Yesterday morning I wanted to make scones for breakfast, which aren't that hard from scratch, but I noticed I had a scone mix in the cabinet and I didn't know how long it had been there so I thought I should use it up. But I also knew that if I just made it according to the directions it would probably just be OK. So I added some strawberries and a couple other things and they were delicious! I bet people thought they were homemade... now they will know the truth. Dammit!




I used strawberries and the juice and zest of an orange, but there are other combos that would work. Blueberry-lemon? Raspberry-lemon-optional addition of white chocolate chips? Peach-orange-put some powdered ginger in the dough? Plum-orange-do a dusting of nutmeg on top? Blackberry-lime? So feel free to be creative.

In terms of what wouldn't work, apples and pears would be too hard. Bananas would be too soft. Figs would get all smooshy.


Strawberry Scones

Ingredients:

• powdered scone mix + whatever it calls for
  
• about 8 big strawberries (more if they are small)
• sugar
• one orange (or lemon)

Method:

• Cut berries in quarters and put in a bowl with juice and zest of orange (or lemon) and about a tablespoon of sugar. Set aside for at least 20 minutes or in the fridge up to 24 hours.
• Make scone dough according to directions.
• Divide dough in half. Using half the dough, make flat discs (about 1/4 inch). How many? As many as the box says it is supposed to make.
• Press strawberries into dough discs, reserving one piece of strawberry for the top of each one. I think a single layer of strawberries works well.
• With the other half of the dough, make a top layer on the strawberries and try to somewhat join the top and bottom dough pieces by pinching them together with your fingers. It's ok if they are not all the way joined or if some strawberries are sticking out.
• Press an attractive strawberry piece into the top of each scone.
• Using a pastry brush, liberally brush the top of the scone with the orange sugary juice from the strawberries.
• Sprinkle tops with sugar (if you have any sugar with big crystals, like raw sugar, that will look even fancier.)
• Bake according to directions on box.
• They taste best if you eat them hot out of the oven but will keep in a ziploc for a couple days.

UPDATE: I forgot to tell you what to do if you have extra strawberries in their juice. Um, if you follow my example then you will eat all of them while waiting for the scones to be done.