ORANGE FLAVORED SHORTCAKES WITH STRAWBERRIES

This is adapted from a recipe in the LA Times. It included hard boiled egg yolks which I just couldn’t bring myself to add, and sugar dusted on top, which I forgot. We all loved them very very much this way.

2 cups flour (half whole wheat)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
zest of one large orange
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes
3/4 cup heavy cream, plus extra for brushing

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a food processor bowl, pulse together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold cubed butter and the egg yolks and pulse together just until the mixture has the texture of lightly moistened cornmeal. There may be a few pea-sized chunks of butter remaining; that's fine. Pour over 3/4 cup heavy cream and then pulse 4 to 6 times just to moisten the dough. Do not over mix or the dough will be tough. (I did this all by hand, to give the kids a chance to work with the pastry cutter, but they found it very difficult.) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gather into a shaggy mass. Knead 3 to 4 times to make it cohesive and then pat into a rough circle 6 to 7 inches in diameter and a fairly consistent 3/4 to 1 inch in thickness. Using a sharp knife, cut the circle into 6 wedges. Brush the tops very lightly with heavy cream (there should be enough left in the measuring cup). Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake until risen and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Turn the pan around halfway through to ensure even cooking. Remove to a cooling rack.

Strawberries and assembly
3 pints strawberries, washed, hulled and quartered
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM

While the shortcakes are baking, toss the strawberries, sugar and orange juice together in a bowl. Let stand several minutes. (If the strawberries are extremely firm, do this 30 minutes in advance.) Split the shortcakes in half horizontally and set the tops aside. Place the bottoms on dessert plates and heap strawberries over them. Spoon whipped cream generously over the strawberries and replace the shortcake tops. Serve immediately with any remaining whipped cream on the side.