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The Perfect Scone: Keys to Make Your Scone Just Right
Ah, there's nothing like a tender, steaming scone in the morning. (Pronounced "skawn" like "fawn" or "scone" like "tone" -Webster says either is okay.) They're quick, they're easy, and with a few tips, they are absolutely delectable. Scones are probably the easiest and quickest of breads. Once you get the ingredients assembled, most recipes only require fifteen minutes of prep time and another fifteen minutes or so of baking time. A mix is even quicker. But there are some keys to making those flakey, tender scones that you've been dreaming about. Key #1: Use the right flour. Use a soft, low protein flour-we use a quality pastry flour. You want soft, tender scones and too much protein leads to too much gluten which makes your scones chewy. Key #2: Keep your ingredients cold. Temperature is critical to buttery, flakey scones. Start with very cold butter-it should chip when you cut it into chunks and your liquids should be ice cold. Before you start, measure your milk or water and put it in the freezer for ten minutes. Consider chilling your mixing bowl before mixing. Why do your ingredients need to be cold? The objective is to keep the butter a solid and not let it melt into a liquid. If your dough is kept cold, it will have little bits of dispersed butter. In the heat of the oven, that butter melts into the dough but leaves pockets and layers in the scones. Work with the dough quickly to keep it cool. Key #3: Don't work your dough too much. Kneading converts the protein to gluten. Mix only until the ingredients come together into a combined mass. Key #4: Use a folding technique. For flakey, layered scones, use a folding technique. Roll the dough out to about 3/8-inch thick. Fold the dough in half and in half again and again. Roll the dough out to about 3/4-inch thick before cutting the scones. Key #5: Use a ruler. If you would like nice, neat scones, use a ruler both as a straightedge to cut against and to measure equally-sized scones. Key #6: Leave the cut edges of the scones alone. Patting the edges with your fingers melds the edges so that the scone will not rise as nicely or have a flakey, layered structure. Key #7: Don't over-bake your scones. Over-baking for even a minute or two will dry your scones out. As soon as the edges begin to turn brown, remove them from the oven. Immediately, place the scones on a wire rack-the hot pan will continue to dry the scones. More Tips 1. Scones can be frozen for up to three months. Reheat them at 300 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Probe the inside of the scone to make sure that it is warm. 2. You can bake your dough in a single flattened loaf. That's called a bannock. 3. Scones are best fresh out of the oven. Recipes with more butter keep fresh longer. 4. For the best shape, don't roll your dough thinner than 1/2-inch. 5. Scones will rise to double their unbaked height in the oven. If they are properly cut, they will spread very little so you can place them close together on the baking sheet. 6. You don't need to cut your scones to triangles. You can use a cookie cutter or free-hand other shapes. Heart-shaped scones for Mothers Day or Valentines Day are perfect. Dennis Weaver is the general manager at The Prepared Pantry (http://www.preparedpantry.com) with recipes, ideas, and the best selection of mixes and ingredients. Visit the free Bakers' Library for more articles like this, free baking guides, and tested recipes.
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news News Ltd buys Getprice NEWS Ltd is preparing itself for the online retailing explosion with the acquisition of comparison shopping site, Getprice.com.au. Alabama news links: Judge gives man 187 years in prison on child porn convictions News from around Alabama. News Near You for Sept. 6 This daily column features short news items from some of the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at news@times dispatch.com NEWS NEAR YOU PowhatanB-24 bomber pilot Neely Young will speak at the World War II Round ... News Briefs Good news for working mothers. Minister of Education, Gideon Saar, announced Monday his decision to extend tuition subsidies for children aged 3-4 in public nurseries. BREAKING NEWS - Child struck by car, car doesn't stop TUCSON - News 4 has confirmed that a child was hit by a vehicle in the area of Drexel and Mission. Officers on scene say the vehicle did not stop. They are actively searching for the driver. Northwest News: John Canzano blames lousy city leadership for baseball's demise in Portland; Say so long to the ... Northwest News is a daily roundup of what's making headlines in the Pacific Northwest. News by location Get local and national news updates via E-mail. LUMBERTON - The Robeson County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve a resolution Tuesday formally adopting a quarter-cent sales tax increase. News buys up shopping website NEWS Limited has signalled a push into the online retail space. News Snapshot: Exit 12B in South Burlington is back in the spotlight ? THE NEWS: The city of South Burlington and the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold a public meeting to discuss the latest developments on a proposed exit ? 12B ? from Interstate 89 onto Vermont 116 near Kennedy Drive. News by location Get local and national news updates via E-mail. Ten drivers have now clinched spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. HAMPTON, Ga. - Tony Stewart raced to his first victory of the year, pulling away from Carl Edwards off the final restart Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Site: news - Google News AP Top News at 7:45 pm EDT - The Associated Press
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for cooking tips Grilling Tips to Make Your Labor Day More Enjoyable Grilling tips can be useful, especially if you?re planning to use your grill for a Labor Day barbeque. Here are some tips to make your grilling experience a much more pleasant one. Outdoor grills and wind don?t really go well together Never leave an outdoor grill unattended, especially if kids and pets are around Always prepare for a fire by having a fire extinguisher or water available When ... Tips for landing a 'bridge' job Workers who haven't been in a long-term job search find it hard to understand why people can't just "get a 'B' job." Expert Shares Grilling Safety Tips For Labor Day Weekend The Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the biggest grilling holidays of the summer in U.S. Lifestyle expert Amy Tobin says a few simple safety tips can help ensure an enjoyable outdoor cooking experience for the entire family. Tips on how to stick to your budget Until you are wealthy enough not to have to look at the price tag, you need to have a budget. Let's review the process of making a budget. Ellen Kanner: Meatless Monday: The Vegan Kickstart The Kickstart, from the folks at Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, comes complete with meatless recipes, meal plans, an iPhone app, cooking demos and tips from experts. Family Trip: Mesa Verde National Park Enjoy some tips for a family Vacation in Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park. WATCH: Last-Minute Labor Day Cookout Recipes "High Flavor, Low Labor" author J.M. Hirsch's fast, easy meals to feed a crowd. Labor Day - Holidays - Home - Cooking - Work Vacation and travel tips on a budget Long weekends and holidays can be pricey, planning and organizing is a must when you have limited funds. Most people tend to plan a major vacation once a year. They save their pennies and ante up when the time comes. But not everyone has the luxury of taking off more than a day or two. Healthy meals in minutes program ?Healthy Meals in a Hurry,? will be held at 6 p.m., Sept. 9 at the Harrison County Welcome Center on U.S. Highway 30 between Missouri Valley and Logan. The meeting will coincide with the weekly Thursday Welcome Center Farmer?s Market. Tips on incorporating seasonal produce into easy, nutritious family meals will be included. Barb Fuller, ISU Extension Nutrition and Health Program Specialist ... 40 learn to bake nutritious 'kuih raya' A GROUP of 40 women had a rare opportunity to learn about baking a more nutritious kuih raya during a workshop-cum-talk organised by the Tebrau Community Development Department (Kemas). Site: cooking tips - Google News Food Safety Tips for the Budget-Conscious - New York Times
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