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?
Cant believe it!!!! We have the same book and both autographed. Glad I was the inspiration for this post :p
ReplyDeleteWell we both obviously have great taste Simcha :) xox
DeleteLady 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.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are Gary and she is certainly a real lady in every sense of the word :)
DeleteHow 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
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlie, I was glad they translated well to gluten free. I hope she doesn't mind the recipe tweaking :) xox
DeleteI adore pumpkin scones but also like cheese scones as well. Actually as long as they are light and freshly baked any scone! :P
ReplyDeleteSo right Lorraine, so perfect for morning or afternoon tea- especially with a big mug of Earl Grey! xox
DeleteOh wow! I could eat the mixture, lol. So good-looking'!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Gourmet Getaways
Thanks Julie, but they're much nicer hot with a big spoon of marmalade or honey :) x
DeletePumpkin scones and perms
ReplyDeleteBoth golden, light and fluffy
So Australian! :D
I love your haiku
DeleteYou are a cheeky bugger
You know that, don't you!
Cooking and haiku
DeleteAll done with enormous style
You are my hero! :)
I get that a lot
DeleteBut feel free to let me know
How much you love me :P xox
Thanks for Flo's recipe, I've always wanted to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it- let me know how you get on!
DeleteCan't think of Lady Flo without thinking of pumpkin scones! Thanks for sharing the recipe I'm going to give these a whirl
ReplyDeleteThey are inseparable aren't they? Let me know how you enjoy the scones!
DeleteThis looks great and I will have to try it sometime as I have a few intolerances as well.
ReplyDeleteI hope they work out for you as well as they did for me- let me know how you go!
DeleteG'day! These look terrific! Wish i could try one right now!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing as part of Celia's International Scone Week too!
Cheers! Joanne
Scone week was certainly a good idea Joanne, and lots of delicious fun too!
DeleteDidn'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!!
ReplyDeleteWe 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!
DeleteI'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. :)
ReplyDeleteThey'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 :)
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDelete