Raw Orange-Cranberry Oatmeal Scones

In the past 2 years I have picked up a number of “raw” cookbooks. Some are great, some not so, some are too far out for me. Eating raw can be s simple as a salad or far more interesting. Before I was pregnant with Alistaire we were eating quite a few raw meals. Then we stopped, I didn’t have it in me while I was pregnant. I have had a pulling of late to try more raw. It has made more sense as we go farther down the path of unprocessed. Simplicity really – even if it does take a lot of work to get there. And I won’t fib, it is a lot of work. Grating, peeling, scrubbing, food processor or blender, dishes and so on. In the end it is worth the work. I really look at my food before I eat it, knowing how much effort I put into it.

And I fell in love with Going Raw: Everything You Need to Start Your Own Raw Food Diet and Lifestyle Revolution at Home this past week. It gave me the boost I needed to commit to more raw meals. In the breakfast section I saw the recipe for Orange-Cranberry Oatmeal Scones and I had everything on hand. Being that the main ingredient is oat groats if it failed it wasn’t a big loss $$. The scones are delicious, well worth the wait for them to be ready. (Although if you are not used to high consumption of fiber be forewarned, your stomach may not like you!!)

I adapted the recipe, using raw walnuts where the author calls for soaked walnuts that are dehydrated before using (soak raw walnuts for 6 to 8 hours). I didn’t feel like doing that step and if there is a huge difference, I didn’t see it. Although I know the argument is your body will digest nuts/seeds better.

The book is neat in one aspect – all the color photos. She walks you through the steps, stage by stage. The book comes with a DVD but my copy didn’t have it. Oh well! Hopefully I can watch it later at some point.

I’d say the only downside for the book is you really need a dehydrator. Well I have two. Hah! OK, maybe that is one two many, I use them for my TrailCooking work,my L’Equip Dehydrator goes down far enough temperature wise to use it for raw food. A dehydrator can be a counter block, if you use it enough it is handy. Even outside of raw foods – you can dry veggies and fruits for winter.

Orange-Cranberry Oatmeal Scones

Ingredients:

• 1½ cup Organic Oat Groats
• ¾ cup Medjool dates, pitted
• 1 organic orange, zested
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup raw walnuts, diced

Directions:

Soak the oat groats overnight in a large bowl of filtered water (8-12 hours). Drain in a mesh strainer and add to a food processor. Run on high until the oats are sticking to the sides and becoming finely chopped, scraping the sides as needed.

Add the dates and orange zest, process on high until mixed in and the dough becomes a ball. Add to a large bowl and mix the cranberries and walnuts in by hand.

Rip off a piece of parchment paper and pat the dough into a circle, about an inch high and 7 to 8″ wide. Use a bench knife or a pizza wheel to cut 8 scones.

Set on a mesh lined dehydrator tray:

Dry at 110° for about 5 hours. The scones will be firm on the outside and easily bitable inside.

Store in air-tight containers for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer.

Makes 8 scones.