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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There is not a way to say enough about our enjoyment of the cruise. Emma was very good about responding quickly to our inquiries and providing all the details that we needed for booking. The crew was professional, knowledgeable, interesting and fun. We have never done a boat cruise and didn’t know what to expect but the expectations bar has been set high after our experience over these 10 days.Response is not what would have made cruise extra special – but what did make cruise extra special. We were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with this cruise. Chef Ross made a cake and decorated it with “50” made of candies and presented it to us at tea time one afternoon! Another special experience was the opportunity to meet Skipper James’ parents; I read his mother’s book while on the vessel and asked James many questions about his family. When we were in Tobermory, James’ mother and father visited us. This was a lovely “extra” that we will remember throughout our lives. We have recommended the trip to several friends already.
David & Angela Hiley: 4 September 2017St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides