Orange Pecan Scones

Ingredients:

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons grated orange rind
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Sugar

How to Prepare:
Combine first 3 ingredients. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly; add buttermilk and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 3 or 4 times.

Divide dough in half; pat each portion into a 7-inch circle, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cut each circle into 8 wedges; sprinkle evenly with sugar.

Bake at 425° for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: Freeze scones up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator 8 hours. Bake scones at 350º for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Yield: 16 scones

Southern Living, APRIL 2001