Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Afternoon Tea…



 Hello dear friends and a happy July to you!

I am delighted to be back in the lovely world of blogging...as I mentioned to a very sweet blog friend the other day, I miss ‘my home on the web’ so dearly when I am absent!

This week has been quite an industrious one, for we have had quite a lot of fresh produce come in which needed to be preserved, and I also spent two afternoons babysitting a precious little one year old boy…

In just a few days’ time I will be visiting a very dear friend of mine to help her celebrate her eighteenth birthday!
She will be having a lovely high tea, so I am busy preparing for being away by making sure I have enough stock for the market…

 
But…today is a beautiful, sunshiny winter’s day, and we are enjoying some much needed peace and quiet at home after all the frantic activity of the last few days…

~

One of our favourite things to do on a day like today is to bake a special tea time treat, and these
delicious scones were just perfect…

I love using my heart cookie cutter to make heart shaped scones…something a little different and special…
Our scone recipe is a simple one which we have used for many years now. 
I don’t even know where or when we first discovered it, but I do know I have made several changes to the ingredients and method over the years…


Rubbing the butter into the sifted flour gives the scones a shortbread texture which is absolutely sublime when served with the homemade raspberry jam and fresh cream…”


Buttermilk Scones



3 tbsp buttermilk

225g cake flour

2 tsp baking powder

Pinch salt

75 butter

40g castor sugar

1 egg, beaten



Sift together the flour and salt. 

Rub in the butter till the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

In a separate bowl, combine the beaten egg, castor sugar and buttermilk.

Add to the dry ingredients.

Mix and knead lightly to form a smooth dough, then roll out to about 5cm thick.

Use the rim of a glass dipped in flour or a cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place

on a tray lined with baking paper.

Brush a little buttermilk over the tops of the scones and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for

About 15 minutes, or until golden brown and done.



If like me you are watching your intake of sugar, how about using a drizzle of raw honey instead of jam…honey and whipped cream is a delightful combination!
…Finely grated cheddar is also scrumptious on these scones, and is perfect if you are serving these as a light lunch…


I made the jam just a few minutes before serving as my method is a very simple one…
I used two cups of raspberries (fresh or frozen will work) and just half a cup of sugar. 
I put the berries and sugar in a small pot and brought it to a boil over a medium heat…
I then boiled the fruit and sugar together, stirring almost constantly to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot, until the mixture had a jam like consistency and a lot of the liquid had evaporated…

   
As this jam is more fruit to sugar, it would be advisable to store it in the fridge.
Be aware that it also won’t gel as regular jam would…  Using a lower quantity of sugar means your jam hasn’t got a sickly sweet taste, but rather a gorgeously rich and fruity flavour…


 Serve scones warm with a pot of freshly brewed tea of your choice…
Set your tea table in a simple yet elegant fashion using tea cups and a pretty tablecloth…
A vase of wildflowers set in the centre of the table adds a graceful touch to the scene, and place freshly baked scones in little baskets around the table…
Invite a dear friend to join you, or simply enjoy as a family…

What is your favourite tea time treat...?

Wishing each of you a beautifully blessed month of July!

   ~

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20 comments:

Jeannie Marie said...

I love afternoon tea! Recently I discovered on sea days while cruising, afternoon tea is served on Carnival. It's so relaxing and wonderful, but they don't do scones like yours and that is how I've always done them with jam and cream. I may bake this afternoon!

Stephanie said...

Hello dearest Kelly-Anne! Oh, how you refresh my heart, dear one. Your posts are like warm sunshine and they always bring happiness to my soul :)

Your tea time looks delightful and I know your friend will thoroughly enjoy herself. Your heart scones are just too sweet and they look delicious!

Happy July to you, my friend. Much love!

Anonymous said...

It is mid-morning here in Georgia, and your photos are making me hungry!
The heart-shaped scones look wonderful. Thank you for sharing your tried and true recipe. The jam looks so rich and flavorful; I would like the fruity, less sweet, taste. Your tablescape is lovely with the added touch of a pretty floral tablecloth and wildflowers. Wishing you a lovely visit with friends and your grandmother.

