Weekly Blog No 129 – Mary Berry’s Fruit Scones

Photo Credit Mary Berry

The other day I attempted to make fruit scones to have with jam and clotted cream. I chose Mary Berry’s recipe and added some photo’s of the different stages.

I also used mixed fruit instead of sultanas and used 100ml of milk and 50ml of cream. Thank you to P for the tip of using cream for a softer scone.

Ingredients

• 75g (2 1⁄2 oz) butter, chilled and cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing

• 350g (12oz) self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting

• 1 1⁄2 tsp baking powder

• 30g (1oz) caster sugar

• 75g (2 1⁄2oz) sultanas

• About 150ml (5fl oz) milk

• 2 large eggs, beaten

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C (fan 200°C/425°F/Gas 7). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

Put the flour and baking powder into a large chilled mixing bowl.

Add the cubes of butter, keeping all the ingredients as cold as possible.

Rub in lightly and quickly with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.

Add the sugar and sultanas. Pour 100ml (31⁄2fl oz) of the milk and all but 2 tablespoons of the beaten egg into the flour mixture.

Mix together with a round-bladed knife to a soft, but not too sticky dough, adding a bit more milk if needed to mop up any dry bits of mixture in the bottom of the bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, lightly knead just a few times only until gathered together, then gently roll and pat out to form a rectangle about 2cm (3⁄4in) deep.

Cut out as many rounds as possible from the first rolling with a 6cm (21⁄2in) cutter (a plain cutter is easier to use than a fluted one) and lay them on the baking sheet, spaced slightly apart.

Gather the trimmings, then roll and cut out again. Repeat until you have 10 scones.

Brush the tops of the scones with the reserved egg. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until risen and golden.

Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Cooks in 10mins.

Approximately 10 Servings.

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Weekly Blog No – 67 Memory v List

This week I attempted to make a list as my memory appears to be failing me, it has either being affected by cancer or its my current medication. My memory was as sharp as a tack and my brain was a magnet for words, numbers and photographic data. No one ever wants to accept that you’re losing your memory in any situation. It is quiet frustrating at times especially if it was a personal asset. 

Therefore to all you people losing their memory in one way or another, I do understand.    

They say there is 7 ways of improving your memory loss.

1. Stay mentally active
2. Socialise regularly
3. Get organised.
4. Sleep well
5. Eat a healthy diet
6. Include physical exercise in your daily routine
7. Manage a chronic disease

I’m sure I could improve on some above items.

I was reading the other day that a couple of symptoms for dementia is B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism. I know that I don’t have dementia but as I have two of the symptoms for the illness due to my cancer they certainly need to be managed to avoid another illness.  

This week I drafted a list of 24 items with 2 or 3 tasks on each line in order to complete the item. This is just an example

Tax Returns – Tel HMRC to change personal details, scan receipts and email accountant with information. 

Yes I’m sure for some people they are very satisfied when they complete an item but for me it was hell. Personally I thought it just emphasised how much I had to do in order to complete one task. I know what was priority and what wasn’t. If the items didn’t get done so what, there’s always another day. I did complete all the items in 2 days but was it job satisfaction, hell no. I think I found my strength and weakness. Strength is what memory I do have and weakness is I hate lists. Will I use them again, yes I will have to if I want to remember things. Maybe I need to explore how to utilise lists better. Are you a list maker?