Basic Scones (Sinkers)

 My family loves Sinkers.  We used to have these on Sunday evenings.  So fun.  These are often called scones.  My dad always called them sinkers and my grandmother hated that name for them.  She would always say, "Don't call my scones sinkers!"  It's funny now. So here's my grandmother's recipe as closely as I could get it, since she didn't measure the ingredients.

You'll get about a dozen sinkers with this recipe.

 Ingredients:

1/4 cup milk

4 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 1/2 teaspoons butter or margarine

1 package yeast

3/4 cup warm water

2 1/2 to 3 cups flour

Directions:

Place milk, sugar, salt, and butter in small saucepan.  Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves.  Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl.  Add lukewarm milk mixture and 2 cups flour.  Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer.  Turn to speed 2 and mix about 1 minute.

Continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes.  Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer, or until dough is smooth and elastic.  Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top.  Cover.  Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down and divide into 12 equal pieces.  Shape each piece into a round flat shape.  Place on a plate covered with plastic wrap which has been sprayed with non stick spray. Cover.  Let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about 15 minutes.

Heat oil in deep fryer or large deep pan to 375 degrees.  Using tongs place in single layer, 2 or 3 at a time into oil.  Fry 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown.  Remove and place on paper towel lined tray.  Eat hot with butter and honey.

*You can make these by hand and knead for about 10 minutes.  Or you can make in your bread maker using the dough cycle.  Place ingredients in pan in order recommended by the manufacturer.

Scones with Butter

Calzones

This is one of my family's very favorite meals. Because you make the dough for the crust in the bread machine, it is so easy. You can put the crust on the timer before work and have the dough ready when you get home. You can also brown the sausage the day before and refrigerate it until you get ready to make the calzone. My grandkids often request this for dinner. You can make the dough for the crust by hand if you don't have a bread machine.

Makes 1 - 1 pound calzone (I split it and make two smaller ones.)

Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon powdered dry milk
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Filling
3/4 cup pizza sauce
3/4 cup cooked sausage
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Directions:
1. Place water, salt, bread flour, dry milk, sugar, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle and start. (We’ve doubled it and done it by hand many times.)
2. After cycle ends, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface; shape into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet. Spoon pizza sauce down center of dough; add sausage and cheese for filling. Make diagonal cuts 1 1/2 inches apart down each side, cutting to within 1/2 inch of the filling. Criss cross strips over filling, sealing with water. Brush top with melted butter. (I add pepperoni, green peppers, onions, browned ground beef and anything else I have and want to add.)
3. Bake at 350 degrees F. For 35 to 45 minutes.