Sarah said...

Your tea time table looks so very delightful and inviting! I love the idea of making fresh jam with less sugar. Berries are just beginning to ripen where I live, so maybe I will give this idea a try!

Anonymous said...

Dear friend...oh my! Everything about this post is just lovely and so sweet! The scones and jam both sound and look delightful- two of my most favorite things! I was just thinking the other day how I wanted to make a batch of scones again soon, as it has been awhile since I did so. How I wished we lived closer so that we could enjoy an afternoon of tea and chatting together! :) Hopefully one day we will be able to do just that, Lord willing!! :)

Just one question, and it's a random one: I'm curious how cold it gets where you live? And do you ever see snow? Just wondering!

Sending you much love and many blessings <3 Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Margie said...

Scones with jam and cream are my favourite tea time treat! I'd love to sample your delicious heart-shaped scones with your homemade jam!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh, I love scones and there are so many ways to make them. My recipe is just about identical to yours. Buttermilk makes everything better, doesn't it? And I like to add blueberries and or craisins to mine sometimes. How pretty everything looks! Enjoy your week and the fun you have planned. Sweet hugs, Diane

Elyse said...

Tea parties are so much fun, and your pictures are oh so beautiful! Thanks for sharing the recipe as well!
Blessings,
Elyse

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

I love scones and these look absolutely delicious! Nothing quite as relaxing as afternoon tea.
hugs,
Jann

Kim said...

'Tis a glorious sunny day down here as well. How lovely your photos look Kelly-Anne, they have made my mouth water at the sight of that pretty table, dressed in that pretty cloth, laden with those delicious looking scones and that gorgeous red-as-red home made jam. It all looks rather scrumptious!

Dianna said...

Oh my, Kelly-Anne! Those scones look delicious. I make scones quite frequently but your recipe is a bit different, in the respect that yours calls for cake flour and contains an egg. I want to give it a try...and I love that you used a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them.

Your jam looks delicious...and your pictures are awesome!

Ana said...

Oh my goodness Kelly-Anne,
These homemade scones and jam look delicious. You are so sweet and kind for sharing your recipes. Sending you hugs.

❤️Ana

Vicky Hunt said...

Hello dear friend! I have been so busy recently and have been unable to reply to comments and make visits! Please forgive me...:) The scones look absolutley divine! Oh, how I would love to taste one now. I have never acquired a taste for hot tea or coffee either. Maybe someday! I prefer my tea iced and sweet which is a southern thing. :) Your thoughtful Thursday post was a lovely one...such a wonderful message. I do hope you have a lovely time celebrating your friend's 18th birthday. Such a milestone in the path of life. Hugs and belssing to you! Oh, by the way...I will let you know the moment I receive my sweet parcel from you. I am so excited! You're a sweet blessing!

Hugs, Vicky

Daniela said...

Actually, I'd love to be a guest of yours at a tea party, I'm sincere :)
I've taken note both of the recipe of the Buttermilk Scones and of your jam and I'm looking forward to your next recipes !!!
Sending much love and thankfulness
Daniela

Debby Ray said...

Oh my goodness these darling little heart-shaped scones look heavenly! I could snatch one of those up any time of day! And I still have a hard time realizing it is winter in your neck of the woods! Have a blessed weekend, Kelly-Anne!

Esther Asbury said...

Your scones look so delicious and especially cute in the heart shape!

Ashleigh said...

I am so excited to try these recipes!!
Scones are a personal favorite tea treat along with petit fours :)
And I finally have hope that I can make a good jam! I've tried it before but the recipes were complicated and required ingredients I never have on hand. Thanks for sharing this easy and delicious one!
Have a wonderful tea with your friend....it sounds like the perfect birthday celebration!
With much joy....Ashleigh

Faye Henry said...

Lovely and delicious !!! xo

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Hi Kelly-Anne, your scones and jam look so yummy! Thanks for joining and sharing your recipe at our Cooking & Carfting with J & J!
Julie

Anne Payne said...

Yum! Those scones and jam look delicious. I like that the recipes are simple ones. I'll have to try both.
Visiting from Julie's Cooking & Crafting blog hop.