Cranberry scones. The Joy of Cooking recipe says to brush the scones with either sugar or salt. Those are two very different things, and I would think the character of the scones is going to be determined in large part by whichever decision you make. But the basic recipe works well: cut ¼ cup butter into a mixture of 1 ¾ cups flour, 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder, one tablespoon sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add two eggs, reserving two tablespoons for brushing the top of the scones. Then add ⅓ cup heavy cream and stir in dried cranberries or some other kind of dried fruit. Brush the scones with the remaining egg and the salt or sugar.

(Photo: Christmas lights, Brookside Gardens.)

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