Ham & Cheddar Scones

Adapted from The Culinary Institute of America Breakfasts & Brunches

My dear sister gave me this new cook book and we were eager to try a bunch of the recipes that it held.  This was the first one up.  I have always liked scones and I think one of the best parts about this is that you can use the basic scone recipe and add any number of fillings that you can devise.  The scones were flaky and savory.  We ate them both for brunch and later that day with some leftover soup. 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 Tbs baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup medium-diced ham
• ½ cup medium-diced Cheddar cheese
• ½ cup sliced green onions or scallions
• 2 cups heavy cream

Directions:

• Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together into a mixing bowl.  Add the ham, cheese and green onions and toss together with the  dry ingredients until evenly distributed.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. 
• Add the cream to the flour mixture and stir by hand just until the batter is evenly moistened.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare a baking sheet by spraying it lightly with cooking spray or lining with parchment paper.
• Place half the dough in a cake pan and press into an even layer.  Cut the dough into 8 equal wedges and place the individual wedges on the baking sheet.  Repeat with the second half of the dough.
• Bake the scones until golden brown, about 35 minutes.  Serve scones warm or at room temperature.  Can also freeze extras for up to 4 weeks.

Notes:  Try basic scone recipe with a mixture of fruits, chocolate chips, different cheeses or other vegetables.  {Ex:  jalapeno with Cheddar, raspberry with white chocolate chips, craisins with pecans, etc…}