Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt into a large bowl; then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles very fine bread crumbs. Using a fork, mix in enough sour cream to make a soft dough. Divide the dough in half. Using lightly floured hands, turn out the dough onto a well floured surface and then knead lightly until smooth. (The dough is soft so handle it gently. Do not let griddle get to hot, or scones will burn on the outside before being cooked on the inside). Carefully shape the dough into 2 rounds, each 1/2 inch thick. Cut each round into 6 equal wedges. Lightly grease a heavy skillet or griddle and heat over medium heat. Pour away any excess shortening, then cook the scones in batches for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown and cooked through. Grease the skillet as necessary. Cool the scones on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Serve them the same day, spread generously with butter.
This scone recipe is provided for entertainment purposes and not for redistribution. There may be errors in this publication so before hosting your next tea party, be sure to perfect your preparation method and fine tune your ingredients. Although scones are easy to prepare, there is an art to making them the right consistency and thickness. Don't forget to include Imperial Tea Garden® brand teas at your next tea party.