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I do not know if you are aware that tea drinking is drunk much more often in NZ than coffee. A brewed pot of tea is the normal. For myself I have been drinking coffee as my preferred beverage for 20 years. So I am right at home here in America drinking coffee, and love freshly brewed coffee more than instant coffee that I use to drink back in New Zealand Devonshire Teas are quite a popular afternoon tea menu (yes NZ does follow the tradition from England and has morning and afternoon tea breaks Devonshire Tea is either scones (America call them biscuits) or pikelets (America call them dollar pancakes) with real butter, rasberry jam (or any preferred jam) and a dollap of whipped cream on top. Biscuits and gravy as the Americans eat them are unheard of in NZ and never eaten this way. The closest to biscuits and gravy I can think of would be dumplings with beef stew - but that is another story! *grin* Anyway sit back and let me wait on you and we will enjoy a nice afternoon tea and chat together. 2 oz butter 1 egg 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup walnuts 3/4 cup dates, or sultanas, or currants, or raisins 1 cup hot water 11/2 cups flour 1 tsp Baking Soda Method Beat egg in large bowl, add sugar, water, butter and stir, till butter melted. Add the walnuts and fruit then the flour and Baking Soda. (mixture is quite wet) pour into loaf tin and cook until knife comes away clean when poked into loaf. SCONES (BISCUITS) 4 cups Flour 2 oz butter (yep real butter) 4 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 cup liquid which comprises of (1/2 milk and 1/2 water to mix) Method Flour into the bowl first, add the baking powder, melt the butter and add butter to milk and water. Make a well into the center and add the liquid, (not too sloppy so do not add all the liquid at once) mix in with a knife, turn mixture out onto floured suface, sprinkle flour over the top and pat mixture to about an inch thickness. Cut into squares or use a cookie cutter. Place onto oven tray and cook in hot oven (400oF) 10 - 15 minutes. Variation Combinations. Try grated Cheese or Dates or Raisins. Three flavours together of Cheese, Bacon and onion. Two flavour combinations of Cheese and Onion. Footnote: The combination of milk and water makes for a much lighter texture to the scones, I learned this secret over time, that milk on its own is heavy so I use this combination for omelets and scrambled eggs too, or you can use a little full cream (whipping cream) much lighter and not rubbery using this method PIKELETS (DOLLAR PANCAKES) 1 oz butter 1 egg 1 dessertspoon sugar 1 tablespoon golden syrup (optional) 1 tsp BP 1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup milk (approx) Method Melt butter and golden syrup together, beat egg and add in. Add the flour, Baking Powder. Add the milk until you have a fairly sloppy mixture. Spoon mixture out onto medium/hot greased frying pan. (Skillet) Turn over when the mixture forms bubbles, holes then dries. Eaten with butter. - Butter and jam.- Butter, jam and whipped cream. 
Amanda Martin-Shaver © |