The Perfect Pride & Prejudice Scones

I have to admit it, I am a massive fan of Jane Austen and in particular, Pride & Prejudice. Everyone says the best adaptation on screen is Colin Firth in the BBC series, but I personally prefer the Joe Wright version. I am a but biased as he is one of my favourite Directors, but the cinematography, the acting, costume, everything about that film is wonderful!

As embarrassed as I am to say this, I went through a Jane Austen/Georgian Period phase were I would read her novels, went to Bath just to visit the Austen museum and became obsessed with cream tea and scones. Now I think I may be obsessed again as Director Jerusha Hess' 'Austenland' is coming out soon...eeek! Keri Russell and JJ Feild look amazing in it. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the trailer.

Scones are really simple to make, seriously! I thought they would take forever but they cook in 10 minutes and you probably have the ingredients in your cupboard to make some this afternoon. Sure they might not look prim and proper and just off the M&S shelf but they taste soooo good!

Prep time: 10 minutes     Cooking time: 10-12 minutes

Ingredients 

• 350g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 85g butter, cut in cubes
• 3 tbsp caster sugar
• 175ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 beaten egg
• Tiptree Strawberry with Champagne Jam
• Rodda's Cornish clotted cream

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 220C /Fan 200C. Pour the flour into a bowl and add the salt and the baking powder and mix with a spoon. 
2. Add the cubed butter and rub in with your fingers. The mixture should feel and look crumbly.
3. Once the mixture looks like fine crumbs, stir in the caster sugar
4. Pour your milk into a microwavable bowl or jug and heat till warm. The milk should not be hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice to the milk.
5. Make a hole in the bottom of your flour mixture and add the milk. With a knife, mix the mixture about so the milk is absorbed. Pour some flour on a work board for the next part.
6. Put the dough onto the board and work the mixture in your hands. Work it into the flour and fold the dough so it feels and looks smooth.
7. Pat the dough into a round about 4cm deep.
8. Grab a circle cutter and dip it into flour ( I used a skinny mug that was roughly 5cm wide )
9. Put the cutter into the mixture and twist to get a nice round shape. Cut the remaining circles out and re-work the dough to use the remainder of it up.
10. Place on a baking tray and glaze the top of the scones with the beaten egg.
11. Add to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the top is golden.
12. Eat whilst warm or cool and watch Pride and Prejudice! A way to Mr Darcy' heart is through scones you know!

Notes

• First you must add the jam and then add the clotted cream on top. I used Tiptree's Strawberry with Champagne Jam and Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream. Yum diddy yum!