It is a big day. Prince turns 55. I can’t find any of his old stuff on Youtube because he’s paranoid—just try to find a Prince video on Youtube, I dare you—if you can, you win a special prize.
Also, it’s National Donut Day! AND, KP and I are going to start our summer road trip, which will commence with our trying to find as many free donuts as possible along I-90, but which will also mark the end of my baking daily, logistics, you understand, though I promise to continue to make a loaf at least once a week, and while travelling, to report on superb baked goods I find around the country and in England!
In honour of National Donut Day—I have made not a donut, because the whole concept and physical process of frying bread sickens me, but a scone! Well within the pastry category. I got this recipe from my dear friend Ronee who stole the show a week ago bringing cinnamon scones to the formal tea hosted by our friends who just returned from a year in the UK.
Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Scones
adapted from somewhere on the Food Network, Ronee says
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup of cinnamon chips
1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Mix together the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon. Shred butter using cheese shredder. Add half of butter to dry ingredients and incorporate using hands (or pastry blender). Repeat with remaining butter. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Mix in cinnamon and milk chocolate chips. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. Fold everything together just to incorporate; do not overwork the dough.
Press the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12 by 3 by 1 1/4 inches. Cut the rectangle in 1/2 then cut the pieces in 1/2 again, giving you 4 (3-inch) squares. Cut the squares in 1/2 on a diagonal to give you the classic triangle shape. Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet (or used cookie sheet lined with parchment paper). Bake for about 20 minutes.
Here’s a pic from the Tea– who is having a hard time being proper? 
KP and I watched four hours of Rick Steves, Robbie Coltrane, and some other random British travel videos in preparation for our trip to England in a week and a half. If y’all have any recommendations for what to do in the UK, we would love to hear them! And Bon Voyage Minnesota!
How’d they turn out for you?
I’m not sure exactly because I ate them all in a tasmanian devilish second, but I think they were nearly as divine as your batch. I think I picked slightly the wrong brand of cinnamon chips– a little too much of a Red Hots aftertaste. But otherwise, divine.
How can you be against donuts? This country and the Salvation army grew up on donuts and coffee. Canada would not have Tim Hortons without donuts. Tim Hortons “Scones”….don’t think so.
Have a wonderful Odyssey! And grab a choclate donut.
We could find no Krispy Kremes or Dunkins all along I-90 last night, so no free donuts for us— good thing I packed SCONES
So much goodness packed into one post – Prince’s birthday (were you a fan before you moved to MN, or did you get hip to him once you were here?), a tea party, your and KP’s summer adventure, scones, and last but not least that photo that captures your joyful and playful spirit 🙂 I am just glowing after reading this! Bon voyage to you road trippers, enjoy an adventure celebrating another school year full of hard work and great accomplishments!