hi there!
Welcome to Scotch & Scones!
I'm Tammy, and I love to share with you my recipes for desserts, breads, and much more, plus tasting notes for scotch, bourbon, and whiskey. Enjoy!
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What you'll find on Scotch & Scones
Here at Scotch & Scones you'll find recipes for making desserts, baking bread (including creative ideas for using sourdough starter discard), and a whole lot more. Each recipe includes step-by-step photos, and most have videos to guide you along the way.
My tasting notes include interesting information about the spirits I'm reviewing, then my impressions for the nose (the spirit's aroma), taste (initial flavors), and finish (what flavors linger) for each expression in the lineup, plus any comments I have about them.
You'll find all of my recipes grouped into collections on my Recipe Index, and my Tasting Notes Index has all the scotch and spirits I've reviewed grouped by region or type.
A quick background about me
I have cooked for my family for over 40 years, and in 2012 I graduated from culinary school at the Art Institutes with the intention to teach Culinary Arts. An unfortunate back injury sidelined that career, but culinary school gave me the skills and confidence to experiment with cooking and baking.
My first and foremost job title is that of mom to my two (now-grown) daughters, but I've also worked as an aerospace engineer, website developer, artist, preschool teacher, and personal chef. My fascination with baking comes through my love of science and the magic of bringing together disparate ingredients that produce something yummy.
By tweaking recipes to my food preferences (healthier preparations using wholesome ingredients), I'm always looking for more items to make instead of buy. My intention is to reduce my family's exposure to additives or preservatives that really don't have a place in our diet.
Becoming a food blogger
I started my journey as a food blogger by accident. I stumbled across a TV show called Outlander on STARZ, and was captivated.
Outlander is a show about a married, time-traveling WWII nurse from 1945 thrown back to 1743 in Scotland where she meets a dashing Highland warrior just before the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. Actually, Outlander is a whole series of books and novellas by Diana Gabaldon.
From this show came the discovery that I like scotch whisky, and I started taking notes about the tastings I attended. My now-son-in-law suggested that I write about both my whisky reviews and my love of baking, and Scotch & Scones was born. If you want to read more about why I started this website, my very first blog post tells the tale.
Bottom line: coupled with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting thoughts, and share my knowledge with family and friends, and now you, too!
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
If you're new to baking, welcome! I have a lot of easy recipes on my website to start with, depending on what you're looking for. Quick breads (like those made as a loaf, bundt cake, or muffins) are great to start with because they're mostly just mix and bake. Pumpkin Bread, Kahlua Cake, and Honey Cake are easy and delicious. Many cookies and brownies are simple and straightforward as well, especially something like a three-ingredient shortbread.
Don't be afraid to try something new. If it doesn't work, chalk it up to experience and try again! And remember, you can always ask me a question in the comments of a recipe, or email me directly. I'm here for you!
Some recipes do require more attention to detail, like French macarons, sourdough bagels, or a Checkerboard Cake. But don't worry, in my posts I give you lots of clear instructions and pictures of the recipes in progress so you'll know if you're on the right track. And again, you can always ask me a question in the recipe comments or in an email.
As a whisky reviewer, I get this question a lot. But like with children, it's hard to say which specific expression I like best. My glib answer is to say, "whatever is in my glass at the time is my favorite." If I had to choose though, The Balvenie PortWood 21 year old single malt whisky is an excellent wee dram.
To be honest, I'm still in awe of those that can take a sip of something and immediately start throwing out descriptors. For me, it's about relating the flavors and aromas I find in my kitchen pantry or in nature, and I go through a mental checklist of foods, ingredients, spices, and places to nail down exactly what I'm experiencing. Believe me when I say it's not easy.
Developing a palate takes patience, practice, and paying close attention to what's in front of you. It's very personal, as everyone's palate is different and no one's opinion is wrong.
What's Popular with Readers ✨
- Sourdough Discard English Muffins
- Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake (Eggless & Dairy-Free)
- How to Make Scottish Bannocks from Outlander
- Homemade Marshmallow Creme (Marshmallow Fluff)
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding (No Eggs)
- Sourdough Discard Crumpets
- Easy Homemade Boiled Apple Cider Syrup
- Small Batch Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
My Favorite Recipes
Trying to choose a favorite recipe is like trying to choose a favorite child - I love them all! However, these are some of the recipes that I make time and time again.
My columns and interviews
- In addition to Scotch & Scones, I write a column for Outlander Cast called How They Made It about the food and drink of the Outlander universe. The column shares recipes from Britain and the US in the 18th and 20th centuries. It's a fun project!
- I was interviewed on The Original Foodie show about how I got started in food blogging, as well as my approach to cooking and baking. And for more about my Outlander-inspired journey, Lindley Key and I talked for her Outlander Cast Sassenach Spotlight series.
- I've also appeared on the EatBlogTalk podcast with Megan Porta, discussing all the elements that go into creating a successful food website. Take a listen!
My branded collaborations
I've been lucky enough to work with some really awesome brands over the years, like Clan Fraser Whisky, Plymouth Bay Winery, and Cosmic Bliss Organic Ice Cream.
If you're interested in having a me create a recipe using your product, promote a social media campaign, or having me to review your product, check out my site information media kit and contact me to find out more about how we can work together!
Some of the brands I've partnered with:
I hope you will join me in making and tasting yummy treats that you can share with family and friends!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy