When did you last sit down with your friends update all the latest news without any haste? Thankfully it’s Valentine’s Day – a good reason to invite friends over. And luckily there is brunch – the perfect combination on breakfast and lunch, which allows you to set the table with almost anything. Indeed it is a good way to gather people together with no pressure: each one can bring something and the end result will most definitely resemble the friends sitting around the table!
This year Valentine’s Day happens to come on a Tuesday, which gives the perfect excuse to celebrate either the weekend before or after – or even both! The relaxed spirit of brunch means that the dishes should be easily prepared. That is why omelets, cheeses, jams, breads and fruit are always excellent choices. But if you want to surprise your friends with warm, soft scones, they are prepared in a moment and they can fill in for fresh bread. Offer the scones with cheese and jam fresh from the oven and enjoy them and the company!
Scones for friends:
~7 dl flour
100 g cold butter
4 tsp baking powder
½ dl sugar
1½ dl cream
1½ dl milk
1dl raisins (or dried cranberries)
1 egg for brushing on top
Cut the cold butter into cubes. Pinch the flour and sugar together with the cold butter using either cold hands or a food processor. The dough should stay a bit crumbly, so don’t mix the batter too much if using a machine. Add in the baking powder and mix. Add the cold cream and milk, mix quickly and lightly into a dense dough. Finally add raisins or dried cranberries.
Pour the dough onto a tray or baking paper with some flour on it and gently press the dough down with only a few touches. Use a rolling pin or hands to make a 1-2 cm sheet of the dough and use a glass to make circles on it. Warm the oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Lift the circles onto baking paper and let stand while the oven gets warm. Gently brush the scones with egg and bake for 10 minutes until they rise and become golden brown.
Enjoy the scones - and the company of your friends!