So, the royal baby has arrived! Prince William and Kate have had their baby boy, George Alexander Louis, the third in line to the throne and one day King. The dozens of photographers who were camped outside the hospital wing for weeks can finally go home and the nation can finally celebrate! I knew I wanted to bake something themed to celebrate this special royal occasion but I was slightly stumped. My decorating skills are not up to the level of creating intricately iced cookies, my family doesn’t need a huge celebration cake hanging about (much as I’d like to think we do) and there options for naturally blue food are pretty non-existent once you’ve got past blueberries. It was my Dad who eventually suggested these – Royal Rascals!
True, my Dad suggests these every time I wonder what to bake – they are one of his favourite things. But this time I loved the idea. Whilst baby Prince George of Cambridge will obviously live a very different life to the overwhelming majority of people, I hope that he still gets a chance to be a little rascal (definition: a mischievous or cheeky person) as he grows up. Plus, there aren’t many things more quintessentially British than a scone! In honour of the baby I added sparkling silver balls to my traditional fat rascal recipe, found here, and of course welcomed the opportunity to use my royal napkins! Enjoy :) 
Sometimes, simple is just what the doctor cook ordered. Simple because you’re tired, simple because you’re ill, simple because the cupboards are bare. Maybe simple because that’s all you need to evoke a happy memory. This summer, my family went to Cornwall for a week. It rained pretty much the whole time – a bit of a shock just back from sunny Italy – but whilst it was exasperating I don’t think it mattered that much. It was a rare occasion for us all to be together: no friends, no parties or shopping. The whole week we were craving scones, but kept missing the opportunity to buy ingredients and the rain kept us out of teashops. On the penultimate day of the holiday we finally caved and bought some, and the wait was worth it. Thick layers of jam and cream – and a hearty debate about which should be spread on first – and the rain was all but forgotten.
As a result of the Guild of Food writer’s competition, I recently spent a wonderful afternoon at delicious. magazine. The office is rammed with food, and they were kind enough to give me some samples for me to take home, including a big pot of clotted cream. I’m sure there are lots of adventurous recipes involving this sinfully rich product, but I was only ever planning scones. They’re a classic! 
I used this Ballymaloe White Sweet Scones recipe, but halved it as it makes a massive amount and I still managed a decent 12 and some of these were huge. Fittingly, it rained for the whole duration of making and baking these, but then again would I expect anything different in London in October? Enjoy!
True, my Dad suggests these every time I wonder what to bake – they are one of his favourite things. But this time I loved the idea. Whilst baby Prince George of Cambridge will obviously live a very different life to the overwhelming majority of people, I hope that he still gets a chance to be a little rascal (definition: a mischievous or cheeky person) as he grows up. Plus, there aren’t many things more quintessentially British than a scone! In honour of the baby I added sparkling silver balls to my traditional fat rascal recipe, found here, and of course welcomed the opportunity to use my royal napkins! Enjoy :) 
