Update: The winner of the copy of Carrie’s book is Linda E. Congrats Linda!
It is such a pleasure to welcome author Carrie Turansky today! She has a special recipe inspired by her upcoming release, The Governess of Highland Hall. The book is absolutely charming and seeing the recipe she sent to go with it… I can’t think of a more cozy way to spend a crisp, fall day.
PLUS, Carrie has graciously offered to give away a copy of the novel to one visitor, so be sure to say hello in the comments below! 🙂
Scones are a delicious treat often enjoyed at teatime in England today, just as they were back in 1911 when Julia Foster became the governess at Highland Hall and enjoyed it with the Ramsey family at their estate.
Serving Tea at four o’clock each afternoon became a tradition in England in the early 1800s’. One of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope, known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of afternoon teatime. Because the Duchess suffered from “a sinking feeling” at about four o’clock in the afternoon, she asked her servants to sneak her a pot of tea and some bread. She soon invited friends to join her for tea each afternoon in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea. This practice became so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, and the practice soon spread.
Lemon Blueberry Scones
Â
2 ¼ Cup Flour
2 tsp Baking powder
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Baking soda
4 Tbs Sugar
½ Cup (1 cube) Cold Butter
¾ Cup Buttermilk
1 Egg
¾ Cup Blueberries
Grated zest from lemon
Streusel Topping:
¼ Cup Rolled oats
¼ Cup Brown sugar
1 Tbs Butter, melted
1 Tbs Flour
Lemon Glaze:
½ Cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Cup Confectioner’s sugar
1Tbs Butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the dry ingredients of the scone into a food processor. Cut the cold butter into cubes and put into bowl of food processor with the lemon zest. Pulse the mixture until the butter is the size of peas. Pour the mixture into a large bowl, add the blueberries and toss with the flour. Mix together the buttermilk and egg and add to the dry ingredients. Fold mixture together gently, being careful not to break the berries. Press dough into a large circle on a flour surface. Cut out dough with a biscuit cutter. Sprinkle streusel on top of them and place on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Bake the scones for 18 -20 minutes until golden.
Mix together the glaze, adding as much powdered sugar as it takes to make the consistency you want. Let scones cool a bit before drizzling with the lemon glaze. Serve while warm and fresh. Scones may be re-warmed in a 350 F. oven for 5 min.
 – This recipe is adapted from Terri Bender’s Book Bound Blog. Â
To be entered for a copy of The Governess of Highland Hall, simply leave a comment below! You can leave any comment, but if you’d like you can share with us what you enjoy most about tea time, or if you have a favorite of Carrie’s books that you’ve read!
A winner will be drawn on October 4th and contacted via email as well as announced here. Open to residents of the U.S.
Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library at age five and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of eleven novels and novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty-five years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and three grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family.
She loves to connect with reading friends through her website: www.carrieturansky.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.Â
Congratulations to Carrie and her wonderful book! That is an interesting story about the start of Tea time 🙂 I get that sinking feeling everyday at 4:00 too and find myself looking for an interesting hold-over snack until dinner time – those scones sound delicious!
It really is the perfect thing for that late afternoon dip. That’s what I love so much about cooler weather… it just calls for a bit of tea. 🙂
I love the history of tea time! Afternoon snacks are certainly wonderful treats and my children always look forward to this time, whether we have a tea party, picnic, or just gather around the table. I look forward to devouring both the scones and Carrie’s wonderful book! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe and the opportunity to win a copy of THE GOVERNESS OF HIGHLAND HALL!
Isn’t it fascinating, Britney!? I just love that you do tea time with your kids sometimes. It really is great and I know my kids absolutely love a cup of tea with me. So glad that you are here and happy reading!
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book! Recently I read A Man to Trust and enjoyed it very much. That was the first book I have read by Carrie so far.
Hot tea is something I try to have every day. Sometimes I make scones, but most of the time I just drink regular, black loose tea with a little milk and sugar. At tea time I use a tea pot and china tea cup, not a mug. Usually, I read a good book while I’m drinking tea. Recently I have learned how to make clotted cream in the oven. It is so good! There’s nothing like clotted cream and strawberry jam on a plain, hot scone! 🙂
Sylvia,
It’s great to hear that you’ve read Carrie’s books before! So lovely that you put those extra touches into your tea time! It really does make it special and I think we enjoy it more. I don’t have a microwave, but I’ve seen it done before to just pop the mug right in there… I confess, it doesn’t feel quite the same 😉 Happy tea time to you today!
Thanks Friends! So happy to read these comment! Sylvia, I am glad you enjoyed A Man To Trust. That was book 2 in a series of 3. Did you read Seeking His Love and Snowflake Sweethearts. They are all set in Fairhaven WA with the same cast of secondary characters. I hope you will enjoy The Governess of Highland Hall too.
Carrie – It’s so lovely having you today. Congratulations on your wonderful story! I’ll never tire of looking at that beautiful cover.
