Simple Scones

When it comes to making English tea treats I'm always a bit hesitant...rarely have my attempts to find a good scone recipe met my expectations. Now, I have no idea really if my idea of a scone fits with what the Brits would define as a proper biscuit, but I finally found one I like--and it's easy! :o)

It comes from allrecipes.com and is aptly called "Simple Scones". I especially like to make the lemon variation mentioned following the recipe. If you love lemon as much as I do, spread some lemon curd on top!

Happy baking!

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2 c. flour

1/3 c. sugar + 1 tsp., divided

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

8 TBsp. unsalted butter, FROZEN

1/2 c. raisins (or dried currants)

1/2 c. sour cream

1 large egg

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 400.

2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt together in a bowl.

3. Use large holes of box grater to grate the butter into the flour mixture. Use your fingers to work in the butter (it should resemble coarse meal).

4. Add raisins (if using).

5. In a separate bowl whisk together the sour cream and egg until smooth.

6. Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (It will seem sticky at first but keep kneading in the bowl--it will come together.)

7. Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7-8 inch circle about 3/4 inch thick. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles (like a pizza).

8. Place on a cookie sheet, preferable lined with parchment paper, about 1 inch apart.

9. Bake until golden, about 15-17 minutes. Cool for 4 minutes and serve warm or at room temp.

Cranberry-Orange:

Add a generous tsp. of finely grated orange zest to the dry ingredients and substitute dried cranberries for the raisins.

Lemon-Blueberry:

Add a generous tsp. of finely grated lemon zest to the dry ingedients and substitute dried blueberries for the raisins.

Cherry-Almond:

Add 1/2 tsp. almond extract to the sour cream mixture and sub dried cherries for the raisins.

Lemon:

Add zest of one lemon to dry ingredients and 1 tsp. vanilla extract to sour cream mixture. Omit the raisins.