Thursday, January 29, 2009

Dehydrating Fruits & Strawberry Scones

Dehydrated doesn't mean dried out. Quite the opposite actually while preserved/dried foods from the grocery store might contain additives like sulfites, you can eliminate that issue completely by dehydrating food at home. Always the kitchen gadget fiend I was thrilled to be gifted with a dehydrator for Christmas. Fruit & produce dried at low settings, loses almost none of its nutritional value. We are fond of fresh & dehydrated mangoes so naturally it was my first fruit of choice to stick into the dehydrator. Great as that was just like anyone with a new toy we have now dehydrated strawberries & kiwis too! Just like a Ronco commercial..."but no, that's not all". We have also made a round of jerky in the fun new machine. While it would be easy to snack on all of our goodies I did manage to make up a batch of scones with the dehydrated strawberries we had recently made.





















Strawberry Scones
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup chopped dehydrated strawberries
1 tablespoon half-and-half
Colored sugar crystals

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a bowl, whisk together flour, 5 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 2/3 cup half-and-half until just moistened. Gently fold in dried strawberries.
On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently, 5 to 10 times. Pat into a 1-inch-thick round. Cut into 8 wedges; place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, 1/2 inches apart. Brush tops with remaining tablespoon half-and-half; sprinkle with about a tablespoon of colored sugar crystals. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
Yield: 8 servings
This was based on a Martha Stewart recipe which used fresh currants, yum! I myself am a big fan but was looking for a suitable use for my dehydrated strawberries.

13 comments:

Joie de vivre said...

Fun! I just started using my dehydrator this past summer to preserve some of my summer bounty. I never know what to do with it once I dehydrate it though so this is a good idea.

Anonymous said...

Dehydrator sounds like a great gadget. I will definitely put in on my list to get. The scones look delicious!

Chef E said...

I wished I had one, but no room on the counters...

Dee said...

Joie de vivre & 5 Star Foodie, the dehydrator is simply wonderful. There are endless uses for the things you can do with your dehydrated goodies.
Chef E~not much on mine but it stores pretty well since it comes apart so easily.

Photonuts said...

I come for the food, and I like the dishes you use...reminds me of my moms...

Dee said...

Photonuts~I take that as a complement. Some of mine are inherited pieces. This milk glass piece was my Grandmothers. Old Imperial Glass.

Reeni said...

I have been wanting a dehydrator too. Scrumptious Strawberry Scones!! I like the speckled bowl, so pretty.

mendytexas said...

OOH the dried mangos are so tasty! Wish I had a dehydrator...I buy them in Texas at Central Market. Those scones look incredible too!

Tangled Noodle said...

I want a dehydrator, too, but fear it will go into the Closet of Forgotten Appliances. Your scones might change my mind, though!

Dee said...

Reeni, Mendy & Tangled Noodle I believe anyone who cooks very much or grows any herbs or produce would use one of these. I am looking forward to using it to dry herbs as well. These do come in a variety of sizes, all use very little electricity.

Hornsfan said...

I want a dehydrator!!! It's all your fault that I want this now...these look great.

Rico said...

I just love the music as soon as I arrived in your blog. Also these scones are to die for, I am a very dedicated eater of scones, I am not british but I do live here, and this is just a vice I picked up. and dehidrated fruits is so apealing and naturally sweet.thx for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

Dee, that all looks great, and is that Bahia Azul granite I see?