I’ve been learning to make scones. They cost so much to buy, so I thought I’d try to figure out why. I have no idea. All that is in them is flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sour cream, butter and whatever you want to mix in to flavor them. I’ve used craisins, golden raisins and chocolate chips.
With 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup butter per 12 scones, though, they are pretty fattening. But they are a traditional English treat to have with tea, so I thought it would be appropriate, with our English heritage, to be good at making them.
I got a couple cartons of free sour cream, that had gone out of date. That was the most expensive ingredient. The rest I have on hand. So I’ve now made 6 batches to use up the sour cream. I made 3 batches of craisin ones, 2 of chocolate chip, and one of golden raisin. They are all good, in case you are wondering. The dried fruit tastes more like it belongs, but how can you go wrong with chocolate chips in anything?
Here is a picture of the golden raisin ones just going in the oven and the chocolate chip ones just out of the oven, and a close up showing the texture – kind of like a biscuit, but much sweeter. (The scone is upside down in the last picture, because it worked better that way.) Really yummy. I got the recipe from All Recipes – it is called Simple Scones.
And now about my Adventure.
UW-Barron County has been restoring an 1891 Steinway grand piano that was bequeathed to the college. It is done now (and is an amazing instrument, I must say!), so they had a special concert with it last night, with this fabulous piano player from UW-EC and a violist, as well. For the viola piece, in three movements, she needed a page turner, so the head of the department asked if I would. Needless to say, I was very nervous, even beforehand, but when I took a look at the music, I was even more nervous. I have never laid my eyes on such difficult piano music. I am very good at following along, but it was darn hard to keep track of where she was. Fortunately we did a complete run-through of it in the late afternoon, so when the actual performance came, I was at least slightly familiar with the music. All went well and it was a totally amazing experience. Just to be that close to such an accomplished pianist when she was playing was inspiring, but spending 4 hours with the two of them was such fun, too. The viola player was French man in his 30’s, I’d guess and, pardon my saying, extremely fine-looking and quite charming in personality. The pianist, a Korean woman in her late 30’s, I’d guess, was quite shy and so appreciative of everything the music department had done to put the event together. She played a Robert Schumann work in three movements that took over 1/2 hour. Then she played a Back toccata that was only about 10 minutes, and then the viola piece that was probably about 15 minutes. All-in-all it was an amazing experience that I am so glad I didn’t decline the opportunity to be part of. What got me in the first place was that I really wanted to go to the concert, but the tickets were $30, which was a bit high for us. So I got in free and got to rub shoulders with them and stand right by them as they were performing. Cool, cool, cool!
Those look delicious! I think I’m going to have to try those now. 🙂
And your adventure sounds amazing! I’m excited for you!! 🙂
Just so you all know, I figured out the calories and it is about 200 calories each. But, honestly, one is plenty and 200 calories is less than a candy bar. I was hoping they would be only about 150.
How fun to get to be a part of the musical experience!
And those scones look mighty scrumptious… mmmmmmm…..
Just so you all know, I figured out the calories and it is about 200 calories each. But, honestly, one is plenty and 200 calories is less than a candy bar. I was hoping they would be only about 150.
Very cool! The scones look yummy!
Just so you all know, I figured out the calories and it is about 200 calories each. But, honestly, one is plenty and 200 calories is less than a candy bar. I was hoping they would be only about 150.