Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Cook-A-Long with Brooke-A-Long: Edition 3


Quinoa, Pecan & Cinnamon Scones

This edition of Cook-a-Long is a nice easy introduction to using Quinoa in your baking.  It's not a solely Quinoa recipe, but a good place to start.  I know that sometimes people are reluctant to try a new ingredient, but trust me - buy some quinoa, you won't be sorry.

Quinoa is a grain-like seed which contains all essential amino acids, is high in protein and dietry fibre and is easy to digest.  You know a food must be pretty good when NASA include it in their Closed Ecological Life Support Systems!  So, go and get some quinoa and try these scones.

Quinoa, Pecan & Cinnamon Scones

Ingredients:-

*  210g plain flour (I use organic unbleached plain flour)
*  100g quinoa flour (approx. 90g quinoa)
*  40g rapadura sugar
*  2 tsp baking powder
*  1/2 tsp salt
*  1/2 tsp cinnamon
*  90g butter - chilled and diced
*  75g pecans
*  110g whole milk
*  1 egg
*  Milk for glazing


Method:-

Preheat your oven to 200º.

The dough
1.  Firstly, mill your quinoa for 20 seconds on speed 9.  Set aside.

2.  Secondly, chop your pecans for 5 seconds on speed 5.

3.  Add the flours, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon to the pecans.  Mix for 5 seconds on speed 5.
Ready to Bake

4.  Add the butter and cut in for 3 seconds on speed 6.  The mixture should resemble course breadcrumbs.

5.  Add the milk and egg and mix for 10 seconds on speed 6.

6.  Knead for 30 seconds on interval speed.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface.  It is quite sticky, so you need to sprinkle some flour over the top of the dough as well to be able to pat it out without getting goopy hands.

Pat the dough out into a square about 1 inch thick and then cut into even squares.  Spread slightly on the tray and brush with milk.

Bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, until beautiful and golden.

Cool, then spread with lashings of butter and jam.


Tips:-

*  You can also take the opportunity to make your own jam to go with the scones.  Fabulous Jo Whitton has a great recipe for Naturally Sweetened Strawberry Jam.  I'm not a huge fan of jam in general, but the jam I made using Jo's recipe was sensational!

Once the scones are all demolished, there's then the question of what to do with the rest of the quinoa.  Here are some suggestions you might like to try (trust me, try the brownies!!!).


Be sure to come back and let me know how you go.  Happy Quinoa-ing!

2 comments:

  1. These look great, Brooke! Thanks for the links, and I'm so glad you liked the jam :) Jo xx

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  2. Had a look at the brownies - they look good but I got *completely* side-tracked by the TMX carpet freshener! Lucky for me my lavender is flowering right now!

    http://simonesthermomixessentials.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/thermomix-carpet-freshener/

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