Like everyone else around the world, I was captivated and touched by Scottish-born Susan Boyle on "Britain's Got Talent." I watched the video again and again, and each time, my daughter asked, "Mom, why are you crying?" What was it about the performance? Was it Boyle herself or the audience reaction that resonated so with everyone? I guess we all love a Cinderella story.

So, with Scotland on the brain and Mother's Day looming, I thought it fitting to feature these scones. They're from Mother's Bistro & Bar, a restaurant in Portland that celebrates mothers. Like Susan, these scones aren't flashy or particularly hip—just surprisingly good. They're some of the best scones we've ever had. They're extremely versatile, in that you can dress them up and add just about any flavor to them—but just like Susan Boyle, some things are best left alone.

Try adding your favorite spices, fresh fruit, dried fruit, citrus zests or flavorful extracts. Or make indentations in the tops of the scones and fill with jam before baking.

Instructions

Recipe courtesy of Mother's Bistro, Portland, Ore.

Per serving (with icing): 220 calories, 13g fat, 40mg chol., 2g prot., 24g carbs., 0g fiber, 110mg sodium.

The addition of cornmeal to a yeast bread dough adds a characteristic toothsome, pleasing, irresistible crunch, a grit
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I gotta let you know: I think I've made almost all SIX simple soups from the March issue. Relish is just the coolest mag ever!
—Serena Ball, MS, RD