How do you make yours?

Another day another debate at NeighbourBlog HQ. Today's is how to prepare a Cream Tea! Jam or Cream first? This is a debate that's been going on in Devon and Cornwall for years. We always thought it was Jam first, but the look of horror on our Devonian Office Managers face proved otherwise! However you make it, there is no denying they are delicious. So on that note we have added in how to prepare a good Cream Tea (and an amazing excuse just to try them). This recipe is courtesy of BBCGoodFood (we love them, we really do).

Ingredients:-

350g Self Raising Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
85g Butter cut into cubes
3 tbsp Caster Sugar
175ml Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Lemon Juice
1 Beaten Egg to glaze

Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream to serve.

Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Tip the flour into a large bowl with the salt and baking powder, then mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar.

Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 secs until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. Put a baking sheet in the oven.Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife – it will seem pretty wet at first. 

Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. 

Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep.Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. 

By this point you’ll probably need to press what’s left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.Bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top.

Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream. If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven (about 160C/fan140C/gas 3) for a few mins to refresh.

We think Cream first.

Tweet your ideas to us at @neighbourblog and tell us how you prepare yours! 

#sconedebate

The NeighbourBlog Team