KQ: Day One - Humble Persistence

Day One: Strawberries & Cream English Scones and Mocha Java Dark Chocolate Scones

It’s that time! 6 a.m. and I’m in the kitchen with three of my favorite ladies! Well… not exactly… Since we’re practicing safe social distancing, we video chatted and baked together! I’m so happy to be able to spend this quality time with my family even in a time like this. We sipped coffee and danced around our kitchens like a well choreographed ballet.

My sisters, Billie & Ahnna and our Mother, Mary joined me on this morning’s adventure. This is a new activity for us to do together as a way to bring us closer than the pandemic allows us at this time. That being said, I truly hope we continue to do this together even after the quarantine. Honestly, it’s for selfish reasons. To see their beautiful faces and hear their words of encouragement and catch up on everything that’s going on our lives helps make me not feel so alone and isolated right now. These wonderful women are a big part of my support system and seeing how they have all taken on the current events and kept pushing through gives me the encouragement I need to keep my head up and keep moving. It’s easy to lose yourself in Netflix and a pile of comfy blankets. The key is to surround yourself with people that will pull you up out of the plush abyss and motivate you to keep yourself moving.

Now time to stop the mushy-gushy stuff…. LET’S BAKE!!

Strawberries & Cream English Scones

Scone Ingredients

2 1/2 cups – all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon – salt
2 teaspoons – baking powder
1/2 teaspoon – baking soda
1/3 cup – granulated sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) – unsalted butter **COLD BUT NOT FROZEN** diced into cubes
1 large egg
1/2 cup – milk (whole or 2%)
3 tablespoons – heavy cream
1 1/4 cups fresh strawberries cut into quarters, or diced – your preference.

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400*F and prepare the baking sheet. I used foil today because I recently ran out of parchment. If you use foil, mist the surface with a little cooking spray (just as a preventative to sticking).

Step 2: In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Step 3: Add butter to the flour mix and use your fingers to blend the butter into the mix. The mixture should look like crumbled damp sand.

Step 4: Whisk wet ingredients in a separate bowl and then combine to the flour/butter mixture, mixing with your hands just enough to incorporate it.

Step 5: Carefully fold the strawberries into the mixture. They might break up in the mix and that’s ok.

Step 6: Pour mixture out on a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until dough is cohesive.

Step 7: Shape into a circle and cut triangles like a pizza. I use a bench scraper (also known as a dough cutter) to get a sharp mess-free cut.

Step 8: Arrange scones on sheet pan about 2 inches apart, egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Step 9: Place in oven on middle rack. Bake for 13-15 mins or until edges are browned.

While those are baking let’s make the glaze!

Glaze Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese – cut into cubes
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey

Glaze Instructions:

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in mixer, food processor or large mixing bowl and use a hand mixer; Blend until smooth.

Step 2: You can apply the glaze however you want. Some people like just a little, some like a lot. I use a pastry bag to drizzle it on.

However you do it; enjoy!