Scones

This month's Daring Bakers' challenge was to re-make or make-anew a recipe from one of the many previous challenges. I chose the scones from January 2012, never having made them for a Daring  challenge before.

A deceptively simple recipe, scones do not always readily come out as the light and fluffy versions that I remember my grandmothers and mother used to make. And each batch I've ever made seems to be a bit different.

Plain flour, baking powder, salt, cold butter and cold milk are mixed lightly together to meld into a dough. The least amount of mixing and handling with your hands, the better.

The dough is gently patted out flat so that the scone cutter can be used to make clean-edged scone shapes which helps them rise.

These are put onto a well greased baking sheet or parchment paper and cooked for 20 minutes or until golden.

hot out of the oven ...

The best part is breaking apart the warm, steaming scones and then covering the with lashings of cream and sweet strawberry jam - the simplest yet most elegant of accompaniments. 

And of course, a scone without a proper cup of tea is not a proper scone!

To be eaten smothered in jam and cream 

Henley Royal Regatta picnic

deck chairs ready for spectators, right on the river

Henley Royal Regatta. This 5-day rowing event has been held annually since 1839 and for those unaware of Henley, you might think it is just another rowing day on an expanse of river with home crews competing against each other, but it is not. This very special rowing event draws crews from around the world who look forward to meeting old international rivals, in a very traditional English setting, at the very traditional time of the English summer. It is rather like going to Wimbledon, and attracts not only the competitors and lovers of the sport but also people who come purely to take part in something very English. Dress code for the Stewards' Enclosure is strict - ladies must wear dresses/skirts below the knee (absolutely no trousers allowed) and men must wear suitable jacket and tie.

the last few metres of the 2-mile course.

scoring notification - how it has always been done

 

Henley is the only regatta which operates a two-lane knock out draw, racing in heats. Only two crews row at any one time as the width of the Thames is narrow here but what it lacks in width is made up for in length. The Thames is the longest river entirely in England with a total length of 215 miles (346 km). At Henley, it is the only natural 2-mile straight stretch of the river's entire course. The rowing course is actually 112 metres longer than the standard international course of 2000 metres, but that doesn't matter. HRR has its own rules, and is not governed by international standards, but is still recognised by both the British and International Rowing federations. There are 20 events covering 6 classes of race from single sculls to eights.

For rowers Henley is prestigious. For non-rowers, it's a great day out to pose in one's regatta finery.

A lot of women look like they're at Ascot, but I thought this woman looked beautiful.

But to food lovers, Henley is all about The Picnic.

After the morning racing, (and if you are not lunching here):

you can go back to your Rolls or classic vintage car where you have parked nearby in grassy car parks. There's plenty of room between the rows of cars to allow for owners to spread out picnic tables, umbrellas, chairs and in some cases, candelabras (!) and table settings to enjoy luncheon from 12.30pm - 2.00pm, at which time all races are suspended. Pimm's is the drink of the day and delicious food is always expected.


(notice the Veuve Clicquot)

So today with our Bollinger and Pimm's we had smoked salmon sandwiches, ham & grain mustard sandwiches, quiche, rocket salad, chipolatas, humus, breadsticks, vegetables and to finish strawberries, cream. For afternoon tea we had fruit cake with a cup of tea.

To me, Henley is all about the picnic.