This book sounds lovely as does the recipe…will definitely have to try both!!
Great seeing you, Melissa! Happy reading and baking!! 🙂
I love the soothing and calming effect that tea has on me.
Me too, Betty. Tea really is a relaxing experience all around, isn’t it? 🙂
I so enjoyed having tea with my Mother-in-love after a busy day of cooking for the family, cleaning up after the meal and visiting. When things quieted down she and I would sit with a pot of tea and visit. Wonderful memories.
Mary,
You are a Foster just like Julia from the novel! What a sweet tradition with your MIL. That is so special.
I love tea and was much intrigued to hear about the start of teatime. My Mom and I(and some others) are putting a Victorian tea together for our church ladies. So, I’ve been busy researching(and pulling from resources that I’d used for my Victorian Living paper during HS). Carrie, your book sounds lovely! Thank you for the giveaway and the recipe. We’ll try it out..;)
Blessings,
Juli
emeraldelena@hotmail.com
That recipe sounds delicious! I love making scones. It’s hard to beat a proper cup of tea and a couple scones. 🙂
Hoping to get a chance to read “The Governess of Highland Hall” soon!
I love anything Lemons and share the recipes on my timeline…looking forward to this contest…grateful for the new friendship on Goodreads…what a delightful r your novel will be…posting this recipe on my FB Page.
I enjoyed my copy of The Governess of Highland Hall very much. No need to put me in the drawing. I just wanted to say I love scones and will make this recipe maybe for the women’s church meeting I’m hosting this month. Thanks!
The thing that I like about having tea is being able to try many different kinds of teas
Thanks for doing the free give away
This looks like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway, and the recipe.
Hello Joanne, thanks for having a visit with Carrie. I love the cover on Carrie’s book and the period when they wore those beautiful dresses, but wouldn’t want to wear them all of the time. Carrie I’m a friend, would you want to make me a good meal? LOL I don’t have anyone to have a tea party with but would be nice. I would love to win your book. Thanks for the give-away. Hope my name gets drawn. GOD bless you in all walks of life. You too Joanne. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
Hi Maxie, you are my friend! I wish we lived closer, and I would bring you a meal. : ) Thanks for stopping by. Good luck!
That recipe sounds absolutely delicious! Definitely giving it a try sometime 🙂
Carrie, not only am I looking forward to reading Governess, but I’m also eager to try that scone recipe! 🙂 Thanks for sharing it and offering a book to a reader of Joanne’s blog. What a special treat!
*waving* Hi, Joanne!
Blessings, ladies.
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
Hi Andrea, Thanks for stopping by! Now that I know you’d like to write a historical novel, I will be sharing tips and info with you! I hope you enjoy the scones. Blessings and happy reading and writing!
Carrie, I appreciate that so much! 🙂 I’ve actually started several historicals in screenplay form (back before I discovered that I could indeed write books). I’d love to transition them to manuscript form eventually. So I’ve got ideas. I just don’t yet have the time to get to them because of the series I’m currently working on. I appreciate any tips you can send me, and I’m glad we’ve connected. I look forward to a lasting friendship with you.
Blessings,
Andrea
Ohhh–three of my favorite things: blueberries, lemon and great books! Thanks for the giveaway and the recipe. I can’t wait to try it, along with Carrie’s book. I have yet to read anything by her, but this novel looks fantastic!
Thanks for hosting Carrie today Joanne!! I love afternoon tea!! Scones are my favorite treat to have with it So I’m very excited about the recipe. Thanks for sharing it Carrie. What I enjoy most about tea time is having someone to share it with or a great book to get lost in. Have a blessed day ladies! T- 2 1/2 hours till tea time!!
I just had a Blueberry Scone with a cup of coffee at my local coffee house they was the best. Soon it will be time to light the fireplace their and curl up with a book, and what a better book to read while sipping my coffee and eating scones then Governess
I just bought a box of pumpkin scone mix today! I shall try and feel British when I enjoy them. I eagerly anticipate reading Carrie’s book, even if I have to buy it! That era is one of my favorites.
I love the cover of the book. The ladies wore such beautiful dresses. Fall is the perfect time to have that cup of tea in the afternoon when you start to slow down and get a little sluggish. Tea time is a time for me to take a few minutes away from the busy day and relax. I like trying different kinds of teas. Thanks so much for the contest
I don’t like tea, lol, but I have heard a lot about this book already and I would love to win a copy! I love the cover and this time period. Happy writing! Thanks for the giveaway and a chance to win!
Congrats, Carrie Turansky on the new book! I have read a few reviews and am interested in reading it. I read that lovers of Downtown Abbey were dure to enjoy it. Thanks!
Mary
“The Governess of Highland Hall” is my favorite of Carrie Turansky’s books. I absolutely love her characters, the time period, the setting–everything!
