These make some tasty, tender scones that are super quick and fun to experiment with. Ideas: more apple bits crammed in there, as much as the dough can take; different fruits: peaches, dates, pear, apricot, berries; orange and lemon juice and zest; poppy seeds; chocolate chips; pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice; currants, cranberries; desserted up with glaze or as a base for shortcake.

When these come out right, they are airy, tender, and wholesome. When they come out wrong (rising is a tricky business), they are still very enjoyable, especially with preserves. The dough is very sticky and hard to handle, so it requires a stint in the fridge. Makes 12 biscuits, 128 cal each

My own invention and correspondingly genius yum. All ingredient amounts approximate.

We have these for breakfast almost every day, with a little maple syrup, lots of unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon, and walnuts!

Guests at trendy spas and tony restaurants guzzle this simple-yet-sophisticated calorie-free alternative to water.

Per serving: Calories 192, Protein 5g, Fat 7g

So delicious. Best ever. So tender and dense, just a little sweet, with delicate cornmeal flavor. Great on its own but performs perfectly as a side, was nice dipping in the glaze of the Honey-Pineapple Yams. Nice in the morning too with a spot of honey. I must experiment with adding different stuff to the batter. And it was super easy too.

“Take this basic recipe even farther by stirring in other ingredients, such as sliced scallions, fresh herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, or even by using blue cornmeal. To make muffins, simply spoon the batter into sprayed muffin cups, then bake about 15 minutes. The mini-sized muffins are especially nice for a brunch, and children love them.”

per serving: Calories 271, Protein 3g, Fat 0g

I used cardamon-seed insides instead of ground cardamon, and more than recommended, and I think it overwhelmed the pineapple-flavor, but parents disagreed. Cardamon is very interesting and fragrant and delicious. I also added some pineapple chunks from the can the juice came out of, and I think that was a welcome addition. Anyway, good good and not difficult at all. Made it again at Mom’s request, Dad liked it quite a bit.

“Kissed by honey, blessed with flavor, and loaded with antioxidants- beta carotene and vitamin C- this dish fosters good health and good eating.”