Saturday, March 8, 2008

Here pig!


A friend of mine used to work in a supermarket bakery. She told me the part of the job that she hated most was putting out samples. Instead of saying over the store intercom, "Attention shoppers, we have samples of our delicious fudge cake back in the bakery. Come try some," she wanted to shout "Soooeeeeeeee, pig, pig!" like a hog farmer putting slop in the trough so all the little piggies would come running.

This thought made me laugh until one day I realized I am one of those little piggies. Unless I'm really hungry, I can pass by the sample tables with no problem, but there is one that's my downfall. At Whole Foods they have amazing little lemon poppyseed scones and the first thing I do when I get there is to see if they have any samples out. If they do I snag one for myself. And two for the kids with me, who then complain that they didn't get theirs. So I send them back to get their own. "And pick up one for me, while you're there," I sing out after them. Oh, oinkie me.

The last time I went to Whole Foods, they had no samples out. None! Perhaps security spotted me getting out of my car in the parking lot and they radioed ahead so the bakery staff could whisk all the samples out of sight. Whatever the reason, I was out of luck in the lemon poppyseed scone department. Denied! A reasonable person, at that point, would probably just purchase a package of the treats to take home. I am not that person. Instead I went home sans scones and did an internet search for lemon poppyseed scones. I found one on Epicurious, I made it, and cured the craving. Ha ha, take that Whole Foods!

The scones, as made per the recipe turned out really big, like Starbucks size scones. I prefer mine dainty, so I'll give you the recipe as I'm going to make it next time. If you want gigantor scones, just divide the whole ball of dough into eight pieces.


Sooeeee Scones
adapted from Epicurious

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp poppy seeds
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 tsp kosher salt
10 Tbsp chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup whole milk

1- Preheat oven to 375 deg. F. Position rack in the upper third of the oven.

2- Mix flour, 1 cup sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt in food processor.

3 - Add butter and ccut in, using short pulses, until mixture resembles coarse meal.

4- Whisk egg and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Add this to the flour mixture in the food processor.

5- Process, using short pulses, until moist clumps form.

6 - Add 1/3 cup milk. Use short pulses, just until dough comes together, adding more milk if dough seems dry.

7 - Scrape dough out onto a floured surface. Divide dough into 3 equal parts.

8 - Shape each 1/3 into a ball, then flatten it into a round, about 2 to 3 inches across.

9 - Cut each round into 8 wedges. Transfer wedges to a large baking sheet; brush with milk. Sprinkle the tops with remaining Tbsp sugar. If they seem crowded, use 2 baking sheets, position them in the upper and lower third of the oven, and rotate them top to bottom halfway through cooking. The scones will spread out while baking.

7 - Bake until scones are light golden brown and a tester inserted into center comes out clean. The cook time for 8 large scones is about 25 minutes, so start checking after 15 minutes for little scones.

8 - Transfer scones to a cooling rack.

9 - These can be made a day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Variation: Instead of sprinkling with sugar, try a drizzle of lemon glaze on top.




And now, a little bit of back business. A while ago, the lovely Aimee of Under The Highchair awarded me an E is for Excellence award.


Thanks, Aimee! I can hardly believe that people come here to read my ramblings and I'm blushing to receive this award. I'd like to pass it along to several bloggers who consistently impress me with the quality of their blogs.

Deborah of Taste and Tell, who always dishes up something delicious
Gigi of GigiCakes, who makes delighful and charming things to eat
VeggieGirl for her boundless enthusiasm for all things vegan
The Recipe Girl for her delicious recipes and great outlook
and
LyB of And Then I Do the Dishes, who has had amazing photos and mouthwatering recipes from the start

I enjoy you all so much and am proud to pass on this award to you. Also, be sure to go to Under The Highchair and check out the amazingly beautiful project Aimee's been working on!

28 comments:

  1. Ooh, I love scones and I love lemon. I will have to try this recipe. They look great!

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  2. I have never had a lemon poppyseed scones, but since it's one of my favorite combos I may be having scones this weekend!

