Strawberry and orange zest scones

3 months ago 08th Aug 15:54

Strawberry and orange zest scones are a perfect modern twist on a classic British recipe. Made using freshly-picked British strawberries and tangy orange zest, they’ll go down a treat with some creamy Country Life butter spread on top.

For those outdoor dinners, serve up tender chicken and spring vegetable parcels with hot lemon and herb butter. The vegetables are all in season so will be bursting with flavour, and as it’s made using Country Life Lighter Spreadable, it’s a perfect lower-fat option while still tasting delicious.

Or why not feed all the family with something appetising and nutritious like salmon with a crispy cheese and herb crust. This tasty and simple dish is complemented perfectly by fresh British tomatoes and new potatoes, and Country Life will create a lovely, crumbly texture to the crust.

Made with the fresh creamy milk of British dairy farms, Country Life is the only major butter brand to carry the Red Tractor seal of approval; a symbol of quality British produce. The Red Tractor provides assurance that the butter has been produced in the UK to the highest standards from farm right through to your fridge.

Country Life is widely available in supermarkets. Its variants include Country Life block butter in Standard and Unsalted, and Spreadable in Standard, Lighter and Lightly Salted. For more tantalising recipes and information on Country Life, visit www.enjoycountrylife.co.uk.

These tasty scones contain pieces of fresh strawberry, enjoy with butter and served warm for an afternoon treat.

Makes: approx 10
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes

Ingredients
300g (12oz) self- raising flour
5ml (1tsp) baking powder
75g (3oz) Country Life block butter, cut into small squares
50g (2oz) caster sugar
Finely grated zest 1 orange
75g (3oz) fresh British strawberries, chopped into small pieces
50g (2oz) sultanas
150ml (¼pt) milk
milk for brushing

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, 400ºF, gas mark 6. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl then rub in the butter, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the sugar, orange zest, strawberries and sultanas and mix well. Gently stir in the milk with a rounded knife until the mixture is soft dough and comes together in a ball.
3. Gently knead on a lightly floured surface to remove any cracks. Roll out to 2cm (¾") thickness, then using a 6cm (2½") pastry cutter, cut into rounds.
4. Place on a baking tray, spacing them a little apart, brush the tops with milk and cook for 10-12 minutes, until risen and golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack.
5. Delicious served warm or cold, spread with Country Life butter, Country life Spreadable or Lighter Spreadable.
Cook’s tip- handle the dough as little as possible or it will become tough. Dip the cutter in a little flour to stop the dough sticking. Any remaining scones can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days or frozen for up to a month - just reheat in the oven.