Orange Scones

Fresh and bright tasting- just what was needed to cure some winter blues.

Orange you glad I can't think of a lame joke right now?

Okay, that was lame.

Orange Scones - Inside a Black Apple

(Makes about 8 medium sized scones)

Ingredients:

1 3/4 C flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 C white sugar

pinch salt

5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" chunks

1/2 C orange juice

1/4 c sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon milk

Zest of 1 orange

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F/200 degrees C

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Add the butter using a pastry tool or your hands, until the mixture is crumbly and there are still pea-sized lumps of butter visible. Stir in the orange zest. Mix together 1/2 cup orange juice and sour cream in a measuring cup. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients, and stir gently just until blended. Do not over-do the blending.

3. With floured hands, pat scone dough into balls 2 to 3 inches across, depending on what size you want. Place onto a greased baking sheet, and flatten lightly. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush the tops of the scones with the egg wash. Let them rest for about 10 minutes.

4. Bake for around 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are just golden brown. Transfer to rack to cool.

5. Once cool, you can leave them be or glaze them as I did. To make the glaze, I combined about 1/2 orange juice, the zest of 1 orange, and about 1/2 an orange cut into small chunks. I simmered the mixture lightly for about 10 minutes, and then took it off the heat and allowed to cool. Once cool, add confectioner's sugar until it reaches a good glazing consistency, and stir til' smooth.

6. Squirrel away any that remain in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.