Spicy Cheese Scones

For the past week I have had an intense craving for warm cheese scones.  I'm sure you're all aware that there isn't much worse in life than a bland supermarket scone, so there was only one option. Get my tush in the kitchen and bake my own.  

Luckily I'd just been up to my favorite farm shop for a big slab of delicious and extra strong Snowdonia Little Black Bomber cheese. Oh I do love a strong cheese.  I often mourn the loss of the olde stylee dairy they used to run at Beamish. They did a cheese so strong it could pull the gums over your teeth, sigh.

 The best thing about this recipe is it contains no butter which I'm quite sure means they're good for you...right?  So, if you want delicious and light scones in a hurry, this is for you!

Spicy Cheese Scones

Ingredients:

250g self raising flour

3tsp baking powder

large pinch salt

sprinkle of cayenne pepper/chilli powder (optional but recommended)

200g strong cheddar cheese, grated

3tsp vegetable oil

125 ml milk (maybe a bit more depending on how it mixes)

1 large, free range egg

Method:

 

Preheat oven to 180C and grease a large baking tray.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper into a large bowl. Add the cheese and mix through the flour mixture. 

Beat the egg and milk together in a separate bowl and add the oil. The oil replaces the butter/margarine that usually gets used to rub into the flour. By using the oil you cut down on the dreaded calories and it saves a lot of time. 

Pour the milk/egg/oil mixture into the flour mixture and using a metal spoon / fork, mix the dough until it clumps together, but is not too dry. If too dry, splash a bit more milk in to use up the flour. 

Press the dough out on a flat clean floured surface until it is about 5mm thick, then fold it over ontop of itself (this gives the finished scones the natural "break" to cut open), flatten it again, using the palm of your hand. Do not use a rolling pin as it is too heavy and will prevent the scones from rising. 

Cut out your scones out by using a round cutter (you decide on the size) or if you don't have a cutter handy use a drinking glass. Place them on a baking tray and brush them with a little milk, pop them in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.  Serve, still warm, with lashings of butter, cheese, jams and honey.

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Sweet Melissa Mondays, yet again.

Wow, this day late thing is turning into quite the habit! I would have posted these earlier but my Sunday was spent at my mums making Sunday lunch while my boy helped my step dad fix the garage door. But, we fixed, we ate, we made Eton Mess, we slept. And after all, isn't that what Sundays are all about?


So here they are, a day late but shh! I'll be on time next week, I promise. This weeks recipe was chosen by Robin of Lady Craddock's Bakery (I love the name of that blog, don't you?), how she remains as fantastically buff as she does after making all those delicious treats is beyond me. Robin, may I please have your secret, my butt is increasing steadily! Robin chose a treat very dear to my heart, scones, orange scented scones to be precise. Scones are the quintessential English treat and the perfect accompaniment to afternoon tea which, in my humble opinion, should be a part of your everyday daily ritual! Gather together the scones, clotted cream, jam, pair with a beautifully brewed cup of tea and a good book and there you have it, heaven!

I added chocolate chips as orange just doesn't seem right without a smidgen of chocolatey goodness. As per, don't forget to check out the SMS girls for more delightful scones.

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