SCONES

A simple but delicious recipe that takes no time to make and can be quite diverse. Often before combining dry and wet ingredients, I separate the two in half by weight and then add the flavour (1/2 of what is listed in recipe) to create two different types of scones. The original recipe came from Company's Coming cookbook but was modified to suite personal preference.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 12 pieces

Ingredients

• 2  cups flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 4  teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1⁄4 cup margarine
• 1  egg
• 2⁄3 cup milk

Directions

1. In bowl 1, mix dry ingredients. Cut butter in until crumbly.
2. In bowl 2, mix wet ingredients.
3. Add one of the following options to the dry ingredients.
4. Options: 1 cup sharp cheddar, cubed into 1 cm pieces; OR 3/4 cup sharp cheddar, cubed and 3 slices bacon, crisp and crumbled; OR 1/2 cup sharp cheddar, cubed and 1/2 cup ham, cubed; OR 1/2 cup frozen blueberries; OR 1/2 cup frozen blueberries and grated peel of 1 lemon OR 1/2 tsp lemon extract added to wet ingredients; OR 1/2 cup raisins; OR 1/2 cup dried cranberries & grated peel of 1 orange; OR 1/2 cup diced apples; OR 1/2 cup diced apples tossed with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
5. Mix one of the option into dry ingredients. Make well in center and pour wet ingredients. Mix quickly by hand and pour onto a lightly floured surface.
6. Knead 1/2 dozen to ten times.
7. Separate into 2 equal amounts. Create a ball and pat down. Score into 4 to 6 pie shapes.
8. Brush with milk (optional) and bake at 425'F for 15 minutes. Turn heat off and leave oven door slightly ajar and leave scones in for another 5 minutes.
9. Cool slightly and serve.