Lavender Berry Scones

For some reason, rainy days and tea inspire me to post.  Could also be the fact that we’re having leftovers and I’m not doing anymore house work for at least a few more hours.  Reason three – both boys are sleeping.  Soundly.  (For now…)

I think I made these about 6 months ago.  Made em.  Photographed them.  Devoured them.  Made them again.  Forgot to post them.  That’s how I roll.  Forgotten is my middle name.  Memory is a thing of the past.

So, I’m going to share them now.  And they are SO good.  I even found the pictures!  Go me!

I follow Miss Joy over at Joy the Baker.  She is da bomb.  I love her style, wit, and food choices.  Anyhow, these scones come from her, only slightly changed by yours truly.  Skeptical of the lavender?  Don’t be.  It tingles the taste-buds.  I did have a comment from a slightly disgruntled guy that flowers are for smelling, not eating.  BUT, they were devoured and many compliments ensued.  So I’d say they’re pretty good.  My hubby even loves them.  (And that’s saying something, as he’s generally a baked-goods-hater.)  Here goes!

Lavender Berry Scones

Recipe very slightly adapted from Joy the Baker

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 heaping Tbsp dried lavender

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Dash salt

3/4 cup cold butter or margarine

1 egg

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 cup berries (I used frozen blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)

1 beaten egg and sugar to coat and sprinkle before baking

First of all, remember that ‘boys are sleeping soundly’ thing?  It’s now untrue.  But I will continue nonetheless.

Secondly!  Preheat that oven to 400F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.  Cut in butter (or margarine) with fingers or a pastry cutter, until it resembles large oat flakes.  In another bowl, combine egg and buttermilk, and beat lightly.  Add to flour mixture, just until moistened.  Fold in those berries (carefully, they’ll make a mess!).

Turn onto a floured surface, and knead for about 2 minutes.  Roll out into a 1-inch thickness.  Cut into desired shapes (re-rolling excess dough for more scones), and place on baking sheet.  Brush lightly with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until slightly golden brown on top.

Enjoy!  These are quite amazing alone, or with a dallop of butter and jam.  (Go for blueberry jam!)

Now to finish off with some kiddo photos as usual.  Just can’t get enough of my boys.

{In the sandbox, smiling away}

{He’s practicing blowing spit here, just so you know…  But he has the sweetest eyes, don’t you think?}

 

It’s a Raspberry Scone kinda day.

Just a tidbit of what happened in my life today.  Our family grew from 3 to 6.  All in a matter of one evening, and all by choice.  We went to pick up two kittens, and came home with three.  I just couldn’t separate them.  Two black sisters (one long and one short-haired) and one orange tabby brother.  Snap, Crackle, and Pop.  What’s an extra cat…  or three?  🙂

So – Whole Wheat Raspberry Scones.  That’s what I made today.  Proud of me?  They’re pretty good too.

I haven’t been doing a whole lot of baking lately.  Mostly because there has been too much else to do.  Chasing after Cael, cleaning the house, going away, being preggo, etc.  Oh, and I’m back to work part-time too, which definitely adds to the crazy chaotic life that seems to be mine.

But there has still been a bit of baking going on.  I have a few other recipes all set to share with you too.  And I’m sure more baking will be in my future.  Especially with a bridal shower and a wedding for my friend in the near future.

Anyhow!  To the scones!

I found a recipe at Smitten Kitchen and slightly adapted it to what was in my refrigerator.  Raspberries add such great flavour – they make the scones perfectly sweet and tart.  And whole wheat flour add a great body to the scones (not to mention a little added nutrition).  Try them out.  And if you don’t have my ingredients, check out Smitten Kitchen’s recipe; you’re bound to have one or the other.

Whole Wheat Raspberry Scones

1 cup  whole wheat flour
1 cup  all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup  sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
1 cup  fresh raspberries
3/4 cup  non-fat vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup whole milk

And… about 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.  In the bottom of a bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, sugar and salt.

With a pastry blender, add the butter cut the butter into the flour mixture until it looks like dry curdled milk (yum, right?).  Add the raspberries and use the blender again to cut them into smaller chunks.

Stir in the yogurt, milk, and lemon juice to form a dough with a flexible spatula.  When the dough is all sticking together, transfer the dough to a well-floured counter.  Flour the top of the dough and pat into a square about 1-inch thick. With a knife, divide the dough into 9 squares.  Put the scones onto the baking sheet. Bake the scones for about 15 minutes, or until lightly golden at the edges.  Cool on the  pan for a minute, then place on a cooling rack.

**If you have to add more or less liquid – do so.  My dough was pretty sticky, but I floured it really well when I rolled it out.  I like making things like that, it’s my preference.  But if it’s not yours, just don’t make it quite so sticky.**

Enjoy.  They are great still warm out of the oven, as are, with a cup of tea.  Or warmed up later with a slab of butter on top.

After supper this evening, we went outside and had bubbles for Cael (courtesy of his Nana).  Here he is in action!  (He loved it.)

 

{He was having a blast!  And his feet were as black as…. well… tar}

 

 

{My slightly pregnant belly…} 

Talk soon!