‘Well, food’s always the way to anybody’s heart, I think, guy or girl.’
— Josh Hutcherson, American actor.
The late Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has left behind a special recipe for all those who love to cook.
It’s her favourite recipe for drop scones (or pancakes, as Americans call them) which she shared with US President Dwight D.Eisenhower in 1960. She sent him the recipe along with a personal handwritten note to honour a promise she made a year earlier.
The note, as reported by Express.co.uk news, read: “Dear Mr President, seeing a picture of you in today’s newspaper standing in front of a barbecue grilling quail reminded me that I had never sent you the recipe for the drop scones, which I provided you at Balmoral.
“Now, I hasten to do so, and I hope you will find them successful.”
In August 1959, Her Majesty served the 34th American President the drop scones when she entertained him at Balmoral Castle near Edinburgh. At a barbecue in the Scottish highlands, the queen made the drop scones for the president using a family recipe.
The recipe, the queen shared, serves 16 people. In her letter, Her Majesty suggested substituting treacle (sugar syrup) for caster sugar and using teacup for measuring.
The recipe, which is kept by the American National Archives Catalogue, has gone viral and resurfaced online since the queen’s death at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle on September 8 this year.
But unknown to many of us, an annotated copy of Queen Elizabeth’s recipe was featured in an exhibition at the National Archives entitled, “What’s Cooking Uncle Sam?”way back in 2011.
The exhibition explored the government’s effect on the American diet. I wonder whether anyone tried the queen’s recipe then.
But since her death, many definitely have — in honour of the queen who ruled Great Britain and was head of state of many Commonwealth countries for 70 long years.
I discovered that The Star, a national newspaper in Malaysia, also featured a story about Queen Elizabeth’s drop scones on July 10, 2021 in its Food News. The title of the story was “Drop scones with the royal touch.”
Instead of jam and fresh fruits, the paper topped the drop scones with sour cream and caviar.
If you are wondering what the fuss is about, here is Her Majesty’s drop scones recipe:
Ingredients: 4 teacups flour; 4 tablespoons caster sugar; 2 teacups milk; 2 whole eggs; 2 teaspoons bicarbonate soda; 3 teaspoons cream of tartar; 2 tablespoons melted butter.
Method: Beat eggs, sugar and half the milk together, add flour, and mix well together, adding remainder of milk as required, also bicarbonate soda and cream of tartar, fold in the melted butter.
I did more research and found out that Scottish pancakes are actually called drop scones because the dough is placed directly on the cooking surface. Scottish pancakes are also called “Queen Elizabeth’s drop scones.”
Do you know scones are thought to have originated in Scotland in the early 1500s and that the first print reference was made by a Scottish poet in 1513? Scones were originally made using oats.
Although originally invented in Scotland, a country that is part of the United Kingdom, the fluffy treats quickly spread throughout the British isles.
Drop scones, best enjoyed warm, are perfect for breakfast or served for a brunch. When drizzled with honey or eaten with cream and fresh fruits, they turn into a lovely dessert. Some people serve them stacked high with warm jam and fruits. They are quick and easy to make.
My friends, if you are wondering what to make for your breakfast or brunch, how about Queen Elizabeth’s drop scones?
Personally, I have not tried the recipe because I don’t have cream of tartar at home.
Although it is alright in most cases to simply leave the cream of tartar out, the food may not be as fluffy or perfect as expected. That is a risk I cannot take even though the recipe will still work out and taste good. So I will wait until I stock up on the cream of tartar.
Dear Queen Elizabeth II has passed on but her memory will live on, partly thanks to the drop scones recipe she shared with US President Dwight D.Eisenhower in 1960.
