Cooking by Zoom
As you may already know, I’m part of a small group of lovely bloggers who have bonded over books, blogging, cooking and exercise over the past few years. It all started during the pandemic and I’m happy to say our friendship has only grown stronger.
We co-host two monthly linkups together – What’s Been on Your Calendar #WBOYC and What’s on Your Bookshelf #WOYBS, plus we read books together and then cook and discuss over zoom. We all live in different areas of the world, two are in Queensland, one in NSW and one in Canada – and somehow we make it work!

Apple and Cinnamon Scones
Anyway…today I’m featuring our most recent Cooking by Zoom session, where we made Apple and Cinnamon scones together, after we’d finished reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
Jo is our intrepid leader and her post on making these Apple and Cinnamon Scones can be found here, it’s well worth a read as Jo goes into why she chose these scones for us to make and uses her writer’s ability to set the scene beautifully. The recipe she chose for us came from Sarah Clelland’s National Trust Book of Scones.
I am known for my scone making ability and have featured my preferred recipe in a previous What’s on Your Plate post, so I thought this would be quite an easy one. But alas, I found it a bit stressful if I’m honest as I mucked up the amount of milk and flour and my mix was too wet. I quickly rallied without letting on that I was too worried and they were put into the oven for 10 minutes and a bit more. Thankfully they turned out OK!

Here’s the recipe from Jo:
Ingredients:
- 500g self-raising flour
- 140g butter cubed
- 90g caster sugar
- 1 apple peeled and diced (I used a granny smith)
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg beaten
- 200 ml milk (approx) – I learnt this the hard way as I put in all my milk at once!
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 210C (conventional) and line a baking sheet with baking paper
- Sift the flour into a mixing bowl, tip in the cubed butter, and rub the butter into the flour with the tips of your fingers until it looks like sandy breadcrumbs. Work as quickly as you can with this to avoid melting or softening your butter too much.
- Stir in the sugar, apple and cinnamon.
- Add the beaten egg and begin to add the milk, mixing with a dinner knife until you have a soft dough. Don’t handle it any more than is necessary.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently into a ball – again, don’t overwork it.
- Roll out, or gently pat with your hands, to about two fingers thick and stamp out using a floured 7cm round cutter. Take care not to twist the cutter as it will impact the scone’s ability to rise evenly. Pop onto the baking sheet spaced slightly apart. Brush the tops with beaten egg and bake for 10-12 minutes until risen and golden brown.
I’m happy to admit that I’m the non-cook in the group – I’ve said it before that I can cook, but it’s not one of my favourite things to do. Jo is known as a real cook, baker extraordinaire and food connoisseur, Sue calls herself a rustic cook can cook up a storm plus make amazing birthday cakes, and Donna is one of the hosts of WOYP, is a good cook who enjoys food and creating new dishes. I enjoy food too but cooking pushes me out of my comfort zone at times which is good for me as I explore new things (my 2023 Word of the Year which is -you guessed it – explore).

And you know what? It took only an hour to do all of this, from logging on to sitting eating our scones with a cup of tea AND we talked about the book as well!
Feel like joining in?
It’s always fun joining Canadian bloggers Donna and Deb for their What’s on your plate challenge series each month. These posts go live on the first Wednesday of each month and you can join in too with a food related post, just by adding your post to their linkup.
Are you a scone lover? These were delicious and I highly recommend them, thanks again Jo!
It was jokingly suggested that we start our own cooking show – how fun would that be??

What’s on your plate?? Would you like to join me for a cup of tea and a scone? It’s a bit wet and wild here today so perfect weather to share a scone over a cuppa!
Deb xx
Also joining Denyse for her Wednesday’s Words and Pics linkup


