Cheese Scones

I experienced a real craving this morning, a super strong urge to bake. I felt like I really had to be in the kitchen with my apron on, creating something warm, fragrant and tasty or else the day would not feel right. Usually when a craving hits hard it's for something sweet and naughty, but today the craving was different and it had to be savoury. Mmmmmmmmmm, warm cheesy scones I thought.

I sent a message to my friend who had produced the most marvellous cheesy scones at a picnic in the park early last week. When she emailed me the recipe (it was from Paul Hollywood's Bread book), my heart sank a little as it required Strong White Flour and I didn't have any of that in. And I couldn't possibly wait you see, I needed to bake right there and then. So I looked in my baking drawer and thought I would try using wholemeal self raising flour instead. Yeah...wholesome, good for savoury things. It'll work out, right?

I made up my dough. Flour, a wee bit of sugar and baking powder, milk and eggs. I put butter in the  microwave for 10 seconds to soften. Mixed it all messily in a big bowl with the hands. Sticky. Not particularly pleasant, but keep going, it's gonna be good. Savoury! Warm and fragrant! Stick with it!

Got the dough out on the work top, dusted with flour, attempted to knead for the required four minutes, but nope, it was not working out. This was not kneadable dough. So I pondered for a moment, and then thought arrrrgggghhhhbloodyhell I forgot to add the bloomin' cheese! Quick! Wap some grated cheese on top of the unkneadable dough and try to work it in. Push it in with fingers, pokey pokey, work the dough around a bit, flatten it out roughly with palm of my hand, bang, bang. I feel I am being a bit brutal, aren't you sposed to be light and airy with scones?

But anyhow, joy of joys, I got to use my most excellent and colourful round cookie cutters with the fluted edge, yaaayyy! I managed to cut out 12 scones, roughly 1.5inches tall, some considerably flatter than others. Onto a baking tray and into a hot oven, set timer for 15 mins.

I needed coffee then, fresh hot coffee. So I poured milk into a mug, opened the microwave door to pop it in to heat, and there sits a blob of butter in a dish. Eh? Butter? What the heck? Ah. Yes. Butter. The butter that should have gone into the scones. Pfffffff.

After fifteen anxious minutes of pacing and slurping coffee, I opened the oven door to take a nervous peek. I expected flattened cookie-shaped scone-biscuit hybrids. Fat-less ones. But LOOK!!!! The scones worked! They actually worked! Despite the wrong flour and the lack of kneading and the weird fingerpoky method of cheese incorporation, and the distinct Lack Of Butter, they rose up and looked remarkably edible!

Oh happy day!

I immediately went into lunch mode and prepped a scone for testing. Slice in half whilst still warm and butter liberally. Add some thin slices of strong cheddar, sliced cherry tomatoes, lots of seasoning and some snips of fresh chives....

.....oh yeah, look at that! It looks pretty darn good for a failure.

Mmmm. Mm-mmmm. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Taste wise, not cheesy enough. Texture wise...I think I would use the word "substantial". They weren't heavy as such, but wholemeal flour is pretty well, wholemeal isn't it? I would try half wholemeal/half white flour next time. And definitely more cheese added in at the correct moment.

The funny thing was that afterwards, I tried to search for the original Paul Hollywood recipe online, but could only find this one :: "wholemeal cheesy scones". Which happens to be almost identical to the fat-free recipe I inadvertently created in my kitchen this morning. And yup, just as I thought, he uses a wholemeal/white flour mix, and double the amount of cheese in this recipe. Plus he adds parmesan (good idea Paul!) Will need to give that a go then and improve on my scone making skills.

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PS.....thank you to Carole from Rossendale who reminded me to go look in my trusty little never-fail Be-Ro recipe booklet! Of course! This will be my very next baking adventure...simple, cheese scone triangles...genious!

 

 

Comments

[Sally]

Loved the entry. One of these days I will try your bread. Need to plan ahead for that. Cheese scones are wonderful. I make drop cheeses biscuits and they are a family favorite. Wonderful with soup and wonderful the next day with meat, onion, and tomato for a breakfast/lunch sandwich. The photo of your lunch made my mouth water. I'm ready to try your recipe NOW. Enjoy your day.

