scones

We are having friends round for a High Tea today and I will be making scones. It started me wondering where they originated.

Scones seem to have been first prepared in Scotland in the 16th century and the name seems to have its origin in the Dutch term “schoonbrot” which can be translated to mean a delicious bread , or in the word “skone”.  Other believe it might be from the Celt word Sgon, that means "a big moutfull" !

The original Scottish scone was round and flat, usually the size of a medium size plate. It was made with unleavened oats and baked on a griddle. Nowadays they sell special pans to make it in.

When baking powder became available to the masses, scones began to be the oven-baked, well-leavened items we know today. British scones are slightly sweet and often have currants in the mix..

Then there are so called 'drop scones' which are made from a thick better and literally dropped onto a hot griddle or frying pan. Delicious with bacon and syrup :~)

There also varieties of savory scones. My favorite recipe is cheese, onion and olive scones from Delia Smith

93 scone recipes !
and scone recepten in het Nederlands

In America they have something similar which they call 'biscuits' These are unsweetened and are used as bread. Because they are so easy o make they were a staple for the wagon trains and cowboys :~) They are often served with 'gravy' which looks disgusting but perhaps it tastes good ...

And a special note for Ian and Beth ....In Utah, the bread products locally called "scones" are similar to Indian Frybread and are made from a sweet yeast dough, with buttermilk and baking powder and/or soda added, and they are fried rather than baked. They are customarily served with butter and honey.