My Actual Favorite Movie...and Chocolate Chip Scones

In one of my favorite episodes of Friends, Monica and Rachel bet that they know Chandler and Joey better than Chandler and Joey know them, with Chandler's pet duck as the wager. Ross writes the questions and delivers them game-show style, and it's through the series of questions that they reveal that while Rachel claims her favorite movie is "Dangerous Liaisons" her actual favorite movie is "Weekend at Bernie's."

Just as many of us have favorite "movie" and an actual favorite movie (Fine. Mine are Almost Famous....and Elf), a lot of us have favorite foods, and actual favorite foods. I, specifically have a favorite breakfast food, oatmeal, and an actual favorite breakfast food: chocolate chip scones.

The chocolate chip scones that I have every once in a blue moon are from a one-of-a-kind bakery near my family's home in Pennsylvania. I've never had a chocolate chip scone from anywhere else that was nearly worth the calories that must be in these things. Calling them "breakfast" is even a little bit of a stretch since they're so sweet, rich and probably butter laden.

Since I don't live in Pennsylvania anymore, and as a side note, shouldn't be counting butter as a dairy serving in order to justify eating these, I decided to make my own from a recipe on Joy of Baking. Anything that comes out of my oven would have to be lighter than from this bakery, just trust me on this one.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups (280 grams) all purpose flour
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (113 grams) (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
3/4 cup (90 grams) milk or semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup (160 ml) buttermilk
Egg mixture for brushing tops of scones:
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chunks (or chips). In a small measuring cup whisk together the buttermilk and vanilla extract and then add to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together (add more buttermilk if necessary). Do not over mix the dough.

3. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches (18 cm) round and about 11/2 inches (3.75 cm) thick. Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). Place the scones on the baking sheet. Make an egg wash of one well-beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk and brush the tops of the scones with this mixture.

4. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Makes 8 scones.

Tell me about your "favorites" and your "actual favorites." Food, movies....let's hear it. I confessed, now it's your turn!

Comments

[Pearl]

i love elf, too!

[Elra]

OMG, this is absolutely luxurious and delicious scones.
Cheers,
Elra

[Paula]

Yum Yum Yum - these look AMAZING!!!

As for my favourite movie? It's "Clueless". And I'm unashamed to admit it! :)

[mandy]

The cup of coffee I was just drinking needs one of these scones to go with it.

[kat]

Oh yum, scones!

[Spike.]

I love when dessert passes for breakfast. These look great

[thatShortChick]

let's see, first of all, those scones need to be in my belly. NOW.

as for my "favorite foods:" chicken pot pie with cornbread crust (the recipe that was on Oprah), chilli mac, paella
and actual favorites: thin crust pizza, buffalo wings with dip, ANY kind of dip, nachos with the works.

[Ricki]

How could I not know that episode? I never thought of it that way before. Can I say that my favorite food is chocolate, and my actual favorite food is. . . chocolate?

These look fabulous, of course (they contain chocolate!) ;)

[Nirvana]

These look soooooo good! My actual most favorite thing in the world is the pink quality street chocolate (only the pink one)...

[Erin]

These look great! I think you should take advantage of being able to eat chocolate for breakfast whenever you can!

[Melissa]

Elf? *Pointing and laughing* :P

Favorite movies are as they are listed in my blogger profile. For real!

But I admit to stopping and watching Grease if it comes on TV and singing every word. I've seen that movie probable 70 or 80 times, I kid you not!

Favorite foods are also really my faves, and I have a hard time coming up with anything "shameful." Though I suppose it's not kosher for us cooks to talk about eating packaged creamed spinach or frozen corn dogs. Heh.

Nice scones!

[lisa (dandysugar)]

Yum, a perfect morning treat! I love scones. With chocolate chips it definitely could pass as an after dinner indulgence as well!

[Heather]

I LOVE ELF!! I think my abs. fave is 13 going on 30, although dumb and dumber and tommy boy rank pretty high up there. these scones look amazing!

[Joey]

Almost Famous is god-body.

[E.P.]

Right now, I'm a huge fan of all the HP movies. (I'm a nerd.)

And those scones look gorgeous and delish!

[Sandie]

My husband loves Almost Famous as well. Me? I'll take these Chocolate Chip Scones. They look and sound delicious!

[alexa - cleveland's a plum]

i think i know almost every word to elf, that and zoolander

[susan]

That is such a good episode of Friends and I forgot how much I love Almost Famous until I saw you write that!

Scones have always been tricky for me (no I don't make them I have just eaten pre-made ones) because they always seem dry. I will have to try out your recipe.

[Jamie]

I just made scones, warm and soft and light from the oven. I love scones. Yours look soooo good with the chocolate chips. Delish. I should try your recipe with the buttermilk. Sounds moist and yummy!

[Food Hunter]

They look delicious. I love scones and chocolate for breakfast :-)

[Sandy S]

You know what? I have such a sugar jones going on right now I can't even tell you my favorite or actual favorite food because it would seem absurd in the light of clearer thinking. And anyway, all I can think about right now are these scones. Please bring some over RIGHT NOW. I'll make coffee. :)

[bakingblonde]

Oh my those look marvelous! I love the idea to add chocolate chips. I have never made scones but have wanted to for some time. These look perfect.

[Jeff Deasy]

Chocolate Chip Scones may not be the perfect choice for a healthy breakfast, but sometimes you just have to live a little what a nice morning treat!

[Hayley]

I love your story, too funny. And these scones look amazing! Thanks for sharing, and Happy Valentine's Day!

[Jessica]

These look really good. I'm not a huge scone fan, but I would definitely try these. And that's a great episode of Friends.

[Cora]

My BFF, Robin. made the first scone I ever tasted from a Martha Stewart recipe and I was hooked. Yours look amazing and I want one right now!

[Donna]

OMG! These scones are just perfect. I would so love one in the morning with coffee. One of my favorite movies is Coal Miner's Daughter.. another Jerry Macguire..

[Cynthia]

I am not a chocolate lover but now you make me HAVE TO try these scones.

[Camille Maurice]

That looks so good. Definitely baking this week!

[Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella]

Hehe Elf is cute isn't it! And look at those chocolate chips. You're a girl after my heart, I hate it when there aren't enough choc chips and your ratio is perfect!

[smallkitchenbigideas]

Delicious looking scones!

My favorite breakfast is oatmeal but my actual favorite is oatmeal cookies. It's still oats, right?

[kate]

Favorite breakfast is toast with peanut butter, actual favorite is home fries topped with veggies, eggs and some cheese.

Favorite movie- O Brother Where Art Thou?
Actual Favorite movie- Serendipity

[Olivia]

The pictures are great...it makes me really want to try it. This is my idea of a great breakfast--forget oatmeal.

[Food Hunter]

Those scones look really good. I wish I had one right now.