Meat Free Monday: Bill Granger’s Date Scone Loaf …
September 5, 2011 in Uncategorized
I was flicking around the internet not long ago when I came across this recipe by that blonde dude from Australia, Bill Granger. I must admit he doesn’t do it for me at all … he is just way too in touch with his feminine side … and I can’t understand why Woolworths would pay HIM to tell us how and what to cook and where to buy our fresh produce when we have so many brilliant local chefs who are equally interested and qualified to do the same. Oh well, it takes all sorts.
What I do enjoy about Bill is how effortless he makes baking look. In this video clip he was perched all manly (? well he tried!) like on a log, out in the countryside next to a fire and he wacked together these scones in like a nanosecond. I could smell those little darlings dripping with butter through my screen.
I made them for breakfast the other day knowing full well that scones are to be eaten immediately and won’t last longer than a day before turning into lead weights – so the balance of scones left over after breakfst was don, I buttered up and sent to Max and the guys on our work site at King George V Hospital.
In this clip Bill made Blueberry Scones – my version is made with dates because I didn’t have any blueberries in my fridge and I didn’t line the baking tin with baking paper I just sprayed it with Spray and Cook.
The Rugby World Cup Tournament 2011 (click on this link to check out the fixtures) commences on Friday – so breakfasts are going to be high up the kitchen menu …. South Africa’s first game in this prestigious tournament is on Sunday this week , kick-off is at 10.30am so you can either get together a little earlier for a good Bok Supporter Breako’s or you can watch the game and have a Bok Supporter Braai afterward. Either way – it’s time to bring out those South African Flags, don your Springbok jerseys and dust off those Makarapas. It’s breakfast, biltong and braai time. Our team has eight tough weeks of bone crunching scrums and tackles to endure before (I hope) they lift that Web Ellis Trophy for a World Record Third time!!!!!!!!
Bill Grangers Breakfast Date Scone Loaf
Ingredients
250 g (/2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
1 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
A pinch of salt
100 g cold unsalted butter, cubed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
125 ml (/1/2 cup) cream
85 g (/1/2 cup) blueberries or dates, frozen or fresh, tossed in a little flour
1 egg, mixed with 1 tablespoon milk, for glazing
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/ and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2 Pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it is roughly combined (there will still be lumps of butter). Tip into a bowl
3 and mix in the eggs and cream with a knife. Gently mix in the blueberries with your hands
(tossing them in a bit of flour first prevents them all sinking to the bottom of the dough).
Use a sharp knife to remove the pips from the dates. Once removed, cut
them up into bite size chunks and add to the mixture.
4 Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and press into a 15 cm (6 inch) square.
Cut into quarters and then cut each quarter in half. Place on the baking
tray and brush with the egg and milk glaze.
Bake for 15– 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, with butter if you like.
These would be awesome served at a Springbok Rugby Supporter breakfast …
the World Cup starts this Friday 9th September …. Here are the details.
Rugby World Cup 2011
Friday 9 September 09.00 – 10.15am Opening Ceremony at Eden Park in Auckland
being shown on the following tv channels – SS1 SS-HD SS4 SABC2
Friday 9 September 10.15 – 12.45 New Zealand vs Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland
being shown on following tv channels SS1 SS-HD SS4 SABC2
Go Bokke!!!!!
Chapter 2 of my virtual cook book ‘Sapori’ is dedicated to breakfast.
click on this link to be taken to 10 lip smacking breakffast ideas that will turn
your mornings into nothing but GLORIOUS!
Wednesday I am posting Max’s ideal Rugby Breakfast recipe ideas!!
Buon Appetito
Jan
xx
Sous-Chef said on September 5, 2011
Yum, that looks good!
Have a good week sis.
I agree with you about Bill, way too effeminate for my tastes and too pretty!
janicetripepi said on September 5, 2011
Thanks Sis, you too!
rumtumtigger said on September 5, 2011
Oh thank goodness I’m not the only one who doesn’t get what Woolies was thinking by doing a campaign with Bill Granger. This recipe sounds interesting. I love blueberries so I’ll probably revert to the original and see how it turns out in a loaf tin.
sharonsmit said on September 5, 2011
Lovely scones! Like that addition of fruit (dates or blueberries) Bill does look a bit like a sissyboy!
uhmm…this is were everyone will hate me…go ALLBLACKS!!! *runs very fast* xx
anotherdayinparadise said on September 5, 2011
Those scones look so yummy. Definitely rooting for the Boks.
tandy.sinclair said on September 5, 2011
I also wonder why we need an Aussie chef to tell us what to buy and eat! Have a great day
janicetripepi said on September 5, 2011
Thanks Tandy – I think that Woolies likes his metro/neutrosexualness – he fits that squeaky clean Woolworths demographic. I really cant see why else they would go for him … perhaps
they sold his kitchen range or something …. I dunno – I would rather see a good South African dude in a pair of Teesavs that Bill pale blue sweater and chino’s ….. Ooh I am turning all bitchy aren’t I!!!! hahaha ….
janicetripepi said on September 5, 2011
Me tooooooo ….go Bokke!!!!!!
janicetripepi said on September 5, 2011
Hahaha …. you better run very fast hey meisie!!!! xxx hahaha have a great day xxx jan
janicetripepi said on September 5, 2011
I am sure that the blueberries will be very nice Tiggs – I will try them again with fresh bb’s as soon as I remember xxxx jan
potjie said on September 5, 2011
The scones look very yummy, and I totaly agree on the Bill issue, but then Checkers got Nataniel to tell us what to buy for a braai, I mean really.
Sous-Chef said on September 5, 2011
Only someone from KZN would mention Teesavs it’s a Natal thing!
janicetripepi said on September 6, 2011
Jaaaa …. hahaha … but at least Nataniel is South African! Victor Matfield could tell me what to braai any day! haha … Nataniel??? hahaha …
Jacob said on June 3, 2012
Grey – Hey guys, I was just checking this webtise out and I came across this! I am glad that you have enjoyed the recipe and it seems like they turned out wonderfully I am looking forward to the other wonderful things that you will be posting here as this webtise is awesome!Also, I can’t wait to see you guys at Thanksgiving!!!!
mitzireddy said on September 7, 2011
The scones look delish – like the idea of using dates- have never seen Billy Granger – now I am curious, lol. Enjoy your week, Jan