Monday, June 4, 2012

Tea Biscuits & A Baker's Dream Giveaway


Let me take you back in time for a few minutes….

The year is somewhere between 1980-1984. The place is South Philadelphia. The scene is my mom and I; early on Sunday mornings walking the 7 blocks from our row home to the Termini Brother’s Bakery (a Philadelphia institution). Waiting in line for the tea biscuits that would come fresh out of the oven. I remember this as if it were yesterday…Sunday morning tea biscuits were a special treat. We would eat these flakey raisin studded scones toasted and spread with butter.

Fast forward:

It’s 2012. I’m living in Phoenix Arizona. My mom who now lives just a few miles away is seated with me at my kitchen table. In front of us is a plate of tea biscuits. Not Termini’s but ones I recreated during a recent Virtual Potluck event with King Arthur Flour and Red Star Yeast.

All of the VP bloggers were given products from both Red Star Yeast and King Arthur’s Flour…two quality companies for obtaining all of your baking needs. The task was to come up with a recipe using these products. Sounds easy, right? Well one of the items I was given was a sourdough starter. And I've never worked with a starter before so this was a challenge for me.

There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with a sourdough starter…or so it seemed at first. Care and feeding of dough; is not something I was used to.  But I quickly realized that there really isn’t much too it and the possibilities are endless of what you can make with it. (there are over 2,000 recipes available online)

Anyway, back to the tea biscuits. I went with a pretty basic sourdough scone recipe; added some golden raisins and did an egg wash on top to get the brown color I remembered. The result was delicious....not quite the flakey texture of Termini's but still really good. I will definitely make these again. 



Tea Biscuits

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tarter
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into slices
1 1/4 cups sourdough starter
egg wash

Preheat an oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle two baking sheets lightly with flour.

Whisk together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, baking soda, sugar, and golden raisins. Cut in the slices of butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sourdough starter and mix by hand to form a soft dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 1/2-inch thick round. Use a biscuit cutter to cut into circles and place the scones on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Re-roll dough if needed.

Lightly brush the tops of each scone with the egg wash. Bake until the scones just start to turn golden ~15 minutes. Remove from baking sheets and cool.

Enter to win A Baker's Dream Giveaway!


One lucky winner will receive from King Arthur Flour one (1) dough whisk, one (1) coupon for a bag of flour in the supermarket, one (1) sourdough starter, and one (1) bag of Pumpernickel Flour. But that's not all! Red Star Yeast is adding three (3) strips of yeast, one (1) bread loaf pan, one (1) apron, and one (1) bread knife to this baking package!

There are several ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post; tell me what you would make if you win.
2. Follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook or Twitter and let me know you did
3. Follow Red Star Yeast on Facebook or Twitter and let me know here
4. Comment on one of the other VP posts and don't forget to let me know
5. Tweet about the contest and let me know

Contest ends midnight EST on 6/10/2012. 



111 comments:

  1. i Follow King Arthur Flour on Twitter (@onitnaram)

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  2. i Follow Red Star Yeast on Twitter (@onitnaram)

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  3. i Tweeted about the contest -https://twitter.com/onitnaram/status/209594201153863681

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  4. Oh, I let my sourdough starter die several years ago, I was just talking the other day about starting another. I would make dinner rolls - because I need portion control :)

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  5. I liked King Arthur on Facebook!

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  6. I like red star yeast on Facebook! And I really do, it's the only yeast I use!

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  7. I think I would learn how to make Pumpernickel bread with the Pumpernickel flour. I've never used it before!
    Michelle
    heartfeltbalancehandmadelife(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. I was already a fan of King Arthur flour on Facebook!

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  9. I'm following King Arthur flour on Twitter w/ @HBHandmadeLife
    Michelle
    heartfeltbalancehandmadelife(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. Following Red Star Yeast on Twitter w/ @HBHandmadeLife
    Michelle
    heartfeltbalancehandmadelife(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. I would never have thought to put sourdough in tea biscuits - very creative! Loved your story about Philly.

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  12. I would love to make these tea biscuits or some scones..yum!
    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  13. I like KAF on FB & Twitter.
    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  14. I follow RSY on Twitter.
    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  15. I have commented on other VP blogger sites.
    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  16. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/GoddessFoodie/status/209678799430889473
    cereza25 at yahoo dot com

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  17. I would try sourdough bread and make some pizzas! :) thanks!

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  18. I follow King Arthur on both FB and twitter

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  19. I follow Red Star on FB and twitter too

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  20. I commented on a couple of the other VP posts too. :)

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  21. I would make scones
    thanks
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  22. like KAF on fb Julie A Scott Laws
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  23. like Red Yeast on fb Julie A Scott Laws
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  24. We love making homemade pizza and baguettes

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  25. I Follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook and Twitter

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  26. These look so perfect, I can't wait to try them!

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  27. I Follow Red Star Yeast on Facebook and Twitter

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  28. I commented on several of the other Virtual Potluck giveaways - including Miss in the Kitchen

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  29. I'd bake some sourdough bread! Yum!
    I commented on other giveaway and follow KAF on Twitter.

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  30. I would make as much bread as possible! I already make scones on a weekly basis! :)

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  31. I follow KAF on FB

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  32. I follow Red Star Yeast on FB

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  33. These look excellent - I hadn't thought of using sourdough for biscuits. It was nice of KAF to start this sourdough sequence right after I got some starter...
    I follow KAF on Twitter (that's how I learned of this series, and @VirtualPotluck).
    I'd make bread, and maybe bagels, with the pumpernickel flour - and use all the rest of it for my usual baking!
    and I commented on Cookistry, and bookmarked that and several others to try the recipes! Have to revive my starter, though, it's been a couple weeks since I fed it. Yum, waffles from the discard.

