Just for me?

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Sue Vincent

Late last night, I had a real craving for a home-made cheese scone.

Today, I did something I have never done before. I baked.

Not that baking is anything new in itself…

When the boys were young, I baked every day, from bread, biscuits and cakes to savouries. It was not unusual for their friends to knock on the door, not to see if the boys were home, but to ask if I had been baking. There was a steady stream of youngsters through my kitchen and I loved that.

It continued into their teenage years, where a morning spent baking and cooking on my day off from work would stock the tins, lunchboxes, fridge and freezer with homemade food for the week, with enough spare to feed the hordes that were continually showing up around mealtimes and for snacks. I had long since given up using recipe books, except for brand new adventures. I baked so much and so often that the ‘feel’ for ingredients became instinctive.

But the boys left home and the baking stopped, unless I knew they were coming around or I was having guests.

I still cook every day for my eldest son. I even bake for his friends and his workmen. In fact, the latest batch of workmen, about to rip out his kitchen, come from a company who replaced his bathroom last year and, apparently, we… or rather, my honey-nut flapjacks, are fondly remembered…

But, at home, I seldom do more than throw together a salad or stuff something in the slow cooker that will last me a few days. Let’s be honest, most days it is more likely to be a bowl of cereal or beans on toast than a proper meal.

It is a shame, really, because there is a lifetime of memories tied up with cooking and especially with baking, from my first attempts at culinary creativity, making misshapen worms from the pastry trimmings left over when great grandma was making pies, to eventually letting my sons make their own pastry worms, right through to baking and decorating traditionally iced wedding cakes.

But, when they left home, to all intents and purposes, baking stopped in my kitchen.

At first, it was quite cool, not having to do the big baking day every week.  Especially as my waistline was inclined to object, even though I seldom ate any of it anyway. Okay, apart from the savoury stuff and the scones.

Once the novelty had worn off though, for a long time I missed baking day. Then I just got used to not baking.

Baking ‘just for me’ held no attraction. Food, apart from the necessities, should be a shared experience, especially if you are going to put time and effort into making something special. Not that most everyday baking takes more than a few minutes to throw together, even including doing the dishes afterwards. Even so, it just didn’t feel right somehow.

But, late last night, I had a real craving for a home-made cheese scone. I hadn’t had one for years until we were given some in a pub a few weeks ago. Nice, but not like mine… and I really fancied one.

I dismissed it… until today when, most unusually, I baked just for me.

Or at least, that was the general idea.

Were there any lingering feelings of guilt attached to baking ‘just’ for me, my dark angel, guardian of my remaining waistline, soon laid them to rest.

Where food is concerned, I am assured, it is never just for me…

If anyone else fancies Cheese Scones…

(Please note, I never weigh or measure anything, so the quatities are approximate. Handle the dough as little as possible, work quickly and keep it cool as you work to get light scones).

Rub 50g cold butter into 200g Self-raising flour with a pinch of salt and a pinch of dry English mustard powder (if you don’t have that, add half a teaspoon of English mustard to the liquid.) Stir in 100g grated mature Cheddar cheese. Mix, using a cold knife, to a soft dough with around 150ml milk. Turn out onto a lightly floured board, shape to a fat, flat round. Brush with a little milk, sprinkle with grated cheese and cut into triangles.

Place on a greased baking sheet in a pre-heated oven, 190C/375F/Gas mark 5, for about ten mnutes or until golden brown.

Serve hot or cold, filled or on their own, with or without butter. They go well with soup instead of rolls too.

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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80 Responses to Just for me?

  1. Ritu says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:09

    They sound delicious, Sue!
    It’s good to bake for yourself as well as the rest 🌹

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Alethea Kehas says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:22

    I’ve no doubt they tasted divine! I’ll ask Ani next time I see her 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Robert says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:28

    Yummy! I will have a go today.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. artbychristinemallabandbrown says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:41

    I’ve copied your recipe. I might make some (without mustard)

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  5. Mary Smith says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:42

    Love cheese scones with soup. I throw in some chopped walnuts, too.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  6. pensitivity101 says:
    September 27, 2019 at 23:48

    Sounds yummy. Might give these a try

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. bobcabkings says:
    September 28, 2019 at 00:25

    It is hard to imagine Ani not noticing anything with an aroma of cheese.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. acflory says:
    September 28, 2019 at 02:06

    Yes! So glad you did this, Sue. My Offspring is still home, but I know exactly what you mean about cooking for yourself, esp. ‘special’ things. But we deserve a little pampering every now and then. Not sure about Ani though. 😀 lol
    I haven’t made cheese scones with milk but I’m definitely giving this recipe a try. Many thanks. 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  9. willowdot21 says:
    September 28, 2019 at 05:32

    Thank you for the recipe Sue, they sound delicious 💜

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  10. Luna(tik) Enigma says:
    September 28, 2019 at 07:39

    Those look so good!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  11. Alli Templeton says:
    September 28, 2019 at 08:00

    Ooooh, homemade cheese scones are one of my favourite treats! Love the pic of Ani eyeing and trying yours. You’re right, baking in particular tends to be associated with memories. I used to bake regularly – even made my own bread – but the degree has put paid to that for now. I always make the kids birthday cakes though. Maddie has just had a nautically-themed one. Glad you indulged your fancy – hang the calorie-counting… Ani’s got the right idea! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  12. Darlene says:
    September 28, 2019 at 08:56

    I bake a lot for hubby as he likes his sweets and I don’t trust store-bought goods. I cut the sugar down considerably. I do enjoy baking as it gets me away from the computer. And of course, we have to share with Dot, who is also a fan of my baking. Glad Ani got to share with you. xo

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. jenanita01 says:
    September 28, 2019 at 09:58

    I haven’t had a cheese scone in years, but something tells me I am about to!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Sadje says:
    September 28, 2019 at 10:07

    This looks so yummy. So bad that I am off carbs. 🥺

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler) says:
    September 28, 2019 at 14:09

    Well, at least you had someone to share the food experience with after all. 😉

    Like

    Reply
  16. robbiesinspiration says:
    September 28, 2019 at 16:15

    A great recipe, Sue. I also bake for family and friends but not for myself. I have reduced my baking recently as Michael was putting on to much weight.

    Like

    Reply
  17. dgkaye says:
    September 29, 2019 at 00:11

    They look delish! Looks like Ani got one too, lol 🙂 xx

    Like

    Reply
  18. Eliza Waters says:
    September 29, 2019 at 00:16

    Ani must have done something really great in her past life in order to get to live with you in this one. I’m not showing this post to Wren, in case she gets any ideas. 😉

    Like

    Reply
  19. Widdershins says:
    September 29, 2019 at 01:28

    Mrs Widds has that same ‘feel’ for her bread dough, (she bakes a batch once a week) and I do for my cooking. 😀 … nothing like it, I say. 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  20. Jane Dougherty says:
    September 29, 2019 at 15:26

    I used to love my gran’s cheese scones. I threatened to make some once and the faces they pulled! Cheese???? Erk! What’s wrong with raisins? One day when I get an oven I’ll get around to it.

    Like

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  21. Adele Marie says:
    September 30, 2019 at 16:22

    Going to try out this recipe, Sue, but I’ll have to do it with Gluten Free flour, will let you know how it goes. xxx

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