Scones with home made cranberry jam

Scones, they say, are the perfect English tea-time treat. While they go perfectly with the usual afternoon tea, I have learnt that these lovely bites can be enjoyed just as well in breakfast or as a cheat dessert :) 

To make my perfect scones I followed the Basic scones recipe from a little book I found whilst rummaging through the book store. I have changed the recipe a bit which turned out all good. Usually scones are best enjoyed with Strawberry jam and clotted cream, but looking for change as I always am, made some fresh Cranberry jam which works wonders.

Here is the recipe -

Scones -

Ingredients 400 gm Self raising flour 2 pinches of salt 1/4th teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs - lightly beaten 125 gm butter, softened to room temperature 125 gm caster sugar 1/2 tablespoons milk 75 gm raisins (optional) Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Prepare baking tray with a baking sheet 2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl 3. Add butter and rub till it looks like bread crumbs. Hands work best, no blender required 4. Add raisins 5. Add sugar, beaten eggs and continue mixing, use milk only if required 6. Shape into a dough, roll out and cut into 12 rounds using a cookie cutter 7. Make a glaze using 1 tablespoon milk in the same bowl in which you kept beaten eggs. Place scones on the baking sheet and glaze up 8. Bake for 12-14 minutes. should be firm but still a little soft

Cranberry jam

Ingredients 300 gm cranberries 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup water 1/2 to 3/4th cup sugar few chilli flakes 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger flakes to taste Method 1. Heat water in a pan, reduce flame 2. Add sugar and orange juice 3. Tip in the cranberries, ginger flakes and let this cook for about 15-20 mins till craberries are all cooked but a few have still retained their shape 4. Taste midway to add sugar as required 5. Lastly add few chilly flakes, these will disappear in the jam but the little hint of chilly here and there nicely compliments the sweet jam