High Tea in TA Fifty-Three

For the British premiere of the third season of Downton Abbey, we hosted a tea party complete with homemade scones and fancy jams in Amy's apartment. We attempted 3 types of scones: plain, blueberry, and pumpkin. The recipe for the plain/blueberry scones was a bit of a failure (everything ended up tasting fine, but it was all a bit wonky as the Brits would say). The recipe for Anne's pumpkin scones is below, and until we sort out the kinks with the others you'll just have to satisfy yourself with these tasty pictures.

Can we please just take a moment to appreciate Maggie Smith as Lady Grantham?

(image courtesy http://twicsy.com/i/bLYRrc)

Fancy Teas, courtesy of Anne's amazing sister

Classy saucers and cake platters

 It's authentic guys.

 

Pumpkin Scones:

[Recipe Adapted from http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/PumpkinScones.htm]

You will need:

2 1/4 c flour
1/4 c firmly-packed light brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (with no additional spices)
1/3 cup milk
1 egg 

1/3 to 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. With a pastry blender, two knives, or my favorite method, your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until you get a crumb-like consistency; stir in raisins (optional)

In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, 1/3 cup milk, and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. stir just until mixed. (I know it's tempting, but don't over mix the batter or you will get tough scones!)

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet (be careful not to pat down the edges, they should be rough so they form nice layers). Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. 

~*~Serve with fancy teas and swoon over Matthew Crawley as you watch Downton Abbey~*~

Makes about 10 scones

(image courtesy http://twicsy.com/i/bLYRrc)