Currant Scones
1/2 c currants
4 c flour (all purpose)
1/4 c sugar
2 tbl Baking powder
1 tsp salt
8 tbl cold butter, cut up (1 stick)
1 3/4 c half-and-half
Put the currants in a bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover. Let sit for 15 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 375º F and grease a cookie sheet (even if it’s teflon).
Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
Add the butter and blend (with a pastry blender or your fingertips) until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Drain the currants, pat dry and add to the dry ingredients. Mix well.
Add the half-and-half and stir just until the dough comes together. This dough will be very soft.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently for about a minute.
Roll or pat the dough into a rough square about a 3/4 - 1” thick.
Using a very sharp knife, cut into 9 pieces (or however many you like - we like big scones :)
Transfer the pieces to the cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
Remove to cooling rack and drool while they cool down enough to eat :)
These are fairly plain treats, but the butter and the half-and-half make them quite rich. I don’t do the cream and jam thing at home, I just use butter. A scone is a wonderful thing to have with your morning coffee! Just put it on a paper towel and stick it in the microwave for about 20 seconds to warm it up nicely.
Of course, I’ve been thinking about other variations. I probably wouldn’t mess with the sugar as I like them just barely sweet. But I might, on future scone-making ventures, substitute any of the following for the currants:
Grated orange (or lemon) peel and grated ginger
blueberries
grated orange peel and cranberries
dried apricots, cut up finely
figs, cut up finely
tiny chocolate chips and finely chopped walnuts
cardamom, black pepper and cloves
I might even be tempted to try leaving out the sugar entirely and making a savory version with:
grated cheddar cheese (add 1/2 a tsp or so of dried mustard) and a bit of dill
grated cheddar cheese and some finely cut up ham or bacon.
chopped, sun-dried tomatoes and basil
chopped turkey and sage
Your taste buds and imagination are the only requirements!
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