Apr 12
2010

Cranberry Apricot Scones + A Giveaway!

in Bread, Dessert, Giveaway, Recipes by Type

I wrote about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution in a post about two weeks ago.  My post just barely scratched the tip of the iceberg.  We can get involved on so many levels.  The problem isn’t just a school lunch problem.  It’s a multi-level problem.  Our relationship with food has become an unhealthy one.  On his website, Jamie writes,

“You can start a food revolution in your own home, all you need to do is cook something.  From scratch.  With fresh and raw ingredients—no packets, no cheating!

  • If you know how to cook—pass on your skills and keep them alive for future generations.  If your kids and their families don’t learn, their only option will be a diet of processed and fast food.
  • If you don’t know how to cook—start now, it could change your life and improve your health prospects!

Pledge to do it once a week with your family or friends.  God luck and have fun!”

Like I said in my last post on the topic, I know that in writing this I am most likely preaching to the choir.  In the food blogging world most of us are already cooking at home from scratch.  But I still think there is more that we can do, even in our own homes.  Over the past year I have made more of an effort to get Squirrel involved in the kitchen.  One of the things I have done is to try and have an ongoing dialogue with her about different aspects of our food—whether it be actual ingredients, tools, skills, etc.  We talk about color, texture, taste, and smell.  One of her favorite activities is tasting each ingredient that goes into a dish.  A few days ago she helped me make the fruit scones that are in Jamie’s Food Revolution.  I decided to make them using dried cranberries and dried apricots.

Dried cranberries and dried apricots

First she tasted the cranberries and apricots, then the orange juice that they were to be soaked in.  Then she moved on to tasting the flour, the butter, etc.  After she tasted each item, we’d talk about it.  Her favorite part about making the scones was brushing the tops of the scones with milk before they went into the oven.

Balls of scone dough ready to be baked

I decided to forgo rolling out the dough and cutting the scones out with a biscuit cutter, because Squirrel and I had recently made buttermilk biscuits.  Instead, I made them more rustic looking by dividing the dough into 10 pieces and shaping them into rough balls of dough (Squirrel liked that part a lot too).

Cranberry Apricot Scones cooling

When the scones came out of the oven, we cut them in half and topped them with some homemade raspberry jam and a bit of whipped cream.  They made for a wonderful treat–they were moist and buttery, with good tang from the dried fruit. (Giveaway details are after the recipe!)

Jamie Oliver's Berry Scones

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Cranberry Apricot Scones

Adapted from Fruit Scones, p. 331, Jamie’s Food Revolution

Makes 10 scones

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces
orange juice, for soaking
4 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 large eggs
1/3 cup milk, plus a little extra for brushing
pinch of salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Put the dried cranberries and apricots in a little bowl and pour orange juice over them until they are just covered.

2. While the fruit is soaking, cut the butter into the flour and the baking powder (this can be done by pulsing three ingredients in a food processor, or by hand in a bowl with a pastry blender), until the mixture starts to look like breadcrumbs (don’t over mix!).  Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and make a well in the middle.  In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and milk together with a fork.  Drain the soaking fruit and add it to the egg mixture along with a pinch of salt.  Then pour this mixture into the well in the flour mixture, and stir until you have a soft, dry dough.  Add a bit more milk of necessary if the dough is too dry and doesn’t come together.

3. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces, shape the pieces into slightly flattened balls, and the place them on a non-stick cookie sheet.  Brush the top of each scone with a bit of milk.  Bake the scones in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until they have risen and are a light golden brown.  Take them out of the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.  To serve: slice them in half and top them with jam and whipped cream/clotted cream.

============================================================

Giveaway!

Jamies-Food-Revolution

I want to help you get involved in the revolution!  I am giving away a copy of Jamie’s Food Revolution (donated by the publishers), plus a little grab bag of goodies to help you out with some of the recipes.  Mezzetta is throwing in a jar of pesto, a jar of artichoke hearts, and a jar of roasted red bell peppers.

Mezzetta Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Bell Peppers, and Pesto

Nudo (an awesome little adopt-an-olive tree company with groves in the Marche region of Italy) is throwing in a tin of extra virgin olive oil.

Nudo Olive Oil

To enter the giveaway:

– Go and sign Jamie’s Food Petition, and then come back and tell me that you did (we’re on the honor system here)!

– If you have a blog and have posted about the petition (or do so before the end of the giveaway), come back and let me know in a separate comment (and include a link to your post) for a second entry!

