Cranberry Scones (Basic Scones Recipe)

I found a simple basic scones recipe at Allrecipes.com and added some dried cranberries - yummy! 

Basic Scones
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup margarine
1 egg, beaten
1 cup skim milk
(I also used dried cranberries and orange zest)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 Measure flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl.  Stir until well mixed.

 Add the margarine.  I cut it into slices to making the next step easier.

 Using a pastry blender, blend in the margarine until a meal texture.  If you don't have a pastry blender you can use two knives, one in each hand, and cut through the margarine slices until you only have very small pieces of margarine among the flour.

 Here you can see the small 'lumps' of margarine.

 Add the egg to the milk and beat with a whisk until well mixed.    Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture while stirring until all the flour is moistened.

 Here I added a handful (about 3/4 cup) of dried cranberries and about 1/2 teaspoon orange zest.   You can add any dried fruit or other tasty things like chocolate chips, coconut or chopped nuts.  Or you can just make them plain.

Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper and spray the paper with cooking oil.   I divided the dough in half and made two flat circles about 1/2 inch thick.  Score with a knife into 8 pie wedges.  (The original recipes said to make one circle - it would have been huge, like a pizza!  I prefer the smaller scones.)

Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Can be served warm or at room temperature. 

16 servings - 197 calories each.  Not low in calories but everything in moderation.  I put half of them in the freezer.

Pepper Jack Scones

Pepper Jack Scones
(Original recipes was sharp cheddar and chive but the only cheese I had to use was some pepper jack.  It was a good substitute)

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
4 Tbsp cold margarine or butter
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
3/4 cup milk (plus 2 Tbsp if needed)

Preheat oven to 425.  Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Mix together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a large mixing bowl.  Using a pastry blender, add the margarine and blend to a cornmeal consistency - although some of the margarine may still be in larger lumps.If you don't have a pastry blender you can use a fork.  Stir in the cheese.
Add the 3/4 cup milk and stir to make a dough.  The dough should form a ball and not be sticky.  If it is too dry and there is still flour in the bottom of the bowl, add the 2 additional Tbsp of milk.
Divide dough into 2 balls.  Place each ball on the baking sheet and flatten with a rolling pin or your hands to a 6 inch circle.  Cut each into 6 triangular sections.
Bake 22 to 24 minutes until golden brown.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

You can freeze the cut but unbaked scones on the baking sheet and move to a freezer bag once frozen.  Bakes frozen ones at 425 for 30-35 minutes.