A Secret Irish Scones Challenge

 Every year we have open house Mince Pies and Mulled Stuff on a Sunday afternoon, which is really our way of not sending Christmas cards. The larger than life Martin Edwards (not the crime writer) always brought Christmas scones, but would never tell us the recipe. Goodness, these scones were amazing. Dried fruit steeped in Christmas spirit and added to his scone mixture. Finally two of us wore him down and he relented. Anne has been making them ever since- the cinnamon ones too. I finally got around to it on Friday night, inspired by Simone's Friday Cake Bake which is back and which is one of my (many) favourite things in Blogtopia.

Now, in celebration of two posts in one month, I am going to share the secret Irish scone recipe with you, but keep it under your hand-crocheted hat. The hard thing about these scones, and believe me, this is hard, is that you have to work fast. Jo and I were ready. We had absolutely everything all lined up and ready to go. He even had a stopwatch to time the tricky part. So, here it is- word for word as I wrote it down that day on the first scrap of paper that came hastily to hand.

 In a "dry" bowl you need 2 lbs of soda bread flour and then an extra 1/4 lb. (These are Irish scones and I don't know how you're going to get soda bread flour.) This bowl also has 4 oz of sugar and an extra oz. In a "wet" bowl you have 3 eggs, beaten, and a pint of buttermilk. (These are Irish scones and I don't know how you are going to get buttermilk.)

 THIS IS THE HARD BIT: you quickly dump the wet bowl into the dry and from this point on you have three minutes to get the scones in the oven- which has been pre-heated to 220 degrees C. My fan oven needs slightly more than 20 lower than that.

 Fold the wet mixture in to the dry mixture and stir in 4 oz melted margarine. Quick, quick, quick.

 At this point you will be confidently putting the scone mixture on to your floured surface. At this point, I realized that because I had halved the mixture, having used some of the buttermilk last week, something in my calculations had gone unfortunately awry.

 So handful after handful of flour was thrown and whipped into my mixture until it resembled anything capable of being dolloped on to the floured surface instead of drooling all over the floor. Jo is jumping up and down in time-keeping panic behind the camera.

 So, as I said, put the scone mixture on to your floured surface and sprinkle flour on top. If this extra flour isn't the extra 1/4 lb of flour then I don't actually know what that extra flour is for. Nor can I help with the extra oz of sugar!

 Flatten mixture with hands to 1 inch. Cut into scones and re-squish. Cook for 10-12 minutes. Martin used a midwife analogy: if you roll the belly of the scones and it moves, it is not ready. Hmm.

 I was convinced that our scones would be inedible. They were not. After disastrous amounts and very dubious tummy rolling, they came out perfectly. We were both delighted- as was everyone else. Our half mixture made a large tin full of scones that gave us supper on Friday, snack on Saturday morning and afternoon tea with friends on Saturday afternoon.

I think I'll make full dose next time and try the cinnamon scones with the rest: when the mixture is rolled flat to 1 inch, sprinkle 2/3 with cinnamon and brown sugar, currants and squares of melted (?) butter. Swiss roll it, cut into 1 inch chunks, lay flat in baking tray. Freeze after cooking if desired. Other variations were 4 oz grated cheese/ generous handful Christmas fruit/basil and sun-dried tomatoes added to original 3 minutes mixture.

Phew.

4th July Celebrations

We decided to celebrate Independance Day at Hookery not in the Bookery tonight- themed clothing and food. Full details here, where you will spot that Niqi managed to combine crochet with her costume!

Friday Cake Bake

It's a bit of a very amateur festive baking bash here today. But it's all for Sunday, so here, sit down in the blue chair and talk to me. Have some tea and a supermarket doughnut. How was your week?!

Friday Cake Bake

When I got in from work at 10.10pm on Thursday night PC had made two apple crumbles and the aroma on coming through the front door was very ood. (That's good really.) I am quite sure that they qualify as Friday Cake Bakes since it would have been breakfast time in Australia.

We're having a very quiet and mellow weekend here in the suburbs of Belfast, during which I have given in and started my Christmas shopping. One drive across the City required, and the traffic was strangely busy.

Today PC and Mattman cycled up and round and down through our local wood, while Jo and I continued the leaf raking process. It's good to keep energetic young men gainfully employed, I am discovering.

We're cosily ensconced this evening, with candles lit and a warming curry on the hob.

And no doubt we'll do the usual round of Sunday things tomorrow, with school back after the half-term break on Monday. All very homely and ordinary.

The soft voice of the radio weather lady said earlier that tonight will be cold, but with star-filled skies. Well, that will be nice for Belfast!

Friday Cake Bake: Pumpkin Pie

Sorry, Nedboy et famille. I know we weren't very talkative tonight. I know we planted our children in with yours in front of a DVD. I know we planted ourselves in front of the wood burning stove in your front room. I suspect that I may even have dozed off at some point?

But thanks for the couscous. And the cheeses. And the fire! (And PC says thanks for the wine!)

Friday Cake Bake

This was Homecoming Apple Pie, made with the last of the windfalls. It was served with a choice of three ice-creams, and lasted right up to this evening's episode of Spooks. Perfick!