I will keep the comments open until Thursday, April 15th, 10 PM PST, and announce the winner (using a random number generator) on Friday, April 16th.  This giveaway is open to US addresses only.  GOOD LUCK!!

Monica J. April 12, 2010 at 9:24 am

I signed the petition! Thanks for hosting the giveaway! Oh and those scones look soooo yummy!

Maria April 12, 2010 at 9:25 am

I love Jamie! I signed the petition a few weeks ago, I am on board all the way! I am loving his show and I can’t wait to get my hands on that cookbook! I am a health educator and LOVE the buzz he is spreading about healthy living/cooking. I hope real change happens because of his efforts! And by the way, the scones look fabulous:)

diva April 12, 2010 at 9:26 am

It is true how our relationship to food has started to change and move towards a negative direction of processed, fast foods. Bad bad!! Loved this post. Very inspiring and will definitely be listening to your wise words :) x

Kristen April 12, 2010 at 9:26 am

I have been so intrigued by his initiative. I am passionate about food and families and dinner time. I am hopeful this revolution will take off and people will really start to take notice and do something about it!
Your scones look delicious!

Jennifer April 12, 2010 at 9:26 am

Hey! I signed the petition and I try really hard to cook from scratch. It is hard to do when you’re in college. Yesterday I made the soup you made for Squirrel when she was sick after your Utah trip. My boyfriend was under the weather and he enjoyed it. It was excellent. I always make salad dressings from scratch. Email me if you want a great caesar salad dressing without the raw egg! Have a great day!

Paula - bell'alimento April 12, 2010 at 9:26 am

Beautiful scones & a fantabulous giveaway!

Tracy April 12, 2010 at 9:28 am

Gorgeous scones, and perfectly spring-y!

Noelle @Opera Singer int he Kitchen April 12, 2010 at 9:28 am

I have signed the petition.

I also added the badge on my post and on my blog. http://ameliefille.blogspot.com/2010/04/vietnamese-meatball-bahn-mi-and-mai-tai.html

bunkycooks April 12, 2010 at 9:29 am

I signed the petition. I think it is great that someone is finally tackling this issue. Unfortunately, this has been going on in our schools since my kids were young (15+ years ago). I was amazed then what the children were served for breakfast and lunch! If you tried to send your child to school with a lunch they would usually not eat it because all the other kids had pizza and fries! Now we wonder why our teenagers and young adults are overweight…it started when they were just young.

Michelle April 12, 2010 at 9:29 am

A wonderful recipe and your photos are stunning!

And a fun giveaway too!

Elaine April 12, 2010 at 9:34 am

The scones look delicious! Thanks for sharing information about the Food Revolution. I don’t watch television and haven’t caught the show, but I’m fascinated by what I’m reading about it in the media and on blogs :)

Elaine April 12, 2010 at 9:36 am

@Elaine, oh and I signed the petition. Oops.

Gail April 12, 2010 at 9:35 am

I signed the petition. Thanks so much for the great scone recipe and the opportunity to win the giveaway!

Gail ([email protected])

Brandi April 12, 2010 at 9:42 am

I signed the petition! And thank you for giving me ideas about getting my kids in the kitchen. So often I just have them follow the recipe. But we don’t always talk about the ingredients or how they work together. Great idea! My kids do love science (as most kids do) so I do love to explain (when baking) how different ingredients work together.

Zahra Duffy April 12, 2010 at 9:50 am

Beautiful scones lady! Annnd, I signed the petition! Thanks so much for the giveaway! :)

Miranda April 12, 2010 at 9:52 am

I signed up!

(Love your blog!)

Heather Radtke April 12, 2010 at 9:57 am

I signed. Thanks for the fun giveaway!

Katrina April 12, 2010 at 9:59 am

Yum to the scones.
I went over and signed the petition!

Cookin' Canuck April 12, 2010 at 10:03 am

What beautiful little scones! I signed the petition a couple of weeks ago and am glad to see the numbers growing.

I have been eyeing this book since it came out and would be thrilled to win it!

slammie April 12, 2010 at 10:11 am

Signed up! Those scones look delish!

Jessica April 12, 2010 at 10:20 am

Signed the petition, wrote about it on our blog, and am commenting – woo haa! Go Jamie!

Fuji Nana April 12, 2010 at 10:24 am

I signed the petition and was proud to note that I’m from the state leading the nation in the petition! Go California! It’s always nice to be on the leading edge for something GOOD.

Jessica April 12, 2010 at 10:28 am
Casey April 12, 2010 at 10:30 am

Signed!

