Onion Scones

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...These scones were a serendipitous find. They salvaged what otherwise would have been a dreadful day in the kitchen. I've been wanting to expand my chili repertoire and that, of course, involves lots of testing. I had great hopes for the recipe I was working with today, but as it turned out, it was a colossal dud. I kept waiting for a miracle to occur, but the chili never thickened and it was surprising flavorless. When given lemons, most folks make lemonade. I make soup. So, I mashed a good-sized chipotle, threw it in the pot with some adobo sauce and lots of additional broth, hoping to make something that would pass as a bean soup with a plan. That's all it was. I have no Eureka moment to share with you. The soup was edible, but just. However, while all that was going on, I was trying to find something new to serve with the cursed contents of that pot. I found the recipe for these savory and tender scones, here. This was a real find. If you decide to try this recipe, make sure you use a sweet onion in its preparation. I take it a step further and soak the onions in several changes of ice water before I cook and fold them into the dough. I'm, obviously, trying to avoid that harsh bite that onions can impart to baked goods. The recipe calls for a full tablespoon of baking powder. That is not a printing or transposition error. You'll need that much to get these to rise. I really liked these scones and plan to serve them with soup and stews this winter. I really hope you'll give this recipe a try. Here's how the scones are made.

Onion Scones...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of busycooks.about.com

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup butter
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup light cream
1 egg, beaten
butter

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In small microwave-safe bowl, combine onion, garlic, and butter. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir. Microwave for another 1-2 minutes or until onion is tender. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
2) Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, pepper and salt in large bowl and stir to mix. Add sauteed onions with the butter remaining in the bowl, light cream, and egg. Stir just until combined. Gently press the dough together with your hands to form a ball.
3) On ungreased cookie sheet, press dough into an 8" circle. Cut the circle into 8 wedges, like you were cutting a pie. Separate the wedges slightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Brush with more butter and serve immediately. Yield: 8 scones.

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