Hebrides Cruises is a proper family business. Rob Barlow is Owner and Skipper; daughter Emma is Sales, Marketing and Shore Manager, her husband Peter works on the cruises in a variety of roles, including Skipper and Engineer. Not to be forgotten is Granny Mary, a vital person in the business, providing the scones for the guests arriving on the boat for their cruise which are always much appreciated! Here is the recipe - with a few extra tips. There is definitely a knack to getting the lightest of scones and guests agree that Granny Mary has that touch! If you want to try one for yourself, come aboard our Open Day on April 22nd at Dunstaffnage Marina - from noon till 4pm.
Granny Mary Scone Recipe: Makes 12 Scones
Ingredients
1Ib Self Raising Flour
4oz Granulated Sugar
4oz Soft Margarine
2 Level teaspoon Baking Powder
8-10oz Milk
Method
Preheat your oven to 220oc or 210fan.
Add all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar & baking powder) together in a bowl. Add the soft margarine to this and mix all together with your hands (Wee Tip: Make sure you have cold hands!) Whilst mixing make sure you lift the mixture high to allow the air through it.
Once the mixture resembles a crumbly consistency you can add the milk, small amounts at a time. Mix with a wooden spoon until mixture has blended. Keep the mixture as dry as possible making sure its still bonds.
Transfer the mixture onto a floured board. Shape the mixture into a circle about 1” thick with your hands, handling as little as possible.
Cut out mixture with scone cutter. Then place on a floured scone tray then dust lightly with flour before popping in the oven to bake.
After 20mins, take out of the oven, leave to cool on a wire tray.
Take a scone, cut in half and fill it with yummy jam and/or cream and have with a nice wee cup of tea!
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We chartered the Lucy Mary for a Big Boat Adventure with our special and complicated family. It was even better than last year: there is a magical space where the sky meets the sea and everyone becomes their best self. Together our children, diverse in every way, were awed at following otter tracks up a pristine white beach, thrilled at fast and bumpy tender rides and delighted to hang over the bow with the dolphins. The crew scanned the sea for creatures great and small and navigated us into Fingal’s cave and up to the top of Ardnamurchan lighthouse; yet every adventure ended in a beautiful calm anchorage for swimming and sleeping. Each day we woke up to sparkling windows and stunning scenery; after each adventure we feasted on delicious fresh food at a whimsically decorated table. Somehow the water and wind and wild made the world stop awhile and we had huge fun and enjoyed every moment. Even the rain didn’t matter: our clothes dried superfast and we warmed up with hot chocolate and tea in thermos mugs (and chocolate cake). Next year’s adventure is already the highlight of our calendar.
Fiona Mylchreest: 24 August 2024Private Charter 6 Nights