Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

While fall is rapidly approaching, I thought I'd sprinkle in another warm weather recipe that might be nice on those beautiful 70 degree days we've been experiencing.
It sounds a bit involved, but it only took me maybe 15 minutes to prepare and then you're enjoying it in no time.
You'll need:
1 full c. chopped strawberries
2 T. sugar
1 t. lemon juice
a pinch of salt
2 T. cold water

and separately:
2/3 c. sugar
1 c. very hot water
1-1 1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
4 1/2 c. cold seltzer

To make the strawberry component, combine those first five ingredients in a blender. (I used my magic bullet.)  Puree until smooth.
For the lemonade, combine your hot water and sugar in the pitcher you intend to use (the water being hot will help the sugar to dissolve more rapidly).  Add the lemon juice, strawberry mixture, and seltzer.
To make a fancy glass, I used one of my squeezed-out lemon wedges and rubbed it around the rim of a wine glass and then dipped it in sugar.
Serve on ice or chilled.
Enjoy!

Orange Cranberry Scones

I promised a more exciting scone... and I'm delivering!
Okay, seriously, these were delicious.  So make them.

Here's what you need:
2 not quite full cups of flour
1 1/2 T. baking powder
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
5 T. butter, cut up
5 T. margarine, cut up
grated rind of 1 orange
1/3 c. craisins/dried cranberries
a little more than 1/2 c. buttermilk.

Preheat your oven to 425.  Grease/flour a large baking sheet.  Combine your dry ingredients in a large bowl and cut in with a pastry cutter until you have crumbs.

Add the orange rind and craisins.  Gradually stir in your buttermilk.
The mixture should be very moist and sticky.  It will be kind of hard to work with, but so worth it... your scones will be incredibly moist and tasty!
Roughly make triangles with the dough/batter on your cookie sheet and bake until the tops are hard, about 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!!!