Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me Sleepless Over Scones
Thu, January26th of 2006
8:55 pm
man in the middle
A few nights ago as I was trying to fall asleep, I was overcome with this craving to make scones. Regular readers of this website know how driven I am by my cravings, and these late-night cravings are the worst: incessant little drumbeats in my head and a chant that can only be described as “Bake! Bake! Bake!” Then my stomach starts to growl, and it becomes, in a word, mad. Obviously, I didn’t get much sleep that night.
Scones are related to pancakes, soda bread, and biscuits. They’re fairly small, plain cakes made with butter, flour, and sugar, and leavened with baking powder. Eggs and milk are added to make a firmer dough. Scones can be sweet – such as with chocolate — or savory — with shredded cheese and herbs. Served at high tea with jam and clotted cream, it’s a most romantic pairing. In Manila, I’ve tried the scones at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and at Bizu, but neither are as good as homemade.
Most scones I’ve seen are round, but I like to make mine in great big “who’s your momma!” wedges. These are chocolate chip oatmeal scones made with cream. They baked up and tasted like chocolate chip cookies in bread form (if you can imagine that).
prop me up, buddy
One last thing. Depending on where you are in the world, the word ‘scone’ is pronounced differently. Originally a Scottish word, people there yonder and in England pronounce it as “skawn”, while elsewhere, it’s pronounced ‘skoan.’ I say shut up and have a scone (skoan).
More Posts About Scones:
My #1 Scones
The Biscuit That Thinks It’s A Cake
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are scones supoosed to be dry and starchy? the one is coffee bean tastes just that way, not my cup of tea
[Reply]
Comment by fabian — January 26, 2006 @ 9:24 am
Hey, I just recently encountered your blog and I must say, the pictures are absolutely gorgeous. Bravo!
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Comment by Lena Silverwood — January 26, 2006 @ 10:05 am
I love the whole high-tea practice. Something I think we should take on in the Philippines.
Hmmm mid-day entertaining ideas coming to mind now …
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Comment by wysgal — January 26, 2006 @ 10:27 am
Coffee bean’s scones are too dry for me. I like them airy, but with some oomph, preferably hot and fresh and oozing with melted butter or a dollop of cream and strawberry preserves….
Lori, do you have a recipe for biscuits (like the ones at Popeye’s)? Another good with melted butter kind of bread.
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Comment by Mila Tan — January 26, 2006 @ 10:52 am
Pls pls post your recipe. I love scones!! the last time I made them it didn’t look as big as yours. Choco chip is my fave too.
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Comment by chocnut — January 26, 2006 @ 11:00 am
*drool*
God dammit, I LOVE SCONES! I haven’t been successful in making them (I tried…once) but eating them? Sure.
I have to say, I’ve never had such a craving where I had to bake, haha.
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Comment by Robyn — January 26, 2006 @ 11:06 am
fabian, scones are not supposed to be dry at all. I’ve never had a good one here in manila though. In fact that’s my question: anyone know of a place in this town that has real british-style scones?
It’s like the Italian bread known as ciabatta– every local bakery has its version but NONE of them are even remotely close to the real thing. What a drag.
Best scones are the plain ones with, as mila tan says, butter or clotted cream and strawberry preserves. mmm
And then there are crumpets. whew. I love crumpets…
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Comment by gonzo — January 26, 2006 @ 11:58 am
High Tea is one of the best things to come out of England, I absolutely love it. And scones are the best part! Your’s look great, especially with those melty chocolate chips. Please do post the recipe, I’m always looking for new scones to try. It’s like an obsession.
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Comment by Natalia — January 26, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
Based on how those scones look, I say listen to your cravings whenever you get them! We are the beneficiaries of it. They look delicious and I can only imagine how they would taste slathered in butter!
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Comment by Ivonne — January 26, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
They look fabulously delicious; no wonder you got up in the middle of the night to bake them!!!…
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Comment by Rosa's Yummy Yums — January 26, 2006 @ 5:17 pm
Hi Lori! These look gorgeous, I love scones myself (even if people wonder why they are drier that most quick breads) and think La Brea bakery’s ginger scones are the best EVER. But I love ginger so
When are we meeting up!?
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Comment by mel — January 28, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
wow! great dessert blog! im so happy i stumbled upon your blog.
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Comment by graveyaaaarrd_zombie — January 29, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
YUUUM!!! Those scones look darn food!
I have that very same cravings that just drive me nuts! When I have a “strong inclination” for cheesecake or chocolate, or CHEESECAKE, I can’t function well until I have it. It’s a very determined nagging…and I say when I need it, I HAVE TO HAVE IT!
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Comment by Abster — January 30, 2006 @ 5:49 pm
Er, not all Brits pronounce it as skawn … just mostly the ones from the North. I’ve never seen scones so large before but it looked incredibly scrumptious! I can’t believe I’ve not found your blog before. The food porn! Brilliant!
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Comment by MM — February 4, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
Hi, mind if you can share the recipe? The one I’ve found doesn’t have cream in it, haven’t tried it…yet. Thanks!
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Comment by Crissy — February 5, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
Hi lori,
could you kindly post the recipe for us?….. please…
thanks a lot!
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Comment by dwakie — September 24, 2006 @ 9:34 am
i sooo love scones.. do you know where in manila can i get cornish clotted cream? coz im gonna bring home lots of authentic English scones when i get back to the Phils
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Comment by kaye — November 9, 2006 @ 5:59 am
Jessie
Nice!
Trackback by Jessie — August 31, 2007 @ 11:46 pm