Later this month, on the 19th May we are all going to be glued to the television screens watching the making of a Fairy Tale come true as we watch Miss Meghan Markle walk down the aisle to her waiting Prince, Prince Harry. What little girl does't dream about one day marrying a Prince? I am so pleased that today, in thse modern times, this can be a reality, and that our Princes are now allowed to marry for love rather than obligation and duty. Hooray! With that in mind, I have written a little tongue-in-cheek bit here this morning as the residents of Downton Abbey receive the news of the impending nuptials . . . and yes, there will be scones . . . every fairy tale deserves a happy ending.
Hello? 36410, Downton Abbey, Earle of Grantham speaking. (psst . . . Cora, where the hell is Carson? I shouldn't be answering the phone. Ugh.) What's that you say? Oh golly gosh!
Everyone, heads up! Great news! Dust off the silver Carson and check the wine cellar!!!
There's going to be a Royal Wedding! And soooooon!! More sooner than soon!!
Oh goodie, goodie!!! I do so love a Royal Wedding! Such an occasion! Oh joy, oh joy! Break out the family jewels! Prancing here. Prancing here. I'm a pony, I'm a pony!!
Ummm . . . . but, will there be scones? Please tell me there won't be scones. I am no good at scones. No good at all. They make me all flustered, you hear . . . all flustered. Mine always come out flat.
That's because you don't pay attention Daisy! You never do. Straight up and down. You cut them straight up and down, and you use a light hand. There will be no heavy handedness when we are talking about scones. Not in MY kitchen! Pull yourself together girl!
Who cares about scones. Will there be dogs? Bracing young courtiers to flutter my eyelashes at??? A whiff of scandalous secrets I can, ahem . . . use to my own advantage??? Cheap black market goods to flog????
I simply must double Cora's oh goodies. I do so love an occasion, and I hear she is a commoner, and an American at that! What a cause for celebration!!!! I just love it when the underdog rises to the top! Hooo - ray! Pip pip and all that!
Oh dear me, a Commoner you say? And an American? I suppose that next you will be telling me that she is also divorced. This just isn't done. What is the world coming to . . . this just isn't done. How will they live down the scandal. Dear . . . dear . . . tut . . . tut . . .
Hmmmm . . . . I'm not sure you really want to be doing all of that tut-tutting Violet . . . me-thinks you are forgetting the regrettable Mr. Panook . . . ahem . . .
Oh yes . . . giggle, giggle . . . the dear Mr. Panook, lets not forget Mr. Pamook . . . Pamouk . . . PAMOUCK!!!!!
Edith . . . do you really want me to start rattling some skeletons in closets here. Do you? Do you?
Ummm . . . no. Will there be scones?
What??? Scones???? Skeletons in closets you say? Like when our Miss Sybil married the chauffeur????
I was wondering when that was going to come up . . . . lets just let sleeping dogs lie . . . lay . . . lye . . . oh forget it!!
Again with the dog . . . I know nothing about a missing dog . . . honest . . . does this look like a face that would
Thomas . . . don't do anything I wouldn't do . . . when in doubt deny everything . . . some things are just best left unsaid. Follow my lead . . .
But . . . um . . . . really . . . all I wanted to know is . . . will there be scones???
Forget the scones!!! Will there be new dresses involved??? Jewels!! Parties??? Dancing perhaps???? Clubbing??? Fun! Fun! Fun!
Just let me check with my friends . . . one minute . . . one minute . . .
Consensus is yes! There WILL be dancing . . . there is nothing like dancing and new dresses and parties. I do love a good party. PAR TAY!
Scandle . . . dogs . . . Pamouk . . . dancing . . . scones. Par . . . tay!!! If they are lucky there won't be any soup.
Ladies . . . pull yourselves together. You must remember who you are. You are the daughters and servants of an Earle . . .
Quite . . .
Am I too late???
Indoubitably . . . somewhat . . .ahem . . .
What about the scones????
There will be scones Carson . . . big fluffy soft scones, preferably filled with something lovely, what do they call it . . . . that fruity stuff . . . and the white stuff that goes with it.
Jam and clotted cream . . . yummy . . . scones and jam and clotted cream.
Yummy indeed . . .
There WILL be scones . . .
Oh goody . . . scones . . .
Keep calm and blame Daisy . . . .
Oh, I do so love a Happy Ending. Don't you?
I also love a good scone and these scones are very befitting of a Royal Wedding Teatime Celebration!
They are delightfully light and flaky, with just the right amount of dried cranberrys and a hint of orange zest.
The best way to cut up the cranberries for these is to put them in a plastic cup and snip them with the kitchen scissors, not to fine, you want some chunks.
I think Meghan would like this, and Harry too . . . in between the Kale shakes. (I know she is a health food nut and these are definitely not health food!)
In any case they went down well here today with some berry jam and clotted cream . . .
I even dug out my best cloth and crystal . . . they were totally worth it.
*Orange, Cranberry & Cream Scones*Makes 9Printable Recipe
Tender and flaky. Deliciously so.
280g plain flour (2 cups)1 TBS baking powder3 TBS sugar1/2 tsp salt80g dried cranberries, chopped coarselythe finely grated zest of 1 orange70g unsalted cold butter, cut into bits (5 TBS)240ml cold double cream (1 cup, whipping cream)(you may need more cream)
Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 7. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Set aside.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Drop in the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir in the sugar, cranberries and orange zest. Make a well in the center and pour in the cream. Stir in with a fork until you have a soft dough that comes together, adding more cream if necessary. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead gently two or 3 times Press out to a disc which is about 1 1/2 inches thick. Stamp out into rounds with a 3 inch fluted cutter, using a straight up and down motion without twisting the cutter, trying to cut as many out of the first cut as you can. (Subsequent cuts will not be as tender when baked.) Bring the scraps together and pat out again, cutting more until you have used all the dough.
Place well spaced apart on the baking sheet. Bake in the heated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Scoop onto a wire rack to cool.
Note - You can add an optional glaze if you wish. Just wisk together 65g (1/2 cup) sifted icing sugar with enough milk to make a thin drizzle and flick it over top.
I hope you didn't mind my little bit of fun here this morning. I am a huge Downton Abbey fan (have watched it in rerun several times now) and I am a huge Royalist. I really could not be more pleased about the impending nuptials. I wish them all the luck in the world! They are a stunning couple. Their children are going to be beautiful. Happy Sunday!
