Monday, November 3, 2008

Back with Blueberry Scones!

First of all, I just want to say it feels really good to be doing something productive again! I also want to thank each and every one of you sweet girls who have been so supportive with your emails, comments and positive energy for me in what's been a difficult time. Without getting into too much detail, suffice it to say that I've been dealing with major health issues for a very long time and things were getting to be too much to handle in the past few months. My mind was just not able to function and somehow even blogging didn't seem like a release! I'm still going through a lot of procedures, tests, etc., but will definitely be blogging when time and energy permit.

So many of your comments touched me and goodness knows I've missed you all dearly! I love the unique connection that blogging allows all of us. To think that so many lovely women whom I've never had the pleasure of meeting are so encouraging and truly care about my well being has touched me in ways that I never imagined. You gals are the best!

Tired of my self-purging? Ok, ok, ok. Thanks for bearing with me! I'm getting to the recipe now. With the weather here getting colder and this awesome scone recipe in my drafts, I figured I'd give one last throwback to summer before kissing it goodbye (sigh).

I absolutely adore blueberries! I always have since childhood. So, all summer, I tend to be on the lookout for more recipes to use these gorgeous berries. This summer, I wandered onto the King Arthur Flour recipe website and found a recipe for blueberry scones that sounded awesome! (The link is here.)



These scones are almost more along the lines of drop biscuits. They're pretty easy in the sense that you just scoop the resulting dough out using a measuring cup or ice cream scoop. There's no requirement for kneading or shaping. So, you can bet I made these more than once!

They just melt in your mouth and the juicy, sweet blueberries provide a pop of flavor that is just amazing! Talk about a symphony of flavors!! Enough buildup, you say? Well, let's get to the recipe! I pretty much followed the recipe on the website, except to substitute 1/2 whole wheat flour for 1/2 of the all purpose flour.

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 large eggs, beaten

1/4 cup plain, lowfat yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons coarse sugar, for sprinkling on top

Recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the butter and work it into the dry ingredients using your fingers until the butter crumbles so that some of it is like coarse crumbs and others are like peas. Mix the blueberries into this dry mix. Be careful that you don't break the blueberries while tossing!

3. Stir together the wet ingredients (eggs, yogurt, vanilla extract, and lemon zest) in another bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir very gently, just until combined. The dough will be pretty moist at this point. Don't worry! It's supposed to be moister than biscuit dough! :)

4. Use a muffin scoop or 1/4-cup measure to scoop and drop the dough onto the prepared sheet, leaving about 2" between the scones. Brush each ball of dough with a bit of milk or cream, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

5. Bake the scones at 375 F for 20 to 24 minutes, or until lightly browned and a cake tester inserted into a scone comes out dry. Remove from the oven, remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with butter or jam and enjoy with tea!

Makes 12 scones.


Note: These scones reheat well, too! That is, if you have any leftovers... Just pop them in a 350 F degree preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes loosely wrapped in foil! :)

P.S. Best of luck to all those running the recipe marathon!

41 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds too delicious..Hope you get well soon! My prayers are with u!

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear you have been having troubles. Get well soon.

Scones are one of my favorite baked treats. Blueberries are an ideal addition.

Srivalli said...

Its good to have you back kalai..and those scones are great to look!

Cham said...

Wish you a Good health Dear. Sometimes blogging can just lift up our moral ...
The scones re just looking delicious Kalai :)

indosungod said...

Kalai, those scones with blueberries look delicious.

Take Care and Hugs.

Uma said...

Take care Kalai! The scones look so mouth-watering!

Sig said...

Here is wishing you good health and happiness always Kalai! It is really good to see you back in the blogging scene...

Kalai said...

Divya, thanks for the kind wishes, dear! :)

LF, welcome! Thank you for your sweet words. Yeah, the blueberries made them rock! :)

Valli, it's good to be back! Thanks, dear! :)

Cham, I completely agree about lifting morale. Thanks for your wishes. It feels great to have your support! :)

Kalai said...

