Scones with butter and strawberry jam are one of my favourite mid-morning treats. Or mid-afternoon. I’m really not very fussy when it comes to eating scones. I’ll take them any time of the day. I recently discovered a lovely Cream Scone recipe, in the 365 Country Women’s Association Favourites book and have made at least 4 batches since.

I have had the absolute pleasure of leafing through the 365 Country Women’s Association Favourites book, over the past couple of weeks. I honestly prefer a cook book to have beautiful glossy pictures, but really, this lovely little book has really captured my attention (and imagination), without a picture in sight. Not a one!

From the 1930s, the Country Women’s Association (CWA) has collected recipes contributed by individual members to create cookbooks and calendars. These cookbooks were a huge success and now give great insight into how women cooked through the era – dishes that were simple, honest and homey. Living through the Depression, these women knew how to keep food on the table even when resources and supplies were tight.

These original recipes were made without labour saving devices such as food processors and mixers and most cooking was accomplished on a coal fired range.

Now, 80 years later, these recipes still appeal greatly to the modern cook. Without sacrificing the original material, the recipes in 365 Country Women’s Association Favourites, include methods that take them into our modern kitchens.

The book is divided up into months and each month has a calendar with a recipe to create each day. If you want to have a go at a Julie & Julia type challenge, this would be perfect as it’s already set out for you.

Each of the recipes in 365 CWA Favourites includes the contributor’s name as well as the CWA branch they’re from. For example, the Warren Pudding was created by Mrs Percy Russell, from the Warren Branch.

Flicking through the book has been a lot of fun. Intermingled within the cake and slice recipes, we find recipes for things like Oyster Toast or Savoury Rabbit. Sadly, there my local CWA is not represented in the book, but the Bowral Branch and the Nowra Branches are in there.

365 Country Women’s Association Favourites is published by Murdoch Books and can be purchased at any good book store or online at Booktopia. This would certainly make a wonderful Christmas gift for a keen home cook.

Cream Scones

Mrs A Latimer, Delungra Branch

Ingredients

3 cups of plain flour

4 teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup pouring cream (thickened cream is what I use)

1 cup milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 200c. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the salt, cream and half of the milk to the well and mix, adding enough of the remaining milk to form a soft dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Briefly knead to bring it together. Don’t overwork the dough or the scones will be tough.

Roll out to 2cm thickness. Using a 4cm round pastry cutter (or in my case, a glass), cut out the circles and place on the baking tray close together.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.