Simple Scones

Ingredients:

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 ½ tbsp polyunsaturated margarine
• ¾ cup reduced-fat milk

Variations:

• Sultana scones: ½ cup sultanas
• Date scones: 5 dried dates, chopped
• Cheese scones: ½ cup reduced-fat cheese (grated) and pinch of paprika

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 220°C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
2. Sift flour into a large bowl, then use your fingertips to rub the margarine into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Make a well in the centre and add milk. Mix with a flat-bladed knife until mixture forms a soft dough, adding more milk if required.
4. Turn onto a lightly-floured surface and knead gently until smooth.
5. Pat dough into a 2 cm thick round. Using a 5 cm (diameter) cutter, cut out 12 rounds for large scones or use a 2.5 cm cutter for 24 mini scones.
6. Place scones, just touching onto prepared baking tray.
7. Bake for 20 minutes for large scones; 12 minutes for mini scones or until golden and well risen.
8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Handy hack: To make scones with variations, add new ingredients at Step 3.