Scones are one of the most delicious breakfast food in the UK. Actually, not just breakfast, its an anytime snack as well, quick to make, quicker to eat and hardly ever has any left overs.
Delicious, buttery, and airy, these little goodies of flavor make your kitchen smell like heaven, so even before you eat them and fall in love, the smell enchants you and keeps you entertained and impatient to try what ever the oven stores…wow sounds really romantic. I guess food brings the best out of me 😉
With maternal family in UK, I have seen my aunts and a cousin make them pretty often, and my mom was in love with them. As much as I wanted to learn how to make them, I was always the age where they felt either I would hurt myself or would mess something up, so kitchen was not the place for me, so this recipe is not from my maternal home, but something I found in some of my old notes taken during my college days.
Honestly I had no idea that scones had such a large variety, this happens to be the basic ones and the reason I tried them was to see if my boys liked them and they actually loved and I am determined on making more variety in the future. But, for now, serve these flaky and scrumptious goodies with some fruit, jelly and whipped butter.
Many scone recipes call for an egg, and that usually means a large batch of scones. Plus, it makes the dough kinda gooey. So I experimented with a batch, omitting the egg and increasing the amount of milk till I get the consistency required. And it worked! Taste wise, they are just as good too..
Christmas always bring so much happiness. I just love this part of the year, which spreads wonderful positive feelings around, everyone is so busy shopping for their loved ones or people like me love their favorite brands going on sale. its just a great festive time.
I still like believing in Santa and as a season tradition, my kids always get a picture with him every year. The decorations around, the special cakes in Bake shop, the special food being served in restaurants that’s mentioned as holiday special make the season even more fancier.
My Christian friends in India always made something called “Plum Cake” and that was also a Christmas special in Bakeries in India. I usually make that at home, since it isn’t an American Holiday special, but considering an american special, and something that my kids like, I baked a Chocolate walnut cake for the holidays.
I have put some generous amount of chocolate sauce on it, since cakes with nuts are better when decently moist and since this cake has no icing. A little sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar give it a more holiday special look, which is completely optional and a little border of red and green m&m’s add to the season color.
Its always an instant hit, loved by people of all ages and just so delicious that honestly, you don’t need a reason to bake it, you just do.
There was a popular supermarket near our apartment. Mr. Parveez and I would buy our regular grocery from that supermarket. During the winter season, a baker in their bakery made carrot cake, with walnuts/ without walnuts, sometimes with raisins. Every winter, also known as “holiday season” in USA, we would look forward to the carrot cake. We even served it to our guests, took it for friends.
And one day the baker left the store. We only found during winter when the carrot cake was being sold but something changed. On trying to figure out, we questioned the Manager and found that the baker was from another country and has left for good. Even the manager agreed that the though he left the cake recipe, it just didn’t come out the same. Eventually, the store stopped keeping carrot cake.
But, we looked everywhere with our taste buds craving the same flavor. 10 years of search and over 100 stores and supermarkets, different towns, different bakeries but it was just not the same. One day I came across a recipe for Thanksgiving carrot pudding and reading that I felt, it wouldn’t be that tough trying it out. I also realized with times that there was some spice that was missing in the normal carrot cake. That spice was nutmeg. Isn’t it funny, that a pinch of a spice can change the complete taste.
I first tried the basic cake without frosting and once I perfected the basic cake, I tried the frosting and both together make a super excellent Carrot Walnut Cake. Its exactly like the cake we liked, probably a little better. This will bring you loads of praises on your parties and get together.
