Scones, Glorious Scones!

Since purchasing Trader Joe's Lemon Curd and  Mark and Peter's Strawberry-Mango Jam I have been plotting and planning to make my favorite scone recipe. All week I have been thwarted by business alternating with laziness. This morning I just uttered the words "Maybe" and  "Scones", and my son badgered me until I relented.

I let him do all the messy stuff.

I use Nigella's recipe "Lily's Scones" and altered it just a bit... subbed greek yogurt for the shortening (I generally do not keep shortening in my larder) and added a wee bit more butter. I also added a tablespoon of sugar and citrus zest into the dough. I topped them with a brush of milk (don't like the egg wash bit) and sprinkled some sanding sugar--big crystally stuff-- before I baked them off. Oh, and I like my scones in triangles, not rounds. Geez, I guess its not Nigella's recipe anymore! Well, here's my version:

Ann's Scones

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, cold
2 tablespoons thick greek yogurt
1 cup cold milk
3 1/3 cups flour
4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated citrus zest (optional: lime, lemon or orange)
2 tablespoons or so of turbinado or sanding sugar, for topping
Pam spray


Preheat oven to 425 with rack in bottom 1/3 of your oven. (do NOT use convection setting---they will not rise as high). Prepare a sheet pan by covering in heavy foil and spraying lightly w/ Pam. (This is for easy cleanup later)

Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the butter in slices and mix in with your fingers until well incorporated. A few butter lumps won't hurt, though. Now add the yogurt, zest (if using), and the milk in one dump. Mix quickly until just combined with a wooded spoon.

Take the dough and dump in on your foiled pan in one big lump. Shape it with your hands into a circle, pressing it together gently until it is no more that 1/2 inch thick.

Get a plastic knife, or any not-so-sharp knife, and cut the round like a pie into 8 equal-ish pieces. Spread them apart on the foiled sheet until they are no closer than 2 inches from each other. Brush tops lightly with some milk (I just use the back of a spoon) and sprinkle sugar so it sticks.

Bake for 12 minutes or so, or until risen and wonderfully browned.

Serve hot with Lemon Curd,  assorted Jams. Butter, and clotted cream, if desired. Eat until deliously happy.

Make it a Great Day!
Ann