Friday Cake Bake

Leftover Lemon Cake. Actually Luscious Lemon Cake in the Cranks cookbook, but in the Year of Living Small we're taking as our departure point what must be used up! Followed the instruction to cut into squares, well, obviously not entirely literally! This did, however, have the most pleasing effect of disguising the complete failure of the thing to do any rising in the middle. At all!

We had better results in in the jungle this evening- ten cheeky monkeys ready to go! Though I'm noticing now that they could have been more diplomatically arranged to hide the much lovedness of our table!

Friday Cake Bake enters The Twilight Zone

Just to say what time it is. PM. I am on to my second attempt to make Strawberry Verjuice Tart, which while high in effort did nonetheless manage eventually and successfully to exist last year!

I also feel the need to tell you that the suns have only just set. They did also set at their allotted time much earlier; did the whole lovely blonde haired boys thing of listening to their nightly chapter of Enid Blyton with Dad.

But then they decided they couldn't sleep and would build with blocks while I ignored them in determination to overcome collapsing pastry. Build with blocks, read books, talk nicely to each other- all things they have steadfastly refused to do during the day.

We did manage to start their summer Maths Revision booklets, walk to the post office (with bundles), write a thank you letter on time, and go to the cinema to see Kung Fu Panda 2. But why are the busy days often the worst? If we had just lain around and not fought the evil technology fight, I bet they would have been in bed dreaming of Finder Outers and my tart would be in the fridge right now. And I would be in bed too!

Day 17: I made it!

I made it to the end of today- this is cause for great celebration; please have even a little whoop of something on my behalf! After work we made gingerbread men. (The flying elephant is so Chagall, n'est-ce pas? Not to mention the dancing Matisse lady on the right!!)

Then we played Junior Scrabble, and I made it to the end of Divorcing Jack in between goes! Then I made it eventually to Book Club, Divorcing Jack ringing in my ears as I drove. Not quite hot off the press- in fact, when we met Colin Bateman last night I felt quite sheepish when he asked which book we were reading for tonight, and we said Divorcing Jack (published in 1994) and he said, "Oh. The first one."

It has been a veritable rollercoaster of a day in my land- I do hope your weekend is beginning with much more peace and tranquillity! And speaking of peace and tranquillity (Yeats reference alert) tomorrow I must arise and go then, and go into town to find a fabulous Father's Day present. No. I'm not making one! If I make up the paper bunting for my giveaway I shall be extremely satisfied- last chance to comment here!

Les Incontournables 1

Jo's Friday Cake Bake

Happy Easter Holidays!

Friday Cake Bake

Or rather, this being a house of Faith, Happy Pumpkin Time! Bon weekend!

Friday Cake Bake for a boy who is now 6!

I can bake but I cannot decorate to save myself! Happily Queen of Craft Niqi makes me customised cupcake boxes for when one needs a little lift!

Linden Grove has mouthwatering scones today- we had 42 buns in the oven (!) last night for Joshua's birthday break in school, and if I could summon up any energy at all after school today and then his family party I would embark on the pirate cake for his friends' party tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Jo. One of the two best things I ever cooked!

Friday Cake Bake from Nedboy, the Guest Blog writer

It was Friday afternoon and off home a bit earlier than usual...to find Magsmcc, Prince Charming and 2 Suns just arrived at the house. So the weekend began early.

For the first day in weeks, it seems, it wasn't raining. "Who wants to pick the plums?" Rather late in the season, we set to shaking a tree full of ripe and over ripe plums. "Aaagh, I got hit with a plum!" cried a small voice, as the small purple fruits rained to the ground.

When enough good fruit was gathered, washed and cleaned, we threw them in a bowl with some sugar an a shot of 'eau de vie'. Something to soak some sweetness into the otherwise sour fruit.

No time tonight to make jam, but improvised a French recipe for Clafoutis *, usually for cherries or apricots.

The tree was planted by my grandparents before I was born. The fruit was used every autumn by my grandmother to make jam. It was the first and only jam I tasted that had stones and skins in. A natural product, but inconvenient obstacles. Eat with care, or lose a tooth.

Perhaps that's a bit like all we get from our family: The choice of a tree planted half a century ago, isn't necessarilly my favourite fruit. They might not be as sweet or plump as shop bought plums. But they are a gift. There for the picking. To take or leave. A time limited offer: It's now or in a year. As much or as little as I choose. Jam, pie, sauce or whatever. A gift challenges our creativity.

And if I want some different fruit, its up to me to plant something different. It will take some ground, a lot of patience and care, to benefit me and whoever follows - and if all goes well, for every Autumn to follow.

So thanks to Magsmcc and team for calling today, and allowing us to share in who we are and what we have received. To describe it as a Eucharist of plums would overstate the case. But there was today a fellowship in the harvest, a thought of gratitude towards the faithful departed, and a hope for the rising generation...Someday we may share at one table, at the bridal feast of the Lamb.

If it's to last all Eternity, at some point, we're sure to have plums on the menu?

