“Definitely! We could even sun-dry them first,” Zoe suggested. “It’s totally hot enough.”
“Would you like any tea?” I offered.
“Always,” she said.
Parmesan Berry Scones
This scone was inspired by my trip to the Madison Farmer’s Market this morning. I wanted to combine our state’s amazing cheese (On Wisconsin!) with the bright and delicious berries now in season.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter
1 egg
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup strawberries
1/2 teaspoon secret ingredient
1/4 cup whole milk
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the dry ingredients together first, then cut in the butter. Stir in one beaten egg and add cheese and berries. Add the secret ingredient. Slowly add the buttermilk to form a thick dough. You may need slightly more than cup. Knead the dough on a board, roll to a 1-inch thickness, and cut the dough into 2-inch triangles or rounds. Place each scone on a greased cookie sheet and brush the tops with milk. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes; serve warm. Makes about 12 scones.
Customer comments about the finished scones:
“That was great!” “Your best one yet!”
July 25 3:30 p.m.
Chapter Four
The tea was so delicious that it was not necessary to pretend it was anything but tea.
—FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT
SCONE CONTEST LEADER BOARD
1. Miss Cuppycake.........345 followers
2. Master Baker............301 followers
3. HaileyCakes.............290 followers
4. PastrySwagger..........207 followers
5. Wis-scone-sin...........198 followers
6. SweetCakes.............196 followers
The next morning I was so disheartened to see SweetCakes near the top of the board. How could a mean person do so well? I quickly visited her blog. It looked like it had been professionally designed. Instead of using a standard template like SteepingLeafScone.com had, SweetCakes.com was unique and full of amazing photos. She had just put up a recipe for White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones, and she already had a ton of comments.
SweetCakesLuver: YUM.
July 26 9:52 a.m.
REALFoodie: I tried this recipe. It is incredible
July 26 9:53 a.m.
SweetTooth89: I love your recipes, what kind of flour do you use?
July 26 9:54 a.m.
BakeAndShake: LOVE LOVE LOVE NOM NOM NOM
July 26 9:55 a.m.
SweetCakes: @SweetTooth89: I use Gold Medal, of course;-)
July 26 9:56 a.m.
SweetCakesLuver: LOL Of course. Because that is what you deserve!!!!!!!!!
July 26 9:57 a.m.
KiKiCakester: Do you deliver?
July 26 9:58 a.m.
I scanned the rest of the leader board until I saw what I was looking for:
29. SteepingLeafScone......15 followers
I had a lot of work to do.
Genna knocked on our front door twenty minutes before our spa appointment. Of course, Luke and Billy had to beat me to it. The boys threw open the door.
“ANNNNNIEEEEE,” Billy screeched. “It’s GENNNNNNNA!”
Next, Luke ran almost right into her and stuck out his tongue, to reveal it was green from the Popsicle he’d been eating. They pounce on pretty much anyone who comes to the door. My dad says it’s a good security system, because most burglars have a natural fear of boys holding skateboards, cleats, and Popsicles melting down their arms. Molly added to the commotion with a few cheerful barks, and Truman watched from his usual perch at the front window. My parents were in the backyard putting new stone edging around the shrubs. It was easily ninety degrees outside, so I was very relieved not to be dragged into it.
From the top of the stairs I could hear Genna using her best voice of authority with my little brothers. “Billy, Luke, this is a new shirt. If you get any Popsicle juice on me, I will make you sorry you were born.”
“Hey, Gen! Luke! Billy! Stop!” I grabbed my knapsack and edged out past my brothers.
“Hi, Annie. Ooh, cute sandals, are those new?”
“They’re Beth’s. She said I could borrow them because my old flip-flops might scare the fancy spa ladies.” I grinned. Genna giggled. “Sorry about my brothers,” I said as I shut the door firmly behind me. “My dad said he’d take them to the pool, but the yard work is taking longer than he thought it would. They’re bouncing off the walls.”
