U-Pick

Saturday morning I woke early and left my guys at home in bed. I was off to pick blueberries. I usually go east to a place on lake Santa fe, but it is farther drive and the cell phone coverage is patchy. I was on call, so I couldn’t be off the grid. Instead, I drove west to Maid Marion’s blueberry farm, which is about 5 miles north of Newberry. The stand of blueberry bushes were not as neatly trimmed and they were closely planted. They had several varieties, but I prefer the smaller berries. It has been a drier season, so the berries overall seemed smaller. There were some pretty humongous fire ant beds, making some shrubs unpickable. This was my booty for $9.

 I spread the berries on a large baking sheet and freeze them and then measure them into 2 cup quantities. My seal-o-meal vacuum packs them and I have 8 packages of berries for later use. The remaining berries I made into blueberry scones. This is the recipe:

Blueberry scones 350F 25 minutes

• 3 c flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick butter, at room temperature
• zest from one orange (can substitute lemon zest)
• 3/4 c buttermilk
• 1/2 pint blueberries
• 2 tsp heavy cream
• crystal sugar or sugar in the raw

Sift dry ingredients. Add stick of butter and mix until crumbly. Add zest and buttermilk. Add blueberries. Line a 9×9 in pan with parchment, allowing the paper to extend past the edges of the pan. Press dough into pan. If too sticky, lay another piece of parchment on the top and flatten out. Freeze for 2 hours. Remove the parchment from the top surface and score or partially cut into 16 smaller squares. Brush tops with cream and dust with crystal sugar. Wrap in parchment or wax paper and lace in ziplock freezer bags. May be kept frozen for 3 months.

When ready to bake, complete the scores, breaking the scones into separate squares. Bake for 25 minutes. Serve with fresh berries medley and strong coffee.

There are few things lovlier than fresh, warm scones. I sometimes make these and tote them to work, leaving a still warm surprise on my co-workers’ desks.