Independence Day is nearly here in the U.S. Can you believe it? July begins tomorrow. Whoa. I’m listening to the patriotic cd I made last year with some of my favorites-the one topping my list is Ray Charles ‘America the Beautiful.’ Gets me every time. It sings summer and pride. What’s yours?
America the Beautiful:
O’ beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O’ beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O’ beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O’ beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O’ beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O’ beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O’ beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O’ beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
As promised, the cream scones…which doesn’t scream “independence from British rule” kind of recipe but it’s pure coincidence and not a “stick it to someone” intention. I’m keeping my word and posting it today. This is a keeper from Savory Sweet Life that goes so well with my rhubarb vanilla jam from the previous post. Have a happy 4th of July weekend!
Cream Scones from Savory Sweet Life
Makes 16 small scones
Ingredients:
2 cups (9 ounces) all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
4 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 egg slightly beaten
1 tsp of vanilla
2 tbsp sugar for sprinkling on top
Preheat oven to 400F. Place the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and butter in a food processor. Pulse in 3-second intervals until it resembles course meal. Place in a large bowl then stir in heavy cream, egg, and vanilla. Mix the dough by hand until it forms slightly moistened dough. You can also use your Kitchenaid with the dough hook on the slowest speed for a few minutes.
On a floured surface, take enough dough to fit in your hand- about the size of a baseball and gently roll it in a ball. Flatten the ball and until it’s about 3/4″ in height. Press down the outside of the dough circle so the center is slightly taller. Cut each circle into quarters. You should have enough dough to make 4 circles and 16 scones. (I actually made slightly larger scones so I ended up with 12.) Not in the original recipe but I brushed a small amount of heavy cream on each scone and then sprinkled some sugar over each one.
Bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Remove scones from baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. Serve with butter/jam (maybe my rhubarb vanilla from the previous post).
I just posted a scone recipe too 🙂 Happy 4th! Thank you for sharing, sweet friend. I’m sorry I’ve been a bit absent. Your blog is a great way for me to end my dad. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!