Saturday, January 11, 2014

Are you watching?

There has been much talk recently about the return to PBS of "Downton Abbey."  Have you been watching this program?  We had not until last Sunday evening.  The Husband really enjoyed the program that came on beforehand about Highclere Castle, then we did watch the first hour of the show.

Even the last issue of Tea Time has jumped on board!  Check out this cover!

Of course, it would be for tea!

The pages inside are filled with tempting recipes, and there is even a guide for the kinds of tea to serve for the different courses!

Teas for the courses.

Said to be Prince William's favorite and served as the Groom's Cake at his wedding to Kate!

Isn't this delectable?

Of course, this occasion called for a celebration of sorts of our own.

A very nice treat for tea!


On the serving plate are McVities Digestives and my version of Currant Scones, the recipe found in the current issue of Tea Time magazine.  Lemon Curd and Marmalade accompany as well as Lady Grey tea.

CURRANT SCONES
1/3 cup dried currants (I could find none of these where I was shopping, so I used a mixed berry blend).
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup plus 4 Tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream, divided (I found I needed to add more).
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. (I used Silpat on my pan).
- Place currants in a small bowl, and cover with very hot water.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  Drain well, discarding liquid.  Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, whisking well.  Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add currants, stirring to incorporate.  Set aside.
- In a liquid measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons cream and vanilla extract, stirring to blend.  Add to flour mixture, stirring to combine.  Working gently, bring mixture together with hands until a dough forms. (If dough seems dry, add more cream, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until dough is uniformly moist.)
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead 4 to 5 times.  Using a rolling pin, roll dough to a 3/4-inch thickness.  Using a 1 3/4-inch scalloped-edge cutter, cut shapes from dough, rerolling scraps as necessary.  Place scones 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.  Brush tops of scones with remaining 1 Tablespoon cream.
- Bake until edges of scones are golden and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 16 minutes.  Yield:  16 scones

I lacked the suggested cutter, so I used a scalloped pastry wheel to cut wedges from the dough.

If the prospect of the above treats isn't enough to whet your interest, perhaps this view of the setting will do it.

Highclere Castle in the background.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Saturday!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.



18 comments:

  1. Oh, my, those scones look most delectable!! Thank you for the recipe, and I'll be sharing it for my Facebook friends, as many of them are fans of this show as well as enjoying a spot of tea now and then. Have a marvelous, rainy Saturday! :-)

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  2. Those scones sound wonderful. We love Downton Abbey- even MyHero likes it (surprising to me). I always look forward to Sunday night and can't wait to see what happens. I love all the backdrops and watching the class distinctions that take place. xo Diana

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  4. Downton Abbey seems to have all the buzz these days, Nellie. Would you believe I have never seen it, not even once. Maybe one evening I will give it a try.

    Love those pictures from Tea Time. Did they mention in the magazine that January is National Hot Tea Month, lol...

    I hope you don't have to be a fan to nibble on any of those scones, they sure sound good!

    Thank you so much for sharing, Nellie...Happy Saturday!

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  5. I haven't watched Downton Abbey, but am starting next week seasons 1-3 to catch up to my daughter. I picked up the magazine too... Just love it!

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  6. The scones sound delicious Nellie.

    I love Downton Abbey! I also watched the castle show before the last episode and enjoyed it too.

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  7. OH how lovely! I started with Downton Abbey and just as I did, things happened here in the family and that demotivated me from watching even the news never ind anything else. I will try again I think. Things seem much better.

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  8. OH how lovely! I started with Downton Abbey and just as I did, things happened here in the family and that demotivated me from watching even the news never ind anything else. I will try again I think. Things seem much better.

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  9. OH how lovely! I started with Downton Abbey and just as I did, things happened here in the family and that demotivated me from watching even the news never ind anything else. I will try again I think. Things seem much better.

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  10. I have never watched that program either, but you can bet I'm going to now. I love all things British anyway. I need to find out what night it is on.

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  11. I've never watch Downton Abby but I just had tea with a nice slice of Raisin Coffee cake with strudel topping. Yumm yum good.
    That book looks interesting as does the tea time mag.

    Hugs,
    JB

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  12. I'm addicted to Downton. I just discovered it last year but watched all 3 seasons from iTunes downloads to catch up. You should watch it for the beginning, it's incredible

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  13. I've heard so much about it, but have never seen a single episode.

    Changing the subject, it's a beautiful day here, finally. The sun is shining and it's 71 degrees! Yay!!! Hope you are getting a bit of a reprieve, too!

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  14. Oh yes, I've been watching right from the start and like it a lot. Oh too bad my subscription to the magazine hasn't started yet!!!

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  15. You know I did think about drinking tea and having goodies to eat when Downton came on Sunday night.
    I will have to think about it. I haven't seen that magazine but it looks wonderful.

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  16. Sunday night has become sacred now that Downtown is back on again. Chris and I love it. It would be so much fun to have a special tea party with you.

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  17. Yumm..those scones sound wonderful! I've never made them before. Looks like a great recipe! I wish I had watched Downton Abbey..Sounds like an amazing show!

    Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

    Blessings,
    Gert

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  18. Hi Nellie- The Husband and I both enjoy Downton Abbey and have watched it from it's start . . . but then again, we watch every Masterpiece Classics or Masterpiece Murder Mysteries they air and have been doing so since we were in our early twenties with wee ones. We love the BBC! We are complete Anglophiles and long to move to the English countryside! Maybe someday . . .

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