little kitchie: bacon + cheddar scones

oh.my.heavens. these scones are soooooo GOOD. like, it feels like a tragedy when the last one is gone good. my mom has been making these for years, so i asked her to pass along the recipe so i could give them a whirl this weekend. now it's your turn!

here's what you'll need!
3 cups flour
1 tblspn. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
dash of cayenne
1 stick (1/2 cup) chilled unsalted butter (use a butter knife to cut into several small pats)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
4 green onions, thinly sliced
10 slices of bacon
1.5 cups buttermilk
1 egg mixed with 2 tblspn. water (to create an egg wash)

preheat oven to 400. place bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet. when oven is ready, cook bacon 15 minutes. when finished, remove from oven and allow to cool. cut into small (1 inch or smaller) pieces.

meanwhile, combine flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a mixing bowl (use a stand or hand mixer). with mixer running on low, add the butter pats a couple of a time until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture. add 1.5 cup cheese and blend briefly. remove the bowl from the mixer and add the green onions, buttermilk, and bacon. stir as little as possible - if dough is overworked your scones will be tough!

use an ice cream scoop or your hands to roll the dough into about 10 balls (wet hands with water to prevent dough from sticking to you!). place balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and press down to a cylinder about 1/2 inch thick.

brush each scone with egg wash, sprinkle tops with the remaining cheese, and bake for about 20 minutes, or until scones are golden brown on top. remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.