I’ve been interested in this cookbook since trying out the Revolution Tofu Curry that you posted awhile back. It was delicious!

Cate April 12, 2010 at 10:33 am

I’d already signed the petition (what was that about preaching to the choir? ;-) )but I’d love to win!

Key Wright April 12, 2010 at 10:41 am

Hi this is the first time for me doing this so hopefully its right. I went on the site and looked around. Ive never seen the show put have heard good things about it I have auto tuned it . I have never really thought about the food that me and my family eats except iff its liked or not and when someone had a medical issue. I will use this site for new things to help with making new foods so that I can get away from using boxed or processed foods. The hard thing is getting out of habit which might be easy sine my kids and i like cooking. The scones look great and will try them out

Key Wright April 12, 2010 at 10:45 am

Sorry its me again I did sign the petition

Kristine April 12, 2010 at 10:41 am

Signed and left you a comment regarding my posting to my FB page on your FB page! ;)_

Jolene April 12, 2010 at 10:41 am

I signed the petition just as soon as I saw it. I love him, and I’m very excited about the show!

Key Wright April 12, 2010 at 10:47 am

I signed the petition also and loved his other shows

Alison Bradow April 12, 2010 at 10:44 am

I signed the petition! The scones sound yummy! I will definitely try them this week :-)

Sharon S April 12, 2010 at 10:52 am

Signed the petition! Thanks for another great giveaway. :)

Kristyn April 12, 2010 at 10:54 am

Signed! Can’t wait to try out that recipe, those scones look delicious. :D

jennieL April 12, 2010 at 11:02 am

I signed and I’m encouraging my friends and family to as well! Your blog has inspired me to start cooking with my twins (13 months old) as soon as possible.

Susanna April 12, 2010 at 11:03 am

I signed the petition! Would love the book too!

Hila April 12, 2010 at 11:05 am

I signed the petition! Love your blog :)

Tanya - The Chatty Mom April 12, 2010 at 11:20 am

I’ve signed the petition…and I love your scones! Funny that I was planning on making some apricot scones this week…I’ll have to try these. :)

Tanya - The Chatty Mom April 12, 2010 at 11:53 am

@Tanya – The Chatty Mom, I just posted about Jamie’s Food Revolution Petition on my site too! http://thechattymom.com/2010/04/12/jamie-olivers-food-revolution

judy April 12, 2010 at 11:21 am

done. thanks for raising the awareness.

Lisa K April 12, 2010 at 11:27 am

I signed! Now… off to make some scones.

merry jennifer April 12, 2010 at 11:36 am

I signed the petition!

Michelle {Brown Eyed Baker} April 12, 2010 at 11:41 am

I am really hooked on Jamie’s show and imagine his book his fabulous. I love the approach to food you are taking with your daughter. I want to be you when I’m a mommy! :)

Oh, and I signed the petition.

Vicki April 12, 2010 at 11:42 am

I watched the first 3 episodes of Food Revolution over the weekend, and can’t wait for more! I signed the petition right away :)

Holly April 12, 2010 at 11:49 am

Signed!

Marvelous scones! I cannot wait to try them :) I absolutely adore anything with cranberries.

AnnieR April 12, 2010 at 12:06 pm

Petition signed!!!!

Sara April 12, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Hi Rachael! I have already signed the petition. This show has really opened my eyes to what children are eating in schools; it’s quite shocking! Your scones looks srumptous; I like you you used the buttermilk biscuits too…I can see that providing a great texture!

Brie April 12, 2010 at 12:14 pm

I signed the petition! And I’ve gotten all my family to do so as well. We have lots of little ones right now in the family, and I want to make sure they grow up healthy and happy!

Maggy April 12, 2010 at 12:15 pm

I signed the petition weeks ago! I was so excited.

I also wrote a post on The Food Revolution http://threemanycooks.com/conversations/jamie%E2%80%99s-food-revolution-our-best-giveaway-yet/

Great giveaway!

Naomi April 12, 2010 at 12:20 pm

signed the petition just now!

Kitchen Runway April 12, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Hey girl =) I think it’s great that you’re promoting the revolution. =) I signed the petition weeks ago =) and have been facebooking and tweeting about it! It’s such a great cause!

Kitchen Runway April 12, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Maggy April 12, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Dawn April 12, 2010 at 12:28 pm

I signed the petition! My oldest will be entering the public school system in the Fall and I would love to see a change in the quality of meals served at the school cafeteria.

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