[Sheila D Leader]

Hi Lucy, This isn't about cooking.I'd like to thank you for sending the instructions for Joining Granny Squares As You Go. It must have been two or even three years ago. I've only just got round to using that technique as I haven't made a granny square throw for a long time. It certainly beats crocheting the squares together when you've finished. Thanks again. When I've finished the throw, I'm going to try your boarder for a granny square throw. Best wishes from Sheila Leader, Tasmania, Australia

[Emma]

Hi Lucy. Just wanted to let you know that this recipe has been included over at this month's foodie round up at Britmums! :)

[Catherine]

Nothing quite beats a scone & a cuppa! I use wholemeal flour quite a bit lately as it seems to be much nicer & lighter than I remember it - seems to taste better also than white flour. Will have to try it in the next batch.

[lori]

when you get a moment, can you email me?
[email protected]

:)

[Ruth]

Love the scones and love love love the cutters! So much so that I bought some this weekend. Then I found these http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15576/144-Colourful-Cake-Cases which also wanted to come home with me!

[Kim]

You know if you change three of the things from the original recipe you make it your own?
Glad that your persisted with the scones and that they were edible :-) x

[Carol]

Oh they look wonderful, I know exactly what you mean when you "need" to make something and you just have to use whatever is in the cupboard, I think this is the Paul Hollywood Cheese scones link http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/wholemeal_cheese_scones_12017
Carol xx

[Sue W]

Cheese scones with some lovely butternut squash soup - mmm my favourite. If you're still looking for the Paul Hollywood recipe using malted bread flour, you can find it here... http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=V6I9d1D562IC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=paul+hollywood+cheese+scones&source=bl&ots=irPFruV5Zz&sig=OHhZa5d0k1knBX7kcV-v1wHVIjM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zvIVUp-oOsya1AWh2IDgBg&ved=0CDQQ6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=paul%20hollywood%20cheese%20scones&f=false

[Nicole]

They look delicious! I really must try to bake them. Have a great weekend. NicoleXXX

[Julie]

Hi Lucy, nothing to do with scones..Just wondering
about the best way to hang bunting, should I join the bunting at the corners? are the triangles glued to a cord? I am thinking to crochet some bunting for Christmas in dark green and dark red. Totally no idea
how to hang the bunting..Sorry to be so uncreative, would be ever so grateful if you could help!!!

[lori]

i wanted to thank you for posting about scones, i forgot how much we love them freshly baked! yours look totally delicious by the way!

[Katie B]

Luce - those "substantial" wholemeal scones would go down a treat at The Eighth Day veggie joint opposite the Poly!!!
Still hoping to swizz up to see you @ Yarndale.
LOL, Katie B x x

[Jéanne]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who forgets ingredients and substitutes strange ones! :)

[J Wallace]

I liked this post very much. The scones looked delicious. Loved the descriptive commentary. Here's to creative baking!

[Susan]

Lucy, I just love your colorful photos. Can you tell me what kind of camera you use? Thanks so much!!

[Liz]

These look wonderful! You made up for the butter by slathering liberally later. So in the mood to bake now...

[Gwen]

This post was so fun to read! It almost felt like I was doing it all wrong myself ;)
Luckily the scones turned out better than expected!

[Pat]

Oh dear!!!! You needed more cheese,mustard and paprika in the scone mix.The flavour of the strong cheese overwhelmed the scones.Lots of good cheese scone recipes out there on the www. no need to buy recipe books.

[Trish Gallimore]

next time you're in York try the cheese scones(with cheese and pickle) at Me + Mrs Fisher, a lovely craft cafe on Lord Mayors Walk. You'll love them.

[Jan]

So funny and soo familiar - that sinking feeling when I realize I've left out some vital ingredient! The Be-ro book is a favourite here too.

[Judith]

Cheese scones must, must, MUST have a teaspoon of Coleman's mustard powder in them - it increases the savoury deliciousness a hundred fold. A pinch of dried thyme is a good addition too, but just a pinch. I'm a bit of a cheese scone connoiseur!

[SOL]

Dear Lucy,
I am delighted to learn you are not perfect in every way. Will add this to the Shelves of Doom as evidence - though the fact that they turned out ok may well destroy my argument. And the Shelves of Doom got sorted. Didn't they?

[Ali Dufty]

Totally serendipitous :)) nom nom , they look great !!

[Rhonda]

They look so Yum!