Clafoutis *,
http://www.marmiton.org/Recettes/Recettes-Incontournables-Detail_clafoutis_r_45.aspx

Friday Cake Bake moves up a gear

Yesterday we ate Strawberry and Verjuice Custard Tart from Elizabeth Hodder's A Book of Old Tarts which has been hilariously delicious reading this week. As you can see we are indeed trying to move up a gear here in the Land of the (sometimes tearful) Strawberries and we ate it on Portstewart Strand.

You will deduce from the emptiness of the Strand that middle-aged women were as alone as any other age-group in the water last night... This is where we come to celebrate summer, but especially to bid it farewell. Bloggisme makes me realise this year how cyclical is life. At exactly this time last year I wrote this melancholy poemette, but am much more positive this time round! What we strawberries will be in the new school year has yet to be revealed,...

... but I do however feel that if we (and our bath) were to move up a gear we would be careering down the stairs like the bath in Jo's book, storytelling to the world!

Before Friday Cake Bake

During Friday Cake Bake.

After Friday Cake Bake.

We're planning an apple blossom weekend, so it seemed appropriate!

Book Club and Cook Blurb

So! Yesterday was Friday, and I got home from school, fed fish to my family (thereby just about feeding us fish at least once a week as is my high-minded intention), baked a cake for Book Club and, let's be honest, Friday Cake Bake, and then I went to Book Club and Niqi brought cream because mine was no longer good, and we all ate the cake and discussed the cake and ruminated on possible variations on the cake's sauce.

And we talked about The Eyre Affair as well!

The cake was Cranks' Sticky Prune Cake. I did find it slightly disappointing- I might try more prunes next time, and I will definitely experiment with trying to make the sauce "crisper" like the topping you get on lemon drizzle cakes. Suggestions last night heavily featured stem ginger. All further thoughts welcome!

House divided on Jasper Fforde. I wanted to hate it, and managed successfully right up until I fell in love with Th'ose Boo'k Wor'ms & L&ed in Thornfield Hal'l! Hooked thenceforth! And while I still haven't the courage for the sequels to Scary Girl with Dragon Tattoo and Horrifically Disturbing Experiences, I might have a go at Nursery Crimes!

Our read for June will be Wolf Hall, which will undoubtedly be much less controversial than Thursday Next and Duff-Rolex!

(And tonight the family of one of Matthew's school friends came for tea and brought with them the most amazing pavlova that I have ever tasted. Haven't got a photo of the left-overs yet, but will have to move fast!)

Friday Cake Bake ON FRIDAY!

And I've only gone and left the wretched camera at Lorraine's house! So I just wanted to declare loudly that this week I made Sticky Prune Cake for Book Club and my first Friday Friday cake bake is complete!

Photos and The Eyre Affair tomorrow- bon weekend!

Friday Cake Bake on a Saturday

First blow all cobwebs far out to the Irish Sea as you watch the sun go down on Friday.

Get up early on Saturday and have your first batch of cupcakes on the cooling rack by 9am!

Third take cupcakes to the Finale of Niqi's birthday celebrations chez Catherine and Miss Bennett.

Then cycle home in true Miss Marple fashion to the scene of the crime! This is as close as I have yet come to Simone's great example, and it's probably as close as I will get! But I like it!

For the real Friday Cake Bake visit the boulangerie/patisserie that is Linden Grove!

Composition: What I did during my Easter holidays.

I had a lovely time this Easter because:

182. There were none of these.

183. I witnessed the stoicism of strawberies who were absolutely, completely, undoubtedly, steadfastly determined to reach the top of Belfast Zoo, aka Cave Hill, in driving rain, cold and sodden gloves because they hadn't seen the cheetahs yet.

184. I managed my last two Friday Cake Bakes by tea-time on Sundays- tarte au citron last week and cheese scones today. The latter being an absolute triumph because creating something out of culinary nothing has never been my strong point!

185. We were all here (and there, and many places in between) with much mellow loveliness. I may not have had purity coming out of my head and tranquillity out of my derriere at ALL times, but it was good! Better than Jo's likenesses!

186. I was genuinely delighted to read that in 1387 Niall O'Neill built a house at Navan and entertained the poets and historians of Ireland. That's the house I want!

187. Navan is obviously still the best place for entertainment- all strawberries awed at the array of activities on there during Easter week. The Penultimate Crowning Glory being the discovery that after the toys in the sandpit beside the terrasse (where I was blissfully ensconced, teacup in hand) and even after the digging up of all loose change surreptitiously buried by PC there was actually a whole layer of mock dinosaur bones waiting to be reconstructed!

188. The Ultimate Crowning Glory was the suns' Friday Cake Bake- an iron age one. First make your dough...

189. The sun has shone hot and long for four days now. While I realise that this is, as usual, very bad news for those studying for impending exams, hooray!

190. I am deeply grateful for the old-fashioned education I had that chastises me for the laziness of a composition in evil bullet points. I'll go and write a proper one now. In French. And sell it to anyone worried about having enough material in the perfect tense for their GCSE French Oral- because they've spent the last week sitting in the sun!

191. The desert of Lent and passion of Easter bring us now to the House of the Spirit! Pentcost and counting..