Firecracker scones

I had quite an expensive education. It involved Latin and wearing a blazer. I’m afraid I’ve never had a cross to bear with regards to school. I don’t have stories of being miserable. Not especially. I was bullied a little in the early years but no more than the next kid. I was reasonably popular. I was reasonably good at my studies. There were enough stupid rules for my teenage angst ridden self to rage against. (I still don’t understand why we had to ask a teacher for permission to remove our blazer. Discipline gone mad).

Lately though, I feel angry. Increasingly, on a daily basis, I find myself feeling let down by how little my education was ‘future proof’. I am not so old to have not studied IT at school and yet all I remember is using ‘paint’ to draw pictures. We were taught, as was traditional, to remember vast swathes of information rather than work stuff out. So here I am at 35, sitting at my kitchen table most nights, head in hands, as I navigate new platforms and editing software. And it makes me mad as a box of frogs that I can remember some Latin verbs at the drop of a hat, yet excel baffles me. Anyway, onto the recipe.

Scott Choucino, who has never studied Latin as far as I know, took this photo. His work is here.

Lots of great recipes like this in my books, Recipes from a Normal Mum, (available on Amazon, at The Works, Waterstones, WHSmith, The Book Depository and many smaller outlets) and The Power of Frozen (available exclusively in Iceland stores and through their website) which is just £2.99 at the mo! And no, the recipes are not just about frozen food. Every recipe has instructions of how to make with chilled ingredients too.

Last December: Two minute marinade for chicken and Melted snowman biscuits and Egg nog truffles and Chocolate biscuit Christmas pudding and Drunken Amaretto mince pies and Cheese concertina loaf and Hot chocolate on a stick and Sausage, sage and squash lasagne and Chocolate hazelnut granola and Orange and cranberry loaf and Chocolate ganache tart.

Two years ago: My slow cooker beef bourguignon pie and Crumble topped mince pies and a very ugly but delicious cranberry & raspberry traybake

Three years ago: Mini Yorkshire pudding canapes and Christmas pudding fizz and Brandy butter icing and Rudolf morsels

Four years ago: Lime meringue pie with chocolate pastry and Christmas scones and Ginger cake with Christmas cottage and Hot chocolate on a stick

Five years ago: Moonuts and Cheese biscuits and Parsnip soup and Inauthentic chicken tagine

Firecracker scones

Makes 12 mini scones/5 – 6 large ones

Ingredients:

• 300g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• 15g baking powder
• 90g very cold salted butter, cut into 1cm cubes
• 100g grated cheddar
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped
• 145ml very cold whole or semi-skimmed milk, plus extra for brushing

Mix the flour and baking powder together until well distributed. Use your fingertips to rub in the butter. Stir through the cheese and chilli with a blunt knife, then add the milk, stir and use your hands to pull it together by squeezing. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Cover a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Flour the work surface, roll the dough to about a 3cm-thickness then use a scone cutter dipped in flour to cut straight down, without twisting or turning it. Place the scones on the baking sheet, a scones width apart.

Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk or egg wash, making sure that none of it runs down the sides as it will stop a good rise. Bake immediately for 10–15 minutes until golden brown and well risen.

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