Blog #2

Snow Days!  

      

So …, snow days!  Middle Georgia had the chance to experience a bit of northern tier weather this past  week.  The four winters we spent in eastern North Dakota came back the other night as I watched the snow start falling, first as ice crystals, then as full-on snowflakes.  Before bed there was enough on the deck railing to scoop into three small snowballs, and so I crafted Jon Snow.  When we got up the next morning the snow was a little more than shoulder deep on him, so our back deck had about 5-6 inches of the white stuff.  After noting the snow depth and decided lack of sunrise yet, I went back in the house to make scones and a latte.  Work was cancelled, Dede was working from home, and the roads still had snow on top of ice.  Sweatpants and lattes were the obvious next step.  See below for scones.

We proceeded to watch the snow melt in the sunshine, and I ventured out on the road at about 1500 local.  Most streets were dry, or had liquid water, but underpasses still had packed snow/ice, and most roads had plenty of water puddles that made for a ballet: “Drivers On Ice”.  Double axels and plies are entertaining to see, but only if the driver sticks the landing.

For the next round of snow days, try scones as your coffee break if you aren’t at an external work site.

Scottish Soda Scones (Makes about 6)

1 cup milk                                       1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar

1 ¾ cup flour                               ½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Optional ingredients:

1/8 teaspoon baking powder    ½ cup golden raisins

1 tablespoon sugar

 Directions

* Mix milk with lemon juice or vinegar.  Let sit for 10 minutes.

* Preheat oven to 450° F.

* While the milk is working, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and any optional ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

* When the timer dings for the milk, mix the acidified milk with the dry ingredients into a somewhat sticky dough. I use a fork for mixing. 

* Dust your bread board with flour and roll/press the dough into a disk about ½” thick.  You can be fairly liberal with the flour dusting.

* Cut into ~3” circles, or squares, or diamonds.  Place on a parchment lined baking sheet with a bit of space between each scone.

* Place on center rack of oven, reduce temp to 400°, and bake for 15-20 minutes, until dark tan.

* Remove from oven, cool for a few minutes, then split and enjoy.

* Butter, cream cheese, and homemade jams are great toppings.

*TROUBLESHOOTING: Did you let the milk/acid sit the full 10 minutes?  Did you reduce the oven temp?  Did they bake too long?

 

I know with the web close at hand you can find nutritional information, but I tend to think of these as food for the soul when nibbled on in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee and a blanket, maybe a bit of Sabaton or George Winston on the stereo for ambience. We also use these scones as the basis for breakfast sandwiches with egg, cheese, and Canadian bacon, especially on shearing mornings.

I plan to make these again, but long before the next middle Georgia Snow Day. Jon Snow is now three buttons and two twigs in a puddle on the deck table.

C-Ya!

*** No animals were harmed in the making of this post. Shearing is an important part of sheep farming for the wellbeing of the sheep. ***