Royal Recipe: Scones

I recently bought a book called Dinner at Buckingham Palace. It's a collection of anecdotes, rarely seen photographs, authentic recipes and menus from the royal household. This book is based on the diaries of Charles Oliver, a servant who lived and worked for most of his life within the palace. It was a hobby of his to collect royal menus and recipes. This book, published after his death, is a compilation of these recipes. Starting with a brief history of royal cooking it goes from Breakfast (eggs) to Tea, Soup, Savories, Fish, Meat, Poultry, Vegetables, Desserts and Wine. Also included are menus for every month of the year. Even if you don't cook any of these recipes, it can still be enjoyed as a fascinating insight into a rarely seen part of the royal household.

I thought it would be interesting, from time to time, to feature some of the more straightforward recipes. So, here's the first one: Scones.

Ingredients

8 oz flour
2 oz margarine
2 oz sugar
2 oz currants
1 egg for mixing
small amount of milk (optional)
1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
egg to glaze

Make a soft dough by mixing the ingredients, including the egg (and a little milk if necessary). Place on a lightly floured board and gently roll or pat out the dough to a thickness of about 3/4-1 inch. Using a small plain cutter, cut out the scones and put them in a greased tin, making sure they are well spaced out. Brush them over with a smear of beaten egg and bake in a hot oven (450 degrees F) for about 10 minutes.

Source: Dinner at Buckingham Palace, page 24.

© Marilyn Braun 2008

Related Article

Royal Gastronomy

Does Kate Middleton know what she's getting herself into?

Don't get me wrong, I, along with other royal bloggers, news sources, souvenir makers, poet laureates, wedding dress designers, and rabid royal watchers, would love to see an engagement between Kate Middleton and Prince William.

But I have to wonder, after 5 years of dating William, of slowly making public appearances at official events, whether she has any idea of what she's getting herself into. Sure, we can glamorize marrying into the royal family, never having to worry about money, the golden page in the history books, designers falling at your feet, the priceless jewels, vast estates, travelling the world...

But for every perk comes a price: the complete loss of freedom, being watched 24/7 for the rest of her life, the tedious engagements which will eventually mean more to everyone else but her. The awful biographies and straight-to-video movies. Media outlets which will knock Kate from her pedestal as soon as she says "I do". Not to mention the pressure to stay thin, beautiful and fashionable as every inch is scrutinized. She'll be criticized for doing nothing more that breathing. And like the reality of having a child, Kate won't know any of this until it happens.

It won't be easy. If she's lucky, William will be nothing like his father. She'll have Prince William's love. There will be times Kate will doubt herself, but she'll always have the suport of Hello! and Majesty magazine. If Kate's smart she won't listen to any of it.

But she will be adored. She'll be in a position to make a difference. She'll bring the proverbial breath of fresh air like those royal brides who have come before her. Kate will be loved for who people think she is or who they want her to be. She'll be the ultimate cover girl and we won't be able to get enough of her. Hopefully William can live with that.

Can Kate?

© Marilyn Braun 2008

The Royal Report for Sunday June 15th, 2008: Royal News - Fact or Fiction?