Food

The secret to making light, airy scones

Lilly Higgins: Milk kefir made with creamy Irish organic milk is nutritious and a great alternative to buttermilk in scones

These scones are the perfect little portable breakfast or snack, and ideal for lunch boxes

Lilly Higgins's face
Lilly Higgins
Mon Sep 4 2023 - 05:00

Lately I’ve been making fresh batches of milk kefir daily. It’s a probiotic-rich fermented milk made by feeding kefir grains with fresh milk. The higher the fat content in the milk the creamier the kefir, so it’s worth seeking out Irish organic milk.

It has been great to see more and more farms opening shops of their own on the farm property in recent years, inviting the public in to buy produce directly. It’s a step up from roadside honesty boxes, and a great way to see what’s grown and made in your local area.

I recently visited Rostellan Farm in east Cork after a day at the beach. We happened upon a sign for the farm while stopped at roadworks, and happily followed the signs up the laneway. We discovered a beautiful farm shop complete with a milk vending machine and a well-stocked shop and cafe. Such a treat.

The gently pasteurised milk isn’t homogenised, so it makes incredibly creamy kefir. I also ordered organic Irish Jersey milk with my weekly Dunnes shop, only to realise once I read the label that it too comes from east Cork, and the beautiful Jersey cows on Dan and Ann Aherne’s farm. It’s wonderful to see farmers being named on such great produce.

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So, with great milk at hand, I’ve been making lots of kefir. It’s a brilliant alternative to buttermilk for making scones. You do lose its probiotic goodness once heated, but it’s still very nutritious and more digestible. I love spelt for light, airy scones but regular flour will do. I’ve added garden herbs here for a savoury lunchtime scone, ideal sandwiched together with some tomato relish and cheese. Make these your own by adding a few tablespoons of seeds instead of the herbs, or opt for a sweet version with sultanas or cherries and flaked almonds. They are the perfect little portable breakfast or snack, and ideal for lunch boxes.

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Recipe: Garden herb scones

Lilly’s kitchen tips:

  1. Dip your scone cutter in flour and then use it to cut each scone. This will ensure a nice, clean cut and won’t drag and catch the dough.
  2. Use a high-sided heavy based tin to bake the scones. The high sides will trap steam and ensure a lofty scone, whilst the heavy base will ensure a golden bottom.
  3. If you don’t have buttermilk, mix a little lemon juice or yoghurt with milk and leave to sit on the kitchen counter for half an hour.
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