Recent posts:
- Taking Stock while travelling
- Water is the driving force of all nature – the Rivers Yeo and Axe #SundayStills
- Exploring the other side of the world in May #WBOYC
- Down the Wookey Hole: Wordless Wednesday
- Looking back at special books #WOYBS
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
Copyright © 2022 debs-world.com – All rights reserved
Hi Deb, I love our baking sessions the Apple & Cinnamon Scones were a hit! I’ve come to enjoy the meditative feeling of rubbing butter into flour LOL 🙂 Thanks for the recipe. #WWandP
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Thanks Sue, it’s always fun joining you all!
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😋😋😋
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What a lovely way to connect with people! I am not a cook either, but I love to bake! In the US, scones are completely different from those in the UK. After my first scone and clotted cream in London in 2001, I was hooked! These look quite yummy!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Oh yes they might be a different thing in your part of the world, I didn’t think of that! These are yummy and very easy to make.
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The answer to that question is yes, please! I never say no to a scone and apple and cinnamon sounds like a winning combination. Your book club sounds dreamy – food, friendship and books, what a winning combination! I love baking and cooking but although I love eating scones I have to admit, I have never really mastered making them!
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Our blogging group is a lot of fun Sammie, I’ve met so many lovely bloggers around the world so am very grateful for that! I think you could make these easily, give them a go 🙂
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Something I really must make!
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I hope you get a chance to make them Barbara, easy but delicious at the same time.
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Oh I do like a nice warm scone, fresh out of the oven so yes please! I’ve never tried making anything other than the traditional fruit scone but apple and cinnamon sound a delicious addition.
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That’s the best way Deb, warm straight from the oven! These are easy and I’m sure would be a hit with your family 🙂
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I’d love to join you for tea and a scone! Let’s not go down the jam or cream first road 🤣 I love the group photo! Thanks for linking
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No Gail, we won’t go there with the jam or cream first ;). We always enjoy our hour together every few weeks and I’m delighted to have found such a lovely bunch of friends.
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Okay, you had me with the Apple & Cinnamon Scones which look very tasty! Keep celebrating the good life with this special blogging group – and sharing it with me!
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My pleasure, I am a sharer so there’s no lack there! Our blogging group is a lot of fun 🙂
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Scones AND apples?!?! Two of my favourites, combined! They look great and probably tasted even better!
Deb
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Yes Deb, I can confirm they tasted delightful!
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Hi, Debbie – You have perfectly captured the joy, creativity and tastiness of our Book Club Baking Sessions. Opposite to you, my original batter was quite dry (as in VERY dry) — together we make a great team. Like yours, my scones turned out well despite my initial stress. And as this recipe made 15 scones for me, I shared them with Richard and two neighbours – who all gave them RAVE reviews! ❤
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Hi Donna, we do make a great team and we learn so much from each other! I froze some of my spares and they’ve been very handy 🙂
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It was a lot of fun wasn’t it? And the scones tasted great…
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They were really delicious Jo, I froze the leftovers and they’ve been very handy to have for ‘later’.
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What a great idea! I’ll be right over for a bite… 🤣
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It’s such a fun way to read a book Susie, we always enjoy our catch-ups!
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Why yes, I would like an apple and cinnamon scone! They look delicious. I have started experimenting more with cooking since I retired and do quite enjoy it, but only if the recipes aren’t too complicated.
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You’re welcome to join me anytime Christie! They’re really quite easy to make so I hope you give them a go 🙂
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Deb, knowing what else was happening that day, and I had been part of it with our chat, no wonder your mind was elsewhere but you rescued the recipe beautifully!! Well done!! I’m a bit late to commenting this week…oops. Thank you so much for joining in Wednesday’s Words and Pics. I hope you are here again soon. Denyse.
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Yess it was quite a big day Denyse! Thanks for your linkup and no drama if you’re late with comments, I know the feeling well!
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Love scones. Will follow thru and make this recipe once home.
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That’s good to hear Bernie, loving following your trip!
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This would be so much fun!
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It really is great fun and we only usually take an hour or so each time we do it so it’s manageable for all of us Jackie.
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Your scones look delicious. I just ate lunch, or I’d be grabbing for one right now! 🙂
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The recipe is easy to follow Marsha, so feel free to give them a try if you’re so inclined!
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Thanks, I’ll let you know how it comes out, if I do. It will be a while. My stove and oven are not working right now – 🙂
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Hi Debbie, I’d love an apple and cinnamon scone with tea. Your baking session with Jo, Donna and Sue sounds so much fun. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us at #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Yes Natalie, we always have a laugh and enjoy discussing the book and cooking. It’s amazing what we can achieve in an hour or so!
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Baking over Zoom sounds fun! Cooking is always more fun with friends, and the scones look delicious.
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I think so too Janet, much more fun together and we get to eat the results!
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Yes, please. I’ll take one to have with my morning coffee. What a zooming fun good time together, cooking & book discussion.
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We always have a great time and it’s only an hour. Enjoy the scones 🙂
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Haha- I love the idea of your own cooking and maybe books show?
Your scones looked beautiful notwithstanding your little panic in the kitchen. You guys are always an inspiration. Thanks for sharing
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That’s great to hear Janine, we just enjoy each other’s company and have a lot of fun!
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You had me at Scone. I bought my wife the scone book when it got featured on the news. To find we already had it!
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Oh no, the same book! Maybe gift it someone else?
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So fun. I’ll take a cinnamon scone. That would be fun to join in on. Maybe someday!
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