Substitutions....

Ready for wet ingredients.

The finished product, fresh out of the oven.

I know I promised to show you the "finished product" from the Chocolate Griddle Cake recipe I posted a few days ago.  I mentioned that the MOTH would be surprised with them on Valentine's Day.  Well, that was not to be.  The MOTH was fighting a migraine at bedtime the night before for the second time in recent days.  On the chance that his enjoyment of chocolate might have been the trigger, we postponed the plans for that breakfast of those chocolate delicacies.  Instead, I made Scotch Scones with Dried Cranberries.  I know....that sounds like Christmas, but we enjoy dried cranberries all year, and they ARE red, which is the color for Valentine's Day, after all.

This recipe comes from "Christmas Thyme at Oak Hill Farm" by Marge Clark, 1994.  I have used it many times and been pleased each time.  Notice there is no cutting in of butter, cutting short the mixing process.:-)

SCOTCH SCONES WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES

2 cups flour
1/2 cup raisins, currants, or dried cranberries (I think dried cherries would work, too).
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream (I used fat-free).
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons milk
1 egg, slightly beaten

- Heat oven to 425 degrees F.  Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.  Add remainder of ingredients and stir until dough holds together.  On a well-floured surface, roll the ball of dough until it is no longer sticky.  Knead dough 12 or 15 times.  Divide ball in half.  Pat each half into a 6" circle.  Brush surfaces with a little milk, then sprinkle a little sugar on each.  Cut each circle into 8 wedges.  Place 2" apart on a very lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Serve hot, if possible, with butter, a flavored butter, honey, or jam and of course, clotted cream.  Makes 16.

You can easily notice that I cut the scones into heart shapes rather than into wedges.  The MOTH puts the leftovers in the freezer to enjoy as he is ready for them.

I haven't experimented with adding other ingredients rather than the dried fruit.  I wonder how they would taste with mini-chocolate chips.  Hmm....

Next post - A "great anytime" treat....