Scones, Skivers and Hospitality

Several years ago, I was having tea with friends at an adorable little tea cottage. We could choose our tea from an extensive list, but our food was a set menu. Two pots of fragrant steaming tea were served with dainty sandwiches and succulent fruit. Anticipating the next round of food, my enthusiasm waned when our server set before us, what she called buttermilk scones.

I thought to myself, “That is a biscuit with sugar on it, I could do that.” The very next day, my scone recipe was born. I will share it here today, but I want you to know that it is not the ingredients or recipe that make my scones good. It is the joy I receive in using the gift of creativity as a means to share the gift of hospitality that comes from a deep place in my heart. 

As we approach the holiday season, we often get caught up in shopping and gift giving, admittedly, two of my favorite things. It may look different to every person, gift or giver, and however exciting it is to find the perfect gift for a friend or family member, a gift of the heart always wins.

Keri’s Scones

 2 cups flour                                ¼ tsp cream of tartar

¼ cup sugar (or so)                    ½ cup butter

4 tsp baking powder                  1 egg

½ tsp salt                                      ⅔ cup buttermilk or cream 

*Cut butter into the dry ingredients (I started using a Kitchen Aid for this, and it works great!)

*Mix in wet ingredients

Fold in the ingredients of your choice:

*Add flour as needed when you are kneading

*Make into a ball and flatten and cut in 8 triangles or two balls and cut into 16 triangles

(I usually freeze them at this point, then take them out and use them as needed) 

* Heat oven to 350° (My oven is a bit hot so I bake at 325°)

* Put on parchment to bake

*    Coat with milk, egg, vanilla, almond extract, or OJ concentrate and sprinkle with raw sugar or something yummy

*Bake for 20-25 min depending on your oven. 

Serve with your favorite jam, curd, or cream.

Keri’s Mock Devonshire Cream:

Whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream with 1 Tbs soft cream cheese, 1 Tbs of almond extract, and powdered sugar to taste.

You may want to experiment a little to make your scones a gift from your heart…

I Peter 4:9-10   Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Next week… What is a skiver and what does it have to do with hospitality? 

What is your favorite scone flavor?

My name is Keri Willis. I am a semi-retired educator. I spent a great deal of my career working with adults with developmental disabilities and many years in elementary education, in the classroom and as an administrator. My main ministry now is coordinating the women’s ministry for our church in San Diego, CA. I have been married thirty-four years and have two grown and married children. I now have a head of full grey hair and good ideas.
I believe we are created to use our gifts and to be creative. That comes in many forms for me. I love to woodwork and use power tools, design, decorate, garden, and create new recipes. And I love to write. One major lesson I have learned in my writing journey is that I need to be still and listen to hear God’s voice before I am prepared to put into words the message he has instilled in my heart. This has been much easier since I am no longer working full time, but it is so easy to get distracted and not listen, which almost always ends with an empty page in the form of writer’s block.
While I have written many articles for newsletters and local newspapers, I did not consider myself a writer until I self-published my first book, Teapots and Power Tools. https://www.amazon.com/Teapot…/dp/1466458763/ref=sr_1_3…
The idea emerged as I was working on a project in my garage. I had worship music playing, power tools out and saw dust flying. I glanced up and saw my delicate teapot sitting on my router table. The message was clear. Sometimes we are using the power tools God gives us and sometimes he just wants us to be still and have tea with him. The book became the foundation for a women’s retreat, and then my amazing niece helped me work through publishing it on Create Space (now KDP).
At least five other projects are in different stages of production. I joined hope*writers to help motivate me and keep me focused and accountable. I am still trying to figure out the whole website and blog thing. That is my next goal for myself; that and finish writing at least one of my projects!
Teapots and Power Tools: Effectively using the tools God has equipped you with, while taking time to “Be Still and Know That He is God”
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