What's cooking

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoons salt

10 tablespoons (1 stick plus two tablespoons) unsalted butter melted

8 ounces (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided

2 thick slices of honey ham or country ham from deli counter

1/4 cup fresh chives chopped

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

line a baking sheet with parchment paper

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Drizzle in the melted butter, then stir well. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar, the ham and chives.

In a small bowl whisk together the cream and sour dream, then add to the dough and stir until everything is moistened and the dough sticks together.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using your hands form the dough into a round that is 1 inch thick and 10 inches in diameter. Cut the round into 8 wedges, then transfer each to the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 F. Make sure scones are placed evenly apart. Sprinkle scones with remaining cheese and bake 20-25 minutes until golden and slightly firm. Remove and serve warm.

This recipe is one I found by Alison Ladman in he Richmond Times-Dispatch. I have made some changes to it.I find this is a great make ahead recipe to use for breakfast or serve with soups and stews. It is also good to have with salads for a lunch or to make in smaller wedges for a potluck party. Here are my ideas for changing it: Do not freeze on a baking sheet. I froze my wrapped in wax paper and plastic wrap. For the ones I wanted to keep in the freezer for later use, i wrapped in wax paper and placed in a zip loc freezer bag. For recipe changes, Leave off ham and use a combination of herbs such as basil, parsley, chives, and marjoram. Leave off ham and use a combination of cheeses such as mild cheddar, monterey jack, swiss. For a intense cheese taste try sharp cheddar, fontina and gruyere. Should you desire a sweet scone for breakfast use 1/3 cup of sugar, a teaspoon or so of vanilla, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon or 1 1/2 cups of dried fruit such as cherries, raisins, or blueberries, or a combination of fruits and nuts. The choice is yours. let me know what you've tried. Bon Apetit.