Apricot & Chocolate Scones

 I have always had a penchant for all things different. If its not different, I am simply not interested. So when it came to baking my first scones, I would never start with the simple basic scones. I started with improvising an apricot scone recipe with white chocolates. I was happy with the result. 

Now, fruit scones aren’t very popular in common tea cafes. This is a shame, especially because they have such a vivid aroma and taste. I personally find fruity scones tinglingly refreshing. A friend of mine finds it very amusing how I love to ‘feel’ the taste of food as such and then describe it. I personally feel that feeling food while eating it helps develop a connection with it and you enjoy the experience more. That is of course, if you like the food your eating. 

So coming back to fruity scones and apricots... Apricots or Prunus armenaica (as they are scientifically known) are beautiful velvety orange coloured cousins of plums and peaches. Nutrition wise, I consider dried apricots as a giant magic pill (along with almonds). Apricots contain highest amount of beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant which is instrumental in preventing heart disease. Beta-carotene helps protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation.Working with oxidised-LDL at cellular level myself, I have to admit the damage it can cause to cells is substantial. You only has to pubmed oxidised-LDL and disease, and you’d know what I mean. Apart from protecting from oxidative stress, apricots are an extremely good source of Vit A and Iron, even more so when dried. Extremely good snacks for the calorie conscious, these fat free dried fruits only contain 20 kcal each. I am no expert (mommy dearest is) but, I feel apricots and almonds are essential part of any healthy diet. High fibre content in apricots only adds to the ‘sone pe suhaaga’. To sum it, an apricot a day, keeps constipation at bay ;-).

A little trivia- In China, the nectar of Gods is supposed to be made of apricots. Apricots were also used for their supposed aphrodisiac properties in Europe. Infact, Shakespeare's play, A midsummer's night dream even uses them in this context: "Be kind and courteous to this gentleman; Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes; Feed him with apricots and dewberries, with purple grapes...And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs. And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes, to have my love to bed and to arise"

So keeping in mind all these amazing properties of apricots, here’s the recipe for Apricots n white chocolate scones. Hope u’ll enjoy :) 

2 cups flour (I mixed 1 cup self raising and 1 cup plain flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoon milk
½ cup low fat yoghurt (or buttermilk)
1/3rd cup melted butter
1 egg
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
white chocolate drops (or grated)

Preheat oven to 240 degrees Celsius
Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar in a bowl using sieve.
Pour butter and rub it in gently, till it has a breadcrumb consistency.
Mix yoghurt, egg and vanilla extract and add it to the other bowl.
fold in the chopped apricots and white chocolate.
Knead into a soft dough and flatten it (It should be atleast ½ to 1 inch thick)
Use a cookie cutter (or a Nescafe lid works just as well) to cut out scones.
Place it on a buttered and floured baking tray.
Glaze scones with a mixture of egg, milk and sprinkle sugar lightly on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until well risen and golden brown.
Cool on a rack and enjoy with clotted cream, lemon curd and strawberry jam.