Food | Angela Tunner

Food:

For The Love Of Scones

All this talk about Alice in Wonderland and tea parties has focused attention on afternoon tea foods that include the scone. There is nothing quite as tempting as a little scone, slathered in butter, jam and devon cream. Scones are a traditional British quick bread consumed in England, Ireland, Scotland, North America and beyond. They originated from Scotland; there is actually a place in Scotland called Scone, once the crowing place of the King of Scots! The first reference to this new food was in Scotland in 1513 though there was likely something else like it, dating prior to recorded history. There are two pronunciations for Scone (one sounds like the ‘on’ in John and the other like ‘oan’ like in Joan) They are traditionally eaten with clotted cream and jam, however, there are many ways to enjoy them beyond the traditional. Increasingly popular at coffee houses, the one place they are a mainstay is with afternoon tea like the ones held at popular luxury hotels where as you can imagine, a large number of scones are made regularly. At the Empress Hotel Victoria BC, their scone maker makes a whopping 500,000 scones a year! Scones can be made simple or gourmet, whether a plain raisin scone or fig and anise, Roquefort and walnut, lavender and lemon, any way you make them, they are splendid! Great as a snack, or sliced open with ham and cheese, they can make a lovely little sandwich!

04-2010

	Video: Irish scones – 3-minute scones!
	Book:Simply Scones: Quick and Easy Recipes for More than 70 Delicious Scones and Spreads
	Sample Recipe: Cookstr Free Scones Recipe

Recipe Box: Tunner Boys Favorite Chocolate Cake

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Few people can resist chocolate cake and this luxurious recipe from my personal recipe box. Perfectly moist, just the right balance of flavors and an irresistible not-too-sweet icing. Dressed down for everyday or sprinkled with edible gold and decorated with edible flowers for a sophisticated presentation perfect for a brunch or tea party, this cake, ‘takes the cake’!

Ingredients

½ cup chocolate semi sweet chopped

1 cup butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup milk

4 eggs

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare 2 9-inch cake pans or one 9 x 13 inch pan lining it with parchment paper (will not stick and comes out beautifully!)

1. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a microwave safe dish or in a small saucepan on the stove. Take out of microwave or off the heat and set aside.

2. In a separate bowl whisk flour, soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cream of tartar, nutmeg. Set aside.

3. Add the eggs to the chocolate/butter mixture, mix with wooden spoon to combine well. Pour out into flour mixture bowl and combine well (or use stand mixer on low until all ingredients are well combined. While still beating, gradually add in the milk.

4. Pour and spread into pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until knife comes out clean. (bake longer if in 9 x 13 pan – approximately 10 more minutes)

5. Remove from oven, cool on baking rack. Lift cake out using the parchment paper ends. Let completely cool before icing.

Chocolate Icing

Ingredients

9 tablespoons cocoa

¼ cup margarine or butter, melted

2 cups icing sugar

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ cup hot water

1 teaspoon brewed coffee

Method

1. Add cocoa and icing sugar into a bowl. Whisk to combine. Add vanilla, butter, coffee and combine using wooden spoon

2. Add water slowly beating until desired consistency is achieved.

3. Spread onto cooled cake.

03-2010

Recipe Box: Romantic Meal for Two

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One of my favorite romantic meals is a Gourmet Dinner Salad, served in a large bowl and shared. Delicious, satisfying and romantic. It is a tried and true recipe in my recipe box and one that you can play with the ingredients so it is never the same salad twice! Go ahead, use my recipe as a base and have some fun combining ingredients and adding things like potatoes or even grilled vegetables. Enjoy with a lovely prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne for added romance!