Create Savory Irish Scones with Cheddar Jack & Bacon

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On our recent trip to Ireland, we were greeted with fresh Irish scones everywhere we went.  At breakfast and tea time, warm sweet scones were presented.  In the evening savory scones along with brown breads complimented our meals.  My sons absolutely loved them and I decided I must try making some when we returned home.

To my delight along our tour travels, I met a lovely woman who demonstrated how to make tea scones (sweet scones with fruit) and then gave me a few pointers for making cheese and herb scones. What a blessing it was. Nothing compares to watching a seasoned baking pro in action!

Though I’d memorized the ingredients and basic prep, I stalled on creating them as I wanted to pick up a rolling pin and cookie cutter.  My old rolling pin broke some time ago and if you live in the south, you likely know then, we rarely use rolling pins or cutters for biscuits.

Though Irish scones may look like a biscuit, they are denser and generally perfectly formed in a circle shape.  I wanted to be sure to re-create the scones exactly as I learned to in Ireland.  So, when I was challenged to use Kraft Fresh Take in a an unexpected way, I was instantly inspired to see if I could match them with my desire to create a tasty, savory Irish scone for supper time.

Off to Walmart I zipped to pick up the essentials I needed for the scones. As I already knew Fresh Take is perfect for prepping meat, I figured I’d find inspiration for meal accompaniments while I was shopping. (You can read about all my shopping discoveries here: https://plus.google.com/110626780416241914200/posts/cE2pdBYX69F)

Sandwiched in the cheese section, I was surprised to find more flavors of Kraft Fresh Take than I expected.  The Smokey Mesquite BBQ inspired me to make chicken for supper to match Cheddar Jack & Bacon scones (because that pairing just sounded way too yummy!) 

Happily, I also found an IRC (immediately redeemable coupon) on the packages of chicken in the Walmart for $1.00 off the price of one (1) chicken item with the purchase of Fresh Take.  Score! Love snagging an unexpected bargain.  (The coupons run through 7/31, so be sure to keep an eye out when you’re shopping.)

With everything I needed to replicate the hearty taste of Ireland to our table, I set to work creating a memorable weekday supper showcasing the Cheddar Jack & Bacon scones.

Cheddar Jack & Bacon Scones Recipe 

Ingredients:

1 cup Self-Rising Flour
1 package of Kraft Fresh Take Cheddar Jack & Bacon
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 cup Milk
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.

Cut butter into flour mix with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbed.

Stir in Kraft Fresh Take Cheddar Jack & Bacon.  Use both packets included in the kit.

Stir in milk, mix thoroughly to form a soft dough.

Transfer dough to a pre-floured pastry sheet (or improvise with butcher paper as I did.)

Use a lightly floured rolling pin to gently flatten dough.  Cut scones with a round cookie cutter.

Place cut scones on baking sheet.  I prefer to use cast iron for biscuits, so I factored it would be great for scones (and it is!)

Gather remaining dough in a ball, re-flatten with rolling pin, then cut scones from dough.  Repeat until entire batch of dough is cut into scones.  If you have a little excess dough left, just pat it onto the top of the scones.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Place scones in a bread basket and serve.  (As I haven’t found an ideal basket yet, I improvised with a clean towel and a square baking dish.)

~ 

Our first supper with fresh home-made scones turned out lovely thanks to a little assistance from Kraft Fresh Takes. Fresh Takes took all the guesswork out of figuring out what cheeses or spices to pair up, Plus, they also have the perfect portion amount. The scones were even better than I remembered and we’ll certainly be keeping this recipe in our preferred file.

The cheddar jack and bacon flavors were a wonderful complement to the smokey mesquite barbecue chicken and bacon Cesar salad. Kraft Fresh Takes makes preparation super easy, helping you deliver a great tasting meal lickety-split!

But, the best measurement of success, as we Rural Moms know, is what the crew thinks…

In our house, a double thumbs up means it’s definitely kid approved!