“Ha-ha, I don’t mind,” Genna said. “I like your brothers.”
“I guess they’re okay when they aren’t getting something sticky and purple on me,” I said. “But then again, I can’t think of a time when they’re not.”
“So, what color are you gonna pick for your toes?” Genna asked. “I’m thinking about Tantalizing Tangerine.”
“That sounds cool. I don’t know, I guess I’ll see what looks good.” My toes were usually just their natural color, so I supposed any color of polish would look cute. “I’m so glad you are back!”
“Me too. Well, sort of.” Gen looked wistful. “It’s weird. It’s like now that I’ve gone away, I’ll always miss something. When I’m here, I miss there. I wish James could come and live in Madison.”
“Yeah.” I could imagine how Genna was feeling, but not exactly. I’d never been away from home, really, not even for camp. I should probably try it sometime. “So, is he your, you know, boyfriend?”
“Yes. Well, um, I’m not really sure. It seemed like he was when I was there, but now I don’t know. We didn’t really talk about it. I didn’t want to say anything weird because he’s, like, a year older than us and lives in the city.”
“What does living in ‘the city’ have to do with it?” Was she talking about New York? Wasn’t Madison a city?
“I don’t know. Things are different there.” Genna looked pained. I decided to change the subject, because I didn’t really understand what she meant and I didn’t want her to be upset during our special spa day.
“So the Leaf was totally full yesterday,” I said cheerfully.
“Awesome!” Gen seemed to snap out of it and smiled genuinely. “We can stop by after our toes are done to show Louisa.”
“For sure. Oh! That reminds me. I brought you a scone from the batch we made yesterday. Parmesan berry.” I reached into my bag for the little pastry box and handed it to Genna. She didn’t take it, though.
“What’s in it?”
“Oh, the usual stuff, plus the cheese and berries. Totally yum,” I answered. She took it and put it into her bag.
“Cool. I’ll have it later.”
We walked to Monroe Street and headed toward the university. It was so hot. I was glad I’d chosen to wear my loose cotton sundress. I hoped it was appropriate spa garb. Before school started, I planned to do a little clothes shopping with Genna and Zoe to make sure I made a good impression when high school began. Once Beth moved out, I wouldn’t be able to dip into her closet when I wanted to look extra nice. And I definitely wanted to look extra nice for ninth grade. More grown-up. Just as long as Genna didn’t try to get me to wear leggings or berets. Ugh.
When we arrived, the spa was very quiet, just like I remembered it. I loved the faint smell of eucalyptus in the air—it made it seem like we were in the tropics or something. The nice receptionist lady asked if we wanted any tea—supplied by the Steeping Leaf, of course! Both Genna and I nodded happily. The tea was our organic green blended with peppermint leaves. It was served hot in gorgeous celadon teacups. I inhaled its delicious smell and already felt totally pampered.
“Seriously, Gen. This is the best. I missed you so much, and being here reminds me of all the great stuff we did to sav
e the Leaf.” Genna and Zoe had helped me all spring to get new customers into my grandmother’s shop. We chalked advertisements around the neighborhood and handed out samples at school and got the spa to offer our tea.
“Me too! Ooh, look, the newest magazines.” Genna eagerly grabbed a pile of super glossy and colorful celebrity weeklies and tossed me one. I grinned. I wondered if I’d ever wear high heels as complicated as the ones the actresses wore. Probably not, if I wanted to make it through college with unbroken ankles. “Oh my gosh!” Gen yelled. She held one magazine very close to her face.
“What?” I looked up immediately, concerned.
“It’s Cecily Stevens,” she said, pointing to a picture of a young girl I didn’t recognize.
“Huh. She’s really skinny,” I observed.
“I knooow,” Genna said, moaning miserably. “And James, like, knows her. They went to elementary school together. Now she’s on TV.”
My eyes widened. To me, the girls in the magazines might as well have been from a different planet for all that we had in common. But it seemed like for Genna, they were much, much closer.
