Perfect Irish Scones and Tea Recipe

How to make it

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• Sift flour, baking powder, salt into large bowl. Try and lift and aerate the flour as much as possible. Use a pastry blender or two knives to work the butter into the dry mixture. It should resemble very fine breadcrumbs when done.
• Whisk the milk and egg together. Add about two thirds of it to the dry mixture. Add more as needed to make a light and just barely sticky dough. Don't overmix or they will be tough.
• At this point you can do it the long way and roll them out on a floured surface and cut into circles, re-rolling the dough to make more as needed. OR (yes, I know you shouldn't begin a sentence with or!) you can just use your hands to form balls and then flatten them into discs like I do. I usually get about ten. Brush the tops with milk and throw into a 180C/350F oven for about half an hour. You could also sprinkle some additional sugar on top if you wish before baking. They will be golden brown and slightly crunchy on the outside when ready. Serve immediately with lots of butter, and if so inclined, jam. We like Bon Maman raspberry! Now onto that perfect cup of tea...
• How to make a proper cup of tea
• My poor Yanky husband has gotten such a hard time from my family about his tea making skills, or rather lack thereof. My parents would come over and decline a cup of tea if he offered because they knew he couldn't do it right! I am also convinced the reason most Americans don't drink tea, is because they make it wrong and as a result it tastes like crap. And for the record tea is not, nor should ever be grey in colour!!! My Irish readers are probably wondering why I even have to explain this, it's such a part of life!
• First of all the tea, I like Barry's Gold or Bewleys or Lyons. In America there is a lovely tea available (which I did scoff at at first) called Ashby's Afternoon Tea. You are not making Earl Grey or anything herbal. You are looking for regular English Breakfast tea.
• You will need a tea-pot and if you have any of those ridiculous strings on your teabags tear them off! You will also need a kettle, from this point forward you will never microwave water! Tea is not properly made unless the water is boiling.
• 1. Boil kettle
• 2. Swish some boiling water around kettle to warm it
• 3. Discard water and add 2-3 teabags
• 4. Fill tea-pot with boiling water
• 5. Allow to draw until desired strength is reached.
• 6. Remove teabags and discard.
• 7. Pour tea
• 8. Add milk (real milk, nothing powdered or called coffemate!!!)
• 9. Add sugar, if desired.
• There you have it... simple right? Note the lack of lemons too! Now don't let me offend my American friends, because when it comes to coffee, you need to come over here and educate us... someone needs to tell the Irish that real coffee is not instant... but I don't care, because I hate the stuff! :-)