Muriel Halsted's simple 'how to make scones' video impresses the world

Which is surprising when you consider that her simple 'how to' video on scone making has gone viral with just under five million people watching from all parts of the globe.

Her daughter keeps her informed of the video's popularity, but Muriel sees it in more immediate terms ... "my nephew in Albury saw it, and so did my nephew in New York ... imagine that".

But let's start at the beginning.

For 70 years the CWA has played a key role in Muriel's life, and before that it was the CWA Younger Set, which is where she met her husband Bill after he had returned from serving with the Australian Light Horse.

READ MORE:

She has lived in various parts of the state over the years - from a 4000-acre property 42 miles outside Moree on the way to Collarenebi, to running a caravan park just outside Forster, from Coonabarabran to Dungog, but the CWA has always been there.

The video was part of what the Scone CWA were calling 'scone-verstion week'.

"We were planning to invite the other CWAs from around the region to come to Scone, enjoy the hospitality, and maybe we could raise some funds for worthy causes - although in recent times nearly all the money raised has gone towards drought relief," Muriel said.

But with a global pandemic raising its ugly head and social distancing restrictions, the planned visits came to nothing and the video sat in a cupboard.

But the ABC Upper Hunter learned of its existence - and they were well aware of how tasty Muriel's scones were from functions they had attended - and sought permission to release it. And that's when Muriel's phone started ringing off the hook.

"I don't mind, I live on my own now so I have time. And besides, I love talking on the phone. Bill used to say I have a hinge halfway along my tongue so it can keep flapping."

She chuckles at the memory.

Muriel's cooking skills came partly from her mum who was a good home cook, and partly from necessity.

"I lived in the bush outside Moree for a good many years and there's no corner shop out there, you have to make do," she said. "And I had seven children to feed - four planned and three PS's as I call them.

"We had an orchard so we'd pick our own fruit, we'd milk the cows, if we wanted a roast dinner we'd kill the lambs ourselves, the washing was done in a big copper boiler over a wood stove.

"There was no microwave in those days, although I must admit I've become rather fond of my microwave. It was an environment where you looked after yourselves. On top of all that there was the school correspondence for the kids too. They were taught remotely."

And as remote as it was, the CWA was always there.

But as can happen so often on property, the weather is king. In Bill and Muriel's case there were two years of flood in 1955 and 56, followed by two of drought and in the end they couldn't sustain the place.

The two eldest boys were settling down to be married and stayed behind while the other family members - Muriel, Bill, the other three boys and two girls moved to Coonabarabran.

"I remember they had a school bus at Coonabarabran that picked the kids up and got them out of the house the day. I hadn't had that before. It's the simple things. I couldn't believe how much easier things became, how much more time I had."

While that part of her life changed dramatically, the cooking for functions and CWA meetings continued.

'The thing about the CWA is that they are always having these fund raisers, so you're cooking for so many functions," she says. "You learn from the other women around you too."

While Muriel's scones have stolen the show, she is adamant they're no better than anyone else's. "We all use the same recipe."

Which brings us to another interesting point. The recipe is simple and varies from the traditional CWA recipes - in short, it's quicker and easier, with no butter.

"The CWA one you had to rub butter in with your fingertips, you had to use plain flour with baking powder and it took you much longer.

"This one's the quickest and the easiest."

And still tasty. Total ingredients: flour, salt, cream, lemonade and milk.

So, does she cook much now?

"No because I don't really have anyone to cook for," she says. "And if I cook and eat it myself, I'm just going to put on weight."

Maybe that's why 'the scone lady from Scone" can't wait for the social distancing restrictions to be lifted. Her CWA is calling and there are scones to be made.