“You are so much prettier, Gen. And it sounds like the Amazing James knows that,” I said comfortingly. “Besides, look what she’s holding in that picture. Coffee. Maybe it’ll stain her teeth.” It felt kind of mean saying that since I had no idea who she was, but Genna grinned.
“I guess. But still, I’m totally eating only egg whites and vegetables until Christmas. I mean it.”
I frowned. It all made sense now, why Genna hadn’t eaten her pumpkin bar at the market or her scone just now.
“But Gen, why? You’re already perfect. That seems really… severe.”
“I’m not like you. I can’t eat a bunch of cupcakes and still wear kids’ sizes. And I don’t play tennis three hours a day like Zoe. I have to be careful,” she said firmly.
The kids’ sizes comment stung. Genna wasn’t trying to be mean, but I still felt uncomfortable. Sure, she had looked more, um, womanly than me for the last year or two, but since when was that a bad thing? I was so confused.
“Annie and Genna? We’re ready for you!” the receptionist sang. I set the glossy magazine down gratefully and stood up. I smiled at Gen and vowed to forget about skinny alien starlets for the afternoon. I hoped she would too.
Dear readers,
I love drinking tea, but did you know it’s good for other things as well? Like beauty! I’m taking a break from baking today to go to the spa with one of my BFFs. You can treat yourself to some at-home spa time with tea!
Tea Toner
Steep a generous portion of green tea in 1/2 cup of hot water for 4 minutes. Mix together with 1/2 cup of aloe gel (look for soothing aloe gel near the sunscreen at your drugstore or grocery store). Apply this mixture to your face in the morning or at night. It’s great for sensitive skin!
Herbal Tea Facial
Steep a tablespoon of peppermint tea in a large teapot. After 2 to 3 minutes of steeping, pour the tea into a bowl. Hold your face directly over the bowl, and place a towel over your head and the bowl. You can soak up the steam for as long as you feel like it. Your pores will clear out, and the peppermint aromatherapy will wake you right up!
xoxo,
Annie
July 26 9:12 a.m.
Chapter Five
Come oh come ye tea-thirsty restless ones—the kettle boils, bubbles and sings, musically.
—RABINDRANATH TAGORE
Gross! What is that?” Zach had arrived at the Leaf a moment earlier, propped his bike almost right against an occupied patio table, and marched up to the counter, where I was mixing up a new batch of scones.
“Zach, move your bike. Those people aren’t valets,” I said. “They’re our customers.”
He sighed massively and went back outside. Louisa handed me a half cup of dried tomatoes for the recipe and winked at me. “Can we ban him from the shop?” I asked her. Even though it was Monday, typically our slowest day of the week, I didn’t want Zach to disturb the peaceful Steeping Leaf aura.
“I don’t think so, dear. We’ll just make him grate some cheese and he’ll settle down.”
“That’s what my mom is always trying to do with Billy and Luke, and they usually just mess up whatever she’s trying to make,” I replied. Louisa chuckled.
Zach came back in, plopped himself heavily on a counter stool, and poked his finger into my scone dough.
“ZACH! Cut it out! You’ll contaminate my recipe!” I shouted, and grabbed the bowl away protectively. Louisa made a noise that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
“What sort of crime against nature are you making this time?” he asked. Zach knew about the contest and he knew how important it was to me, but he insisted on being a pain about it. “And don’t worry, my hands are clean. All I’ve done all day is play disc golf.”
“Great. I’m sure that is really sanitary,” I said sarcastically. “It’s going to be scones with dried grape tomatoes, bacon, and sharp cheddar. You can have one when they’re done.”
“No way. I don’t eat girl food.”
“Scones aren’t girl food!” I said.
“Um, yes, they are. The girliest.”
Louisa could see that I was getting mad, so she handed Zach a warm soapy dish towel. “Here, young man, wash your hands. You can help the lovely Annie grate some cheese.”
