What Is All When All Is Told

It's only been a month since our trip to Ireland but it seems like an eternity ago that we were there. It was an amazing trip and I cannot wait to go back again one day.  The scenery is beautiful, the Irish are kind and fun-loving, the country is filled with rich history, pubs are overflowing with laughter and good music, and the Guinness there cannot compare to any pint poured here in the US. During our trip one of our stops was at the home of Margaret & Paddy Fenton where we were warmly greeted with fresh scones, Guinness cake, tea, coffee then given a tour of the Molanna View Dairy Farm.  We had just eaten breakfast so I wasn't that hungry but I'm glad I "forced" myself to eat two scones and a piece of Guinness cake along side two cups of hot tea.  They were delicious and I had to stop myself from having thirds.  One of the sweetest things was just seeing the love Margaret & Paddy share, it is one to be admired and I am so glad I was able to meet them.  This was certainly one of my favorite stops along our tour.

Killarney National Park

Growing up we never made homemade scones or even homemade biscuits.  The closet we got to homemade was mixing Bisquick with milk and making dumplings for our Chicken & Dumplings.  Our family favorite was Pillsbury's canned crescents, biscuits, and breadsticks.  I can remember pulling out the can from the fridge and popping it open with a quick pull of the paper (or banging it against the counter if that didn't work) then ever so carefully rolling up the dough into crescents or twisting it into breadsticks.  Baking them until just golden then wrapping them up in our bread basket to keep them warm.  This was a staple in our house with a lot of our meals.  I hate to admit this but there are days I would take a Pillsbury crescent roll over any homemade crescent roll.  Just the familiar smell and buttery distintive taste of Pillsbury brings me right back to being a kid again. 

I don't make scones a lot because I haven't found too many recipes that I just love and that are not tough and dry.  But these scones, these are absolutely amazing.  They have just the right amount of sweetness and the dough is tender but sturdy enough to be covered with whatever topping you choose.  They are sure to be a new staple in my ever growing pile of recipes.  I ate my scones with a dollop of strawberry preserves and a large cup of hot tea.  This time I stopped myself at one but I may just have two tomorrow with breakfast.  I hope you enjoy this little taste of Ireland from the Fenton home to yours.  Enjoy!

 

Jam and Cream Scones

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Self-raising Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 2 oz. Butter, cold and cut into small pieces (I used Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter)
• 2 oz. Castor Sugar (You can buy extra fine sugar or grind granulated sugar in a food processor for several pulses)
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 4 tbsp. milk (I used low fat buttermilk)

Optional Toppings:

• Jam, any flavor (I used one of my favorite brands, Hero Strawberry Preserves)
• Fresh Whipped Cream

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and line your sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Sift flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl.
3. Rub in the butter with your hands until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter.
4. Stir in the sugar then add the beaten egg and milk and mix with a wooden spoon just until everything comes together.
5. Generously flour your workspace and knead the dough until smooth.
6. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness and cut into rounds using a small round cutter.
7. Bake for about 10 minutes or until just barely golden.  Depending on how big you cut your scones will determine the cooking time.  Mine were smaller so they only took about 7 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.
8. Split scones in half, spread with jam, and place a little whipped cream on top.

During our tour we were also treated to a poem that Paddy recited to us by heart.  It was such a beautiful poem that I just had to share it with all of you. 

 WHAT IS ALL

WHEN ALL IS TOLD

O' What is it all when all is told,
The ceaseless toiling for fame and gold,
The fleeting joy of bitter tears,
We're only here for a few short years.
Nothing's our own but the silent past,
Loving or hating, nothing can last,
Each pathway leads to the silent fold,
O' what is it all when all is told.

What is it all a grassy mound,
Where day or night there is never sound,
Save the soft low moan of the fanning breeze,
As it lovingly rustles the silent trees.
Or a thoughtful friend with whispered prayer,
May sometimes break the stillness there,
Then hurry away from the gloom and the cold,
O' what is it all when all is told.

What is all just passing true,
A cross for me and a cross for you,

Ours seems heavy while others seem light,
But God in the end makes all things right.
He tempts the mind with loving care,
He knows the burden that each can bear,
Then turns life's grey into heavenly gold,
O' what is all when all is told.

Margaret & Paddy Fenton