SCONES

Let me make myself perfectly clear when I say, "I love to bake." And it's not one specific thing that I like to bake for example: only cakes, or only brownies, etc. I like to bake a variety of things. Why bake one thing well, if you can make all sorts of different things extraordinary. The first bread type thing I ever made were scones. Although, I have had scones enough to last me the rest of my life I definitely want to share a yummy recipe that has never failed me. Until I started researching, I had never realized that scones have been around for such a long time. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary website www.w-m.com/dictionary/scones scones were first used in 1513. Also according to the same website, the word scone is defined as, "a rich quick bread cut into usually triangular shapes and cooked on a griddle or baked on a sheet." According to the Britannica Encyclopedia website(www.britannica.com) scones originated from England and Wales where they were baked in cast iron pans. To protect yourself from being ridiculed by British people the correct pronunciation for the word scone is ˈskōn (like the word gone). Many people in America do not know what scones are and the ones that have actually heard of scones don't know what the consistency of scones is supposed to be. Scones are supposed to be soft and chewy, not crunchy and crumbly. In England tea is served daily, almost like the way people here in America have coffee, except in England there are specific scheduled times to have tea during the day. In England, more often than not scones are accompanied with tea. According to www.epicurious.com scones are normally served with tea or breakfast.

I have made scones at least 20 times and I don't think I have ever had a batch that didn't come out right. This is the simplest scone recipe I have ever come across and I'm willing to share it. This recipe is quick, fast and easy. It can be modified for all sorts of ingredients which definitely leaves room for creativity. I found the recipe in a Hershey's cookbook titled: Hershey's Chocolate Cookbook. However, it is also available online at www.hersheys.com search dark chocolate chip scones. This recipe is so simple that it is easy to change the chocolate for dried fruit or even fresh fruit. There are a couple of modifications that I have made compared to the original recipe. Trust me when I say, I have made this recipe this way at least 15 times and it has come out delicious every single time. The scones that I have made are Cranberry Scones.

3 1/4 cups ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1/2 cup GRANULATED SUGAR

1 tablespoon 1 teaspoon BAKING SODA

1/4 teaspoon SALT

1 8ounce package of DRIED CRANBERRIES

2 cups CHILLED WHIPPING CREAM

Additional GRANULATED SUGAR

Heat the oven at 375°F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets [be sure to use butter or margarine]. [DO NOT USE COOKING/BAKING SPRAY]

Stir together flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl.

[With the dried cranberries I usually put them in a measuring cup and fill it with room temperature water until it just covers the fruit. Then dump out the water in the sink and pour the fruit in with the dry mixture. Stir the fruit in with the dry mixture until each piece is covered with the mixture]

Stir whipping cream into flour mixture just until ingredients are moist [if the mixture seems too dry add a little more whipping cream]

Turn mixture out onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently until soft dough forms, about 2 minutes. Divide dough into three equal balls. One ball at a time, flatten into 7-inch circle; cut into 8 triangles. [ I have found that using a slightly floured, pizza cutter works very well for cutting the scones into triangles] Transfer triangles to prepared baking sheets, spacing 2-inch apart. Sprinkle with additional granulated sugar [In the original recipe it suggests putting melted butter on each scone and then sprinkling granulated sugar, however, it doesn't make a difference]

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light browned. [the bottom of the scones will be lightly browned, not the top]