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  34. I might try to make the tea biscuits (Le Bus bakery outlet is closer to me than Termini's and I get them there)or maybe pumpernickel rolls.

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  35. I follow King Arthur Flour on twitter (ljskop).

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  36. I follow Red Star Yeast on twitter (ljskop).

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  37. I commented on Miss in the Kitchen's giveaway.

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  38. I would actually attempt to make Pumpernickel bread. Nice scones, I can picture those with a thin layer of honey...I prefer it over butter.

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  39. I like King Arthur on Facebook and Twitter.

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  40. I like Red Star Yeast on Facebook or Twitter .

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  41. I've commented on Cookistry, Rachel Cooks and Thyme in Our Kitchen so far.

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  42. I tweeted the giveaway: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/209795514487681024

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  43. Well, I guess I'd need to make some pumpernickel bread, and some sourdough.

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  44. I follow King Arthur Flour on Twitter and I liked it on Facebook.

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  45. I follow Red Star Yeast on Twitter and I liked it on Facebook.

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  46. I tweeted your tweet: https://twitter.com/BoonieSooze/status/209807870370398208

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  47. Love the giveaway!!

    I would make artisan bread (just got a new recipe)

    shankyouverymuch11 at yahoo dot com

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  48. I follow Red Yeast on twitter!

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  49. I follow King Arthur on twitter!

    shankyouverymuch11 at yahoo dot com

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  50. I follow King Arthur and Red Star Yeast on twitter! Thanks!

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  51. I really want to try sourdough pancakes sometime, so that'd definitely be one of the first things I'd try if I won!

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  52. I would make bagels, pumpernickel sandwich bread and about a million other items. :) I follow KAF & Red Star on FB! :)

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  53. I have been wanting to try making sourdough bread, so would love to win this package!
    I follow KA Flour and Red Star Yeast on Twitter and I "Like" both on Facebook AND I tweeted about the contest. :-) Thanks!

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  54. Follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook

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  55. left comment on tyme in our kitchen site

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  56. tweet https://twitter.com/cjsorel/status/210066321126338560

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  57. Sourdough Raisin Pumpernickel sounds just about perfect!

    contact info for when I win :)
    gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com

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  58. I follow King Arthur Flour on FB

    contact info for when I win :)
    gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com

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  59. I follow Red Star Yeast on FB

    contact info for when I win :)
    gaia (at) cinci (dot) rr (dot) com

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  60. Scones, tea biscuits, I don't care what you call 'em, I just wanna eat 'em! ;)

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  61. Megan M - shibori_fan at yahoo.comJune 5, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    I would try some biscotti perhaps with the flour or pizza dough.

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  62. I would attempt to make some sourdough bowls like they make at the local bakery. They plug out a hole and put soup in it, they are awesome.
    amylammers@rocketmail.com

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  63. I follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook.
    amylammers@rocketmail.com

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  64. I follow Red Star Yeast on Facebook.
    amylammers@rocketmail.com

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  65. I have commented on other Virtual Potluck blogs for the giveaway.
    amylammers@rocketmail.com

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  66. Love this recipe! Those look like the best tea biscuits ever! I won your last giveaway so I will graciously bow out of this one but It is a great giveaway!

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  67. I would make whole wheat bread!

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  68. I follow King Arthur on Twitter

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  69. I follow Red Star Yeast on Twitter

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  70. I commented on VP 30aeats post :)

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  71. I like King Arthur on Facebook

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  72. I like Red Star Yeast on Facebook

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  73. Commented on some other Virtual Potlucks 30aeats

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  74. I will make french bread! Have never cooked with Pumpernickel Flour but would love to try it.

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  75. I've commented on other VP posts.

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  76. I'm following Red Star Yeast on FB.

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  77. Nice! I'd go for these for breakfast any time.

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  78. I wod make biscuits and gravy!

    Cassie
    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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  79. I follow king aurthor on Twitter

    Cassie
    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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  80. I follow red star yeast on Twitter

    Cassie
    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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  81. I tweeted giveaway

    Cassie
    Cass0289@yahoo.com

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  82. I have been wanting to try making hamburger buns..... Chefl@swbell.net

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  83. Following King Arthur on Facebook. Chefl@swbell.net

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  84. Following Red Yeast on Facebook. Chefl@swbell.net

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  85. I would try homemade pizza crusts!

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  86. I like King Arthur on Facebook

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  87. I like Red Star Yeast on Facebook

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  88. I also commented on 30aEats VP Potluck post too! Thank you so much!

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  89. I'd love to make some homemade white bread!!

    tcrowley122 at hotmail dot com

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  90. I Follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook as Patricia Wojnar Crowley

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  91. What a great idea. I hadn't thought of using the sourdough in a biscuit. Add one more to my list to make!

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  92. I would make bread-- lots and lots of bread! we love sourdough in this house!

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  93. i follow red star yeast on twitter

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  94. I left a comment on bite and booze's site

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  95. Yikes! I'd have to make those Tea Biscuits---they look awesome!!

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  96. I already follow King Arthur Flour on Facebook. :)

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  97. I follow Red Star Yeast on Twiitter.

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  98. I would make Hätäleipä or Finnish Emergency Bread. Tastes extra good with pumpernickle flour!

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  99. I like King Arthur on facebook

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  100. I like Red Star Yeast on facebook

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  101. I commented on VP Farmgirl Gourmets blog re Cacao Bliss Cream Tart.

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