VALENTINE SCONES

I love to bake and I know that many of you do too.  I baked these nice flaky scones which have raspberry jam inside of them and there is a chair for you too!  I hope you have a few moments to enjoy a cup of tea and a scone.

You know, it worked out well yesterday that we had a "snow day". It snowed all night Sunday and lightly on Monday.   I made homemade soup and bread and there was plenty of time to bake scones - the same ones I had made last Friday I baked again for my hubby and I.....and half to give the neighbors.  Scones need to be consumed while they are fresh.

I have a Valentine Tea Set from 4-5 years ago called "Lucy's Love" which I'm using here. I'm not generally drawn to contemporary type tea sets but I thought this one was great fun and bone china is really nice. (I have 6 plates and 6 cups and saucers)  I've been leaving the little table by the window in our living room so I set up our tea there. 

This recipe will make about 20 medium scones or 14 larger ones.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and grease 2 baking sheets with butter.

You will need 4 cups of sifted flour, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 

1 Tb baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2/3 cup of butter, 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk, 6 Tb jam or preserves and red sugar crystals if desired to sprinkle on top.

In  large bowl combine the flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.  With a pastry cutter, blend in the butter or cut it in with 2 knives until the mix is coarse and crumbly.

Add the buttermilk to the dry mix and stir into a soft dough.

Turn the dough out into a lightly floured surface and knead 5-6 times.  Roll it out to a 1/2" thickness and cut with a Valentine Heart Cookie Cutter.  Use a 2" cutter for smaller scones (more) and a 3" cutter for larger scones (less).  You will be putting a teaspoon of jam on top of one and then another dough heart on top of that.  You will take a fork and press the edges down all the way around to seal the scone layers together.  Sprinkle red sugar crystals on top.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-18 minutes