I have always considered myself quite a nice person. I like food of all shapes, flavours and colours. From every country and continent. I don’t discriminate, I am an equal opportunity eater. It’s only the doctors who say I’m intolerant. And certain foods who refuse to tolerate me. They certainly refuse to recognise and respect my right to eat them without major physical discomfort and distress.


Gluten and lactose are not my friends.


Despite the negative attitudes surrounding me from many of those I love best, (cakes, ice cream, hot toast) I decided to become a chef. Not always easy when you live in a bread and milk filled world. I like to think that this has helped me become a better person as I embrace my differences and refuse to let the gluten get me down. I believe InTolerance. I am the InTolerant Chef.

Food should not be about what you can’t eat, but what you can and what you enjoy eating. This blog is about my journey of cooking and eating and discovery. It’s not a definitive guide to allergy awareness nor do my intolerances make me an expert. Your body is your responsibility, not mine. I only know what works for me.


I can tell you this..... No glutens were harmed in the making of this website.

August 12, 2014

International Scone Week with Lady Flo's Queensland Pumpkin Scones




Did you know that it's International Scone Week?

A few years ago, wonderful Celia of the blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, and a few other bloggy buddies just happened to all post about scones at the same time and thus an annual event was born. To read more about it, and to see all of this year's participating blogs and recipes, check it out Here and of course, feel free to join in as well!


The last time I played along, I posted my  Lavender Lemonade Scones, so this time I thought I'd go with an iconic Australian recipe- Lady Flo's Pumpkin Scones

Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen and her husband Sir Joh, were very prominent and popular political figures in the 60's to the 90's in both the Queensland state and the federal arenas. Their family farm is not too far from my Mum and Dad's property and Mum got each of my sisters and I a signed copy of her books one Christmas
Even though she had such a successful and wonderful career, I still think one of Lady Flo's longest lasting legacies is her recipe for Pumpkin Scones.  Just like her recipe books- they aren't trendy, they aren't fancy, they're just good, solid basics done well

Mum with Lady Flo, back when perms were still fashionable :)



I much prefer to use a pumpkin like Queensland Blue or Jarrahdale for my scones and soups, I'm not as fond of Butternut


Before starting your scones, here's Lady Flo's own words to guide you:
'The one important piece of advice I always give to people attempting to make scones is that you must treat them with tender loving care. Don't knead them, instead press them lightly with your fingertips. This helps your scones to turn out nice and light.'

Lady Flo's Pumpkin Scones
(adjusted a little to suit my InTolerances)



1 tab Butter/lactose free spread
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
1 cup cooled mashed Pumpkin-I used a quarter of a smallish pumpkin
3 cups gluten free SR Flour

Scones need a quick, hot oven to rise well. Preheat the oven and tray to 225*C before starting

Steam or microwave the pumpkin without adding any extra water. Boiling makes it waaay too soggy and the aim is to have a nice dry, dense pumpkin puree. I always drain it over a sieve as it cools so any excess liquid can drain away



Mix the butter, sugar, salt and pumpkin together well



Add in the eggs and whisk together



Add in the flour and fold through



Turn the mix out onto a lightly floured board and bring it all together- Gluten free doughs are generally softer and stickier than regular doughs. Pat it into a rectangle an inch or so high



Cut into rounds with a floured scone cutter



Pop the little lovelies together onto a warmed tray, and bake for 20 minutes on the top shelf of the oven


Nice and browned


It's a fact of life that gluten free goodies can be sadly dry and crumbly. The best way to combat this is to of course eat the goodies on the day they are baked :) otherwise I try and keep the moisture in a little by allowing my scones and most cakes to steam as they cool down. Just throw a clean tea towel over the scones- unless of course you like a crispy crust



Cut the scones in half while still just warm and slather on some jam or honey. I love these pumpkin scones with Golden Syrup- yummo



These scones are lovely, light and fluffy. The pumpkin isn't too savoury at all, it's just there quietly in the background keeping the scones moist and allowing the mix to cut back on fat without sacrificing any flavour or texture at all. I also love adding a good handful of lactose free cheese to the dough with these for a slightly savoury spin


So Dear Readers, what's your favourite scone, and have you ever heard of Lady Flo?

 

27 comments:

  1. Cant believe it!!!! We have the same book and both autographed. Glad I was the inspiration for this post :p

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  2. Lady Flo came to visit a laboratory I was working in while I was at medical school in Brisbane. She is a lovely lady and her scones were delicious.

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    1. They certainly are Gary and she is certainly a real lady in every sense of the word :)

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  3. How lovely to have Lady Flo's book! I agree with you that I think the one thing she will be remembered fro more than anything else is her pumpkin scones. I love the look of your scones and I think Lady Flo would be very happy with them - they look lovely and light xx

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    1. Thanks Charlie, I was glad they translated well to gluten free. I hope she doesn't mind the recipe tweaking :) xox

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  4. I adore pumpkin scones but also like cheese scones as well. Actually as long as they are light and freshly baked any scone! :P

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    1. So right Lorraine, so perfect for morning or afternoon tea- especially with a big mug of Earl Grey! xox

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  5. Oh wow! I could eat the mixture, lol. So good-looking'!

    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

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    1. Thanks Julie, but they're much nicer hot with a big spoon of marmalade or honey :) x

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  6. Pumpkin scones and perms
    Both golden, light and fluffy
    So Australian! :D

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    Replies
    1. I love your haiku
      You are a cheeky bugger
      You know that, don't you!

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    2. Cooking and haiku
      All done with enormous style
      You are my hero! :)

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    3. I get that a lot
      But feel free to let me know
      How much you love me :P xox

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  7. Thanks for Flo's recipe, I've always wanted to give it a go.

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  8. Can't think of Lady Flo without thinking of pumpkin scones! Thanks for sharing the recipe I'm going to give these a whirl

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    Replies
    1. They are inseparable aren't they? Let me know how you enjoy the scones!

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  9. This looks great and I will have to try it sometime as I have a few intolerances as well.

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    1. I hope they work out for you as well as they did for me- let me know how you go!

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  10. G'day! These look terrific! Wish i could try one right now!
    Thanks for sharing as part of Celia's International Scone Week too!
    Cheers! Joanne

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    1. Scone week was certainly a good idea Joanne, and lots of delicious fun too!

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  11. Didn't know you were a Queenslander like me! Don't like scones, GF, gluten full, cheese, date or pumpkin. It all gets stuck in the back of my throat! But Qld in the '80s huh! Those were the halcyon days of corruption, gerrymanders and historic landmarks that had to come down, overnight!!

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    1. We lived all over the place Michelle, but mum and dad retired up on the Sunshine Coast a long time ago. It's certainly a lovely part of the world indeed!

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  12. I've heard of Lady Flo's pumpkin scones since I moved to Australia and still haven't tried them. I promise I will do that this year for sure. Especially since I'm a dinky di Queenslander now. :)

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    1. They're definitely part of the local food culture Maureen, and I think you should certainly classify as dinky di after all these years in Oz :)

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  13. I adore scones, all the types of scones too, I will travel hours for a freshly baked, straight outta the oven scones. Love that you guys kept the annual event going too. :) I havent tried Lady Flo's version, but it seems I better.

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