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  3. Ah, samples. Nothing quite like the Costco lunch.

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  4. I am also one of those who would take the samples without buying, and then try to recreate it at home. :)

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  5. You are too kind! Thank you so much!

    The only place I ever go that has the samples is Costco (no Whole Foods here) and they are usually crowded with people and children, so I try to avoid them. Plus, I'm known to overpurchase after eating the samples!

    These scones sound perfect. I love anything with lemon and poppyseed!

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  6. Lynn, I was laughing my head off at the name of your recipe and then you got me all choked up with that award! Thanks so much, you really are one of my favorite bloggers! And lemon poppyseed is one of my favorite combinations, at University I had a lemon poppyseed muffin every morning, I can't wait to try those Sooeeee Scones!

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  7. You're so funny!

    And thank you for the E Excellent award- that was very sweet :)

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  8. It would be the joke of the year....hearing the intercom of a hughe store shouting : Here, piggie , piggie......
    I would certainly wet my pants that moment !
    Aren't we all piggies ?

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  9. Those look good for tea time!
    You make me laugh!

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  10. Lynn, NO ONE deserves this award more than you do - you truly epitomize what it means to be an excellent blogger!!! And wow, thank you for considering me to be an excellent blogger as well!! You're too sweet :0)

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  11. I like my scones dainty too. First time I made them for hubby he looked robbed that they weren't commercial sized! .... These sound yummy.

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  12. I love lemon poppyseed scones. I'll bookmark this one to try.
    Thanks for entering my contest. I put your name in the hat! Good luck!!!

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  13. I love lemon poppyseed scones. I'll bookmark this one to try.
    Thanks for entering my contest. I put your name in the hat! Good luck!!!

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  14. Thanks for the mention, Lynn. After 9 months in the making we think our little project is pretty amazing, too! :)
    These scones look superb and since I am such a breakfast lover I will be trying them soon!

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  15. I do love samples! And I always loved the lemon scones from Starbucks...do these taste like them too? I make lemon poppyseed muffins every time we travel, but maybe I will try these next time for a change!

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  16. I love the addition of the poppy seeds...good call:D

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  17. Too funny. I have two Whole Foods in my town and yes, I have taken samples from both on the same day! I can't wait to try your Whole Foods inspired scones.

    P.S. Thank you for the lovely award!

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  18. Ooo I've never had/heard of lemon poppyseed scones. The muffins I love, so now I'll have to try the scones! They look delicious.

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  19. That is perfect: story and scones!
    The name is fantastic.
    Goodness I hope I'm in the store when you friend decides to do it!

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  20. I love your story--and I love lemon scones--I will be trying this recipe! Thanks

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  21. There you go, mentioning two of my biggest fears in one post! Making scones and being caught up in a piggie stampede! Reminds me of the annual "household convention" which every Dutch housewife needs to attend at least once in her life, only to return or be scared away for ever. Companies lay out and present their new products in huge halls. Freebies! And we're Dutch! Sooooooeeeee!!!
    Shudder!

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  22. dear lynn
    very well written and described your Sooeeee Scones ! Simply loved the post.

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  23. I think this little piggy did very well with those scones. If they don't have them for you, then make them.

    I have always been the shy one that is afraid to take the samples.

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  24. That's a fun story and name for those scones!

    My family goes to Whole Foods for a family outing! We can spend over 4 hours there (Longer if we eat lunch!) Since I don't live where there is a Whole Foods my parents insist on taking me everytime I visit. And I LOVE the samples!!

    These scones look very very yummy! :)

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  25. Love the post!!!

    Lemon glaze would be great on these. We'll be trying these over sping break.

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  26. I'm definitely one of those little piggies!

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  27. LOL...I can only imagine the reactions if your friend had actually summoned the piggies :) Fabulous scone recipe...I must make those and serve them with lemon curd.

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