Tiny Cheese Onion And Olive Scones Recipes

TINY CHEESE, ONION AND OLIVE SCONES

Steps:

• Fry the onion in the oil over a highish heat for about 5-6 minutes or until it's a nice brown caramel colour and darkened at the edges. Keep it moving about so that it doesn't burn. Now transfer it to a plate to cool. While that's happening, take a large mixing bowl, sift in the flour, salt, mustard powder and cayenne, and add a good grinding of black pepper (the scones need to have a piquant bite). Now rub in the butter, toss in the cooled onion, the olives and two thirds of the grated cheeses, forking them in evenly. Beat the egg and pour this in, mixing first with a knife and finally with your hands, adding only enough milk to make a soft dough - it mustn't be too sticky. Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured surface, knead it gently till it's smooth, then roll it out to about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick, being careful not to roll it too thinly. Next, use a 1¼ inch (3 cm) plain cutter for cutting: place it lightly on the dough and give a sharp tap to stamp out the scones. Lightly knead together and re-roll any trimmings. Then, when all the scones are cut, brush them with milk, top them with the remaining grated cheese and bake them near the top of the oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove them to a wire rack to cool. For more recipes for scones, see our Cookery School Video for Little Cakes on this page

MEDITERRANEAN SCONES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Butter a large baking sheet. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Rub in the butter with the oil, until the mixture resembles fine crumbs, then add the tomatoes, cheese and olives. Make a well in the centre, pour in the milk and mix with a knife, using a cutting movement, until it becomes a soft 'stickyish' dough. (Use all the milk - it helps give a light texture.) Don't overhandle the dough.
• Flour your hands and the work surface well, and shape the dough into a round, about 3-4cm thick. Cut into eight wedges and place them well apart on the baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 15-20 mins until risen, golden and springy to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and cover with a clean tea towel to keep them soft. These are best served warm and buttered. Will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.

MINI SAGE & ONION SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion for 5 mins until soft, then set aside to cool. In a food processor, pulse the flour and butter together until the mixture looks like crumbs, then add the sage, cooled onion and enough milk to make a soft but not sticky dough. Tip out onto a floured surface, knead briefly, then roll out to 1cm thickness. Using a 1.5cm cutter, stamp out mini scones. Brush tops with egg, put onto a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 mins until risen and golden.
• To serve, split the scones, spread each side with cranberry sauce, then sandwich together with the turkey.