Indo, thanks so much, dear! I sure needed a hug! :)

Uma, thank u! :)

Sig, thank you, dear girl. It's great to be back. I've missed you, too! :)

kamala said...

WIshing you good health..Take care..Scones are perfect Kalai

Unknown said...

good to see you back and taht tooo with a lovely post..scones look delicious..
Take care of your health..and looking forward for more from you...

amna said...

we get only dried blueberries in Singapore and they cost an arm and a leg :(

Priya Suresh said...

Scrumptious scones Kalai...fabulous they r..

Finla said...

Welcome back and hope all your trouble are gone .
I too love bluberries, i can just eat them like that, love the scones too

Sia said...

Kalai, take good care of urself and blog only when u feel like not because of others. sending u all the good wishes and warm hugs :)
and those scones are my fav too:)

PJH said...

Kalai, I'm so glad you liked the blueberry scones. I hope they brightened your day as you continue on the long road to health. Remember, one foot in front of the other; incremental progress, each day. I'm sending you good karma - I, too, travel this long and challenging "back to health" road. Cheers- PJ Hamel, King Arthur Flour baker/blogger

AnuSriram said...

Like these beautiful and delicious blueberry scones... Get well soon dear! Keep smiling!! No worries!

Mansi said...

hey Kalai! glad to have you back, and those scones look absolutely adorable! and who can refuse blueberries??!:)

I hope you can find some time to make something for my Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes event!:)

Laavanya said...

I'm sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well Kalai. My prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take good care.

Your scones look delightful. I have a pack of frozen berries that were intended for muffins but I might give these scones a shot.. will let you know if I do.

Raks said...

Very cool recipe:) Keep going:)

Raks said...

I have an award for you,Pls Accept:)

Daily Meals said...

Delicious scones...

Usha said...

Hope you get well soon Kalai...these scones look wonderful...

AnuSriram said...

I have something for u in my blog..

Mandira said...

these look delicious kalai! Feel better soon.

Manju said...

hope you are feeling better these days...our prayers are there with you!!mouthwatering scones!!

Sagari said...

scones looks very good kalai

Shah cooks said...

Sorry to hear you have been having health issues.. take care. and good to see u blogging.

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow iam drooling over. Looks awesome and tempting.

Medhaa said...

yumm yumm these look just delicious. and as you said easy too

Madhavi said...

Delicious scones kalai, welcome back dear :))

Suganya said...

Hi...
Love scones a lot. Looks so good. Love the color of blueberry on the scones. YUM! Nice recipe. Will try it soon.

Sujatha said...

Sorry to hear about your health issues, Kalai... Best wishes for a a quick recovery.. Blueberry scones look perfect and moist!

Bharathy said...

Nice to see you blogging back,Girl! :)...that too a REAL CLASSIC recipe with berries!..
Nice to see you trying them, Kalai :)

Even I am not very motivated these days to blog due to other personal stuffs...

No words to Thank You for taking an extra step, placing those lovely words in Kiran's blog :)

Tighhht hugs, Sweetie :)

Adlak's tiny world said...

First time here, lovely blog. sorry to know that u have been in health prob. My prayers to u for yr good health and cheers.

scones are so tepting and all yr dishes are inviting and awesome dear. Get well soon.awating for yr new post soon.

Cynthia said...

Kalai, thanks so much for visiting. Glad to hear that things are much better at your end.

I love scones and your fresh blue berry scones makes me wish I could have some for breakfast right this minute.

Kitchen Chronicles said...

The scones are looking great and tempting

Red Chillies said...

Big hug to you Kalai. I hope that all the health issues are resolved and that your mind is off of those tense feelings. Good luck girl!

The scones look delicous.

Archy said...

Wishing u good health Kalai.. Scones looks crispy and nice !! Take care !!

Madhu's cooking gallery said...

First time to your site and Wow!! you have cool recipes here..all yummy ones..you sure do have lot of baked varieties.. love the apple cake..scones!! too good!

My prayers for u to get better soon..take good care.

Gayathri said...

i missed visiting your blog, just i found it today, great collection of recipes.

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