Zach was awful, but he couldn’t resist my grandmother. He took the rag, made a face at me, and dutifully washed and dried his hands. I was surprised when he actually took the block of cheese and did a good job grating it. Louisa said something about getting a fresh bulb of garlic from the garden and disappeared out the back door.
“Here you go, lovely Annie.” He handed me the cheese board with a neat pile.
“Why, thank you, terrible Zach,” I said. I added the cheese to my dough and kneaded it in with my hands.
“That is so disgusting,” he said. My dough was speckled with red tomatoes, orange cheese, and crispy bacon pieces. “It looks like upchuck. You are not going to win, you know.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Then I gave him a sympathetic smile. “Oh Zach, it’s okay. I know you are nervous about living your sad existence without me when I go to London for two weeks, but I’m sure you’ll survive, somehow. Maybe we can take an ad out in the newspaper and find you some friends.”
“How sweet of you, lovely Annie,” he said, and stuck his finger in the dough again and fished out a piece of bacon. At least they were slightly cleaner now. I smiled, genuinely, because I noticed he didn’t sound that sarcastic when he called me “lovely” this time. Then another thought occurred to me. Who would run the Leaf when we did win first prize?
“Zach, I just thought of something.”
“Your hair looks like you stole it from Carrot Top?”
“No.”
“You actually didn’t graduate eighth grade and you’ll have to repeat middle school as a tragic, too-old freak?”
“Stop it. No, I just realized that when we do win the prize and take our trip, there is no one to run the shop. Too bad Jonathan had to take that job waiting tables downtown.”
“Aw, Annie G. misses her One True Love.” Zach snickered.
“Not really.” I didn’t even bother to deny I had a crush on my former fellow barista. It seemed like a long time ago. “But we are going to have to train someone. Listen, do you think you know how much tea goes into a pot? You’re here all the time anyway.”
“Forget it. I’m not going to get a job, ever. See, there’s this thing called a ‘trust fund.’ Oh wait, you’re one of the unwashed masses. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Have I mentioned lately that I’d rather clean the patio with a toothbrush than talk to you?” I asked.
“I’m pretty sure you said something like that Saturday,” he said, unconcerned.
“Good.”
I added the “secret ingredient,” finished shaping the dough into a flat patty, and cut it into small triang
les. Then I put them on the greased cookie sheet, took a photo, and popped the scones into the oven.
When Louisa returned to the counter, I headed back to the office to start a new blog entry. Zach, of course, followed me.
I sat down at the computer, planning to ignore him, and he started poking around the storage shelves.
“What are you doing?” I finally asked.
“I noticed the oolong is getting low up front.”
“Oh.” I shook my head, surprised he was deciding to be helpful, and turned back to the computer to flip it on. I was thinking about the measurements I had used for the new scone so I could record them on the blog when I heard Zach drop something.
“Oops,” he said.
“Zach! Be careful!” I leaped up out of my chair and went to see what he’d managed to destroy.
“It’s just one of the tea shipments, nothing broke,” he said, sounding contrite. I picked up the spilled box and carefully put the packages it contained back on the highest shelf. Unfortunately, as I reached above me, I lost my balance a bit. Not again, I thought, as I fell over and landed ungracefully on my butt. The packages plopped down all around me, but miraculously none of them opened up. That was close.
Zach stood there looking at me sprawled out on the floor. I stared back at him and neither one of us said anything. There was something strange about his expression. He looked confused. Was he worried I was hurt? It wasn’t like an ambulance would be necessary; I doubted I even had a bruise. I groaned and made a move to get up; Zach reached down to give me a hand. I took it and he pulled me up… and sort of toward him.
The next thing that happened absolutely shocked me.
Zach Anderson kissed me.
I was so surprised I forgot to even close my eyes. His lips were soft, and he smelled surprisingly good up close. In an instant it was over, and he was stumbling out of the storage room. I touched my lips and blinked.
When my heart slowed back down to its normal speed and I went back out into the shop, he was gone.
Annie’s Delicious Bacon Scones
The Secret Ingredient Page 3