIXTURE
Rub 2 knobs of butter into 6 ounces of wholemeal self-raising flour

Stir in generous amount of dried oregano

Stir in (cool) cucumber/pepper mixture

Add 50g cream cheese

Add few teaspoons of olive oil, ideally from sundried tomato jar

Add some milk to bind if necessary

COOKING
Heat oven to gas mark 4. A moderate oven, 180 Centigrade or 350 Fahrenheit

Line metal tray with greaseproof paper / baking parchment

Coat your palms with self-raising flour

Make small balls of scone mixture, golf ball size, coat with same flour, and put on tray

Put in oven for about 20 minutes

Take out & put scones on cooling rack

Enjoy!

Happy cooking