Simple, Scrumptious Scones for the Baking...

Hello to all,

Are you one of those people, male or female, who cringe when they consider baking from scratch? Would you like to impress your mate, date or family with your prowess in the kitchen? Here is your chance. This simple, scrumptious recipe can be modified (it is easy, trust me) to produce savory scones using cheeses and herbs, or sweet scones dotted with fruit or chocolate.

The basic ingredients:
2 cups of regular flour
For sweet scones 2/3 cups of white sugar – For savory scones 1/3 cup of white sugar
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of heavy cream
2/3 of a stick of butter (softened)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt – together with a large fork. Divide the softened butter into chunks and then cut them into the dry mixture. Cutting in means use the tines of the fork and press the butter into the mix. It is done when there is little pieces of butter spread evenly throughout.

Prepare a large cutting board or counter by lightly dusting it with flour. Prepare a cookie sheet by covering it with parchment paper. No parchment paper? No worry. Dust the cookie sheet with flour so the scones are easy to remove after baking.

Now you get your hands dirty, and really look like you know what you are doing. Shake some flour on your hands because it is time to get personal with food. Scones are better when the ingredients are coaxed together by hands.

Pour the cup of heavy cream in and use your hands to blend it all together. The dough will seem dry and it will not stay clumped all together. That is the way it should be.

Now you are at the creative part. These are suggestions for flavors. Feel free to try your own.

For savory scones add:
1/2 cup grated asiago cheese and 2 tablespoons of dried thyme
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of dried basil

For sweet scones:
1 cup frozen peaches, chopped (always use frozen fruit so the juices do not color your scones, or make them soggy)
1 cup frozen strawberries, chopped (add chunks of chocolate for real decadence)
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup frozen tart cherries

Fold the added ingredients in by hand. Mold the mixture gently together in the bowl and tip it on to your floured surface. Form it into a round shape approximately one inch thick. Using a long bladed knife cut it into quarters. Then divide each quarter into thirds.

Arrange the triangles on the cookie sheet leaving room in between for expansion. Bake for 25 minutes until slightly browned. Let them rest for 2-3 minutes before removing from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Combine these easy to make scones with your favorite coffee or tea. It is a scrumptious way to start the morning.