Lavender Scones In The Apple Orchard

I've just finished another terrific Susan Wiggs novel, The Apple Orchard.  It is like many of her books, setting permeated throughout.  And, happily for me, recipes sprinkled here and there as well.

Tess Delaney, in this book is  is a driven, ambitious, and stressed out provenance authenticator for a major auction house.  She loves her job, travels frequently and has no personal or home life to speak of.  Tess gets some dramatic news while dashing to a meeting, and basically flips out with a full-blown nervous breakdown.  From the Publisher:

"Tess Delaney loves illuminating history; returning stolen treasures to their rightful owners and filling the spaces in people's hearts with stories of their family legacies. But Tess's own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, and a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter.  

Then the enigmatic Dominic Rossi arrives on her San Francisco doorstep with the news that the grandfather she's never met is in a coma and that she's destined to inherit half of a hundred-acre apple orchard estate called Bella Vista. The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen, the half sister she never knew she had. Isabel is everything Tess isn't, but against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, with Isabel and Dominic by her side, Tess begins to discover a world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep."

A lovely book with nuance and meaning, plus family reconciliation and love.  Highly recommended.

As I mentioned, recipes are scattered here and there, as it turns out Tess's half sister is an accomplished cook, which is how she deals with stress.  I suppose it's better to cook than just eat when under stress.

I loved the sound of her Danish Apple Pie with Caramel Apple Topping, the Grape and Rosemary Focaccia and a Salmon Fisherman's Pie (Tweed Kettle Pie) which I almost decided to make for St. Pat's.  But, instead the Lavender Scones were calling my name.  Often I will buy ingredients, intending them for a particular recipe, then they languish.  Thus, the lavender buds.  I also have some rose petals and rose water meant for an Ottolenghi recipe which need to be used.

This is an excellent recipe for when I'm out of cream, which my usual go-to scones recipe from Alice Waters  calls for.  This one has buttermilk (or in my case kefir) and some oats to go with the lavender.  They turned out moist and flavorful.  I'll share all the goodness over at Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking event and at the March Foodies Read Challenge.  Check out both for some great food and books.