Tea time is something I grew up sharing with my English grandmother–a happy, oh-so-civilized ritual over which we shared our day. Grandma no longer walks beside me, but I feel her presence over every tasty scone and steaming cup of English Breakfast tea. She would have loved Carrie’s new book.
I’m looking forward to trying this new scone recipe–sounds delicious!
Hi Cathy, thanks for sharing your memories about tea time with your grandmother. I love that! Thanks also for your encouraging words about The Governess of Highland Hall. She would not have come to life without your help and encouragement. So bless you, dear friend!
I never knew how tea time began. That is cool. This book looks very good.
Thank you, Duchess!
Alas that I can’t have scones anymore, because I so enjoyed them. These look wonderful.
Looking forward to reading your new release, Carrie.
I love the cover of this book! I am so glad you shared why & how tea time became a tradition. I love tea but really had no idea of how this became such an important part of social history. Your book will definitely be on my reading list. Those scones are wonderful looking , plan on making them soon. My tea time is every morning during prayer & bible reading before I have to start everything else. I am not a coffee drinker so tea is my go to thing! Thanks for sharing your book .
Hi Carrie,
Well, my cousin Anne Payne is the one who is making me aware of all of the great historical fiction written by Christian authors. So far, I’ve been reading authors such as Victoria Thompson, Rhys Bowen, and Carrie Bebris. I’m looking forward to reading many of the books that Anne recommends, including yours! I have a large library of books about the Victorian and Edwardian periods, including about 20 books on tea traditions/recipes, including fun books such as _Taking Tea with Alice [in Wonderland]_. I used to go to many of the tea shops up in the L.A. area–there are so many quaint shops that serve traditional tea at 4 (Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena) as well as larger places such as the Huntington Library. I even suggested that the Pasadena Museum of History do tea and historical lectures (when I worked there as an intern one summer), and those have been very successful for them. I love period events and period activities, such as traditional teas. I look forward to reading your novels, Carrie, and some of the others that Anne recommends. Congratulations on your new book. Hope to see you at the webcast on Oct. 15th.
joanne…thanks for sharing your scone recipe…I plan to make them this weekend. and thanks for the chance to read carrie’s latest novel 🙂
A book I definitely intend to read and a recipe I intend to make. So glad I found your post!
This is definitely on my want list. Thanks for the scone recipe. My parents spent time in England and have shared with me how much they loved tea time. If I win this book, I will definitely share it with my Mom
I enjoy tea in the evenings, there is something just so relaxing about having a hot tea in the evenings. The recipe sounds delicious.
Thanks for the giveaway, the cover is so lovely! I look forward to reading The Governess of Highland Hall.
Congratulations on the book! It sounds wonderful! I absolutely adore the cover art!
I am an avid tea drinker and drink it in many forms all through the day. In the afternoon I like to have graham crackers as a light snack in my hot tea with cinnamon sticks.
Thank you for the recipe. It looks delicious. I am a southern girl so I love tea. When my daughter was little we did tea parties. I loved those days. I can just imagine how she would have loved these scones. Thank you for the opportunity to win the book.
Blessings
Katrina
I love tea-time though I don’t get to enjoy a true high tea very often. From the beautiful china tea cups to the dainty morsels of sweets shared with friends, tea time is relaxing and uplifting. (If unable to share it with friends, it is always good to have the company of a good book.)
A beautiful teapot and cozy….a platter of tempting delicacies to nibble and lots of laughter with friends. What could be better than that except a story written about it!
Thanks for the delicious scone recipe, Carrie!
I dearly love everything about tea – drinking it, & going to high teas, & teahouses. Love sampling all the little sandwiches, & treats, & the different tea flavors.
There is a teahouse near me that I love to visit – they offer fur capes, scarves, gloves, hats, & jewelry, should you want to dress up for your tea. The shop is decorated beautifully, & the food & tea is delicious! I took my granddaughter, & daughter-in-law for tea, & later took my nephews 2 daughters, & my sister-in-law. I will be going back again, soon, & taking my mother & girlfriend.
I haven’t read any of your books, but would love to read this one – thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Thank you, dear Joanne, for being such a gracious hostess!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
two things your book and your recipe aave in common…they both look tantelizing!
I most enjoy the time to relax and slow down, especially with friends and loved ones.
My mother and I love having tea together, especially in our antique teacups! I enjoy making little “treats” to go with our tea -like cookies or muffins- but I’ve never tried making scones. I’ve been planning on having an authentic “tea party” with my family & friends, so maybe I’ll make scones. Thanks for the recipe, and congratulations on the new novel! 🙂
Love the recipe and will try it. I do a Women’s Christmas Tea and love planning the recipes! Look forward to reading the book!
Looking forward to reading this book. I have a tea party with 7 young ladies on a monthly basis all in elementary school. We bake together and then enjoy an assortment of tea. I even make froth for them. We have a great time! I don’t have children of my own but it’s a delight to share a short story that we discuss as well. Thanks for the recipe.