Recipe of the Week: Orange Scones

I mentioned last week C's cookbook gift to me, and since I cooked out of it every day last week, I figured I might as well talk about my favorite recipe in the book so far:

Orange Scones

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar (plus 1 TBS for later)
1 TBS baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup orange juice (plus 1 TBS for later)
1 TBS orange zest
1 tsp orange extract
1/2 cup Earth Balance (I used Smart Balance... and take it from me, butter doesn't really work)

Directions:
Set oven to 350 degrees.

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Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In another bowl, whisk together orange juice, orange extract and orange zest. Then add the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the Earth Balance and mix well. (This is the point where I put my dough mixer handle on my Kitchen Aid... it was much easier to clean!)

Lightly flour a flat surface. Knead dough for a minute, then form into a small pizza crust shape, lightly flattening it into desired thickness. Cut the dough into 8 wedges and place on a baking sheet.

Use your finger or pastry brush to spread the extra orange juice on each scone, then sprinkle with the extra sugar.

Bake 15 minutes. Let cool. Serve with your favorite jam.

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Now, C was a bit hesitant to let me make scones, because he's always thought of them as nothing more than hard biscuits... and to both his and my surprise, these were the softest, fluffiest biscuit-type thing I've every made!

[Recipe from Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook by Kim Barnouin]