Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Sarah Jio bakes sweet looking scones and we have her latest book to give away!

**Giveaway is now closed**

There's no stopping Sarah Jio! She has three kids (including a baby born this past year), an amazing debut novel and another one out now that's sure to be another hit, as well as two more on the way (books, not babies). And she still has time to bake yummy scones for the holidays and share her recipe with all of us! She was here in May to share "The Violets of March," which has only received praise since its release. Her incredible storytelling talent is shown off once again in "The Bungalow," which was published today and reviewed right here at CLC! Even better, we have FIVE copies for some lucky readers in the US and Canada, courtesy of Penguin Books!

Visit Sarah on Facebook, Twitter and her website. You can also check out her health and fitness blog on Glamour.com.

Watch the book trailer for "The Bungalow," which has some great pictures and captures the essence of the story:


"The Bungalow," out on 12/27 from Penguin (Plume) is my second novel, and the story came to me so vividly it almost (quite literally) smacked me over the head. I remember the moment I had the idea to write it. I turned to my husband one night after the kids were in bed and said, “The Bungalow!” He looked at me and said, “what?” I nodded. “The title for my next novel,” I told him. (He’s used to me blabbering on about book titles, plots, and random ideas by now!) The story of Anne Calloway, a young woman from Seattle who joined the Army Nurse Corps and went on the adventure of her life to Bora Bora during World War II, captivated me as I wrote it, and I hope it will have the same effect on readers. I’m a true romantic at heart and was inspired to write this novel, in part, because of an old wartime journal kept by a great uncle who was stationed in the South Pacific islands during the war, and also in memory of my honeymoon in Tahiti. This book was a joy to write, and I hope readers will enjoy curling up with the book—and maybe a scone—this winter.


Easy Apricot Scones
I’m a health nut and usually bake things with “healthy” ingredients (flax seeds, whole wheat flour, you know). But these scones? They’re pure comfort. I make them every now and then—especially during the holidays when I can enjoy one for breakfast with a cup of coffee by the Christmas tree, or as a snack during a late-night gift-wrapping spree. They’re easy to make, and they hit the spot.

(Makes 8 scones)


Ingredients:

1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup orange juice
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder (I know, it sounds like a lot, but you need it!)
1 stick butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk + 2 tablespoons + 3 tables spoons (the final three tablespoons are for brushing)
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Soak the dried apricots in the orange juice (they should all be covered); set aside for about 5 minutes. Mix dry ingredients with a whisk. Mix egg, 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons milk. Drain the apricots and add to milk mixture. Cut the butter into the flour mixture, either using a food processor, or with a fork or pastry tool (I forgot what they’re called!), and mix until the dough looks like course meal. Create a well in the dry mixture and add the wet to the dry, mixing until just combined. If the dough looks too dry, add one or two more tablespoons of milk. Form the dough into a ball, then press down into a circle on a cutting board (dough should be about 2.5 inch thick). Take a sharp knife and cut into 8 wedges. Transfer each wedge to a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes (watch them toward the end (as all oven temps vary…you don’t want the centers too get too dry or the tops too brown).

Special thanks to Sarah for coming back to CLC for the second time in less than a year (and sharing a yummy looking recipe, no less) and to Penguin Books for sharing Sarah's book with our readers.

How to win "The Bungalow":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note:Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite period of history?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelinesas well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


US/Canada only. Giveaway ends January 2nd at midnight EST.

27 comments:

Jordan said...

The Roaring 20's is my favorite period of history.

Follower of the blog.

Fan on FB.

jordanweber at live dot com

Anonymous said...

The Civil War is my favorite time periord in history.

Fan/memeber on FB

tweedted the contest

shared on FB

jmndowning@gmail.com

Shannon said...

My favourite period in history is the 1960s.

I do follow the blog and am a fan on facebook.

Tweeted about the contest and will share on fb.

cool_beans2000 at hotmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I love to read about World War II.

Thanks for the great giveaway.

kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

Anonymous said...

My favorite period in history is the 1940s.


I'm a follower on google reader.

cat123hen(at)aol(dot)com

Na said...

I like war periods, therefore the period the Civil War and WWII.
GFC: Na
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Stephanie said...

My favorite period in history is the Edwardian era.

I'm a gfc follower.

Skk25@aol.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

My favorite is Ancient Egypt. I'm a follower. Thanks!

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Rebecca (RivkaBelle) said...

LOVE the cover! And this sounds so interesting :o)

+1: Favorite period of history: Medieval Europe and/or the expansion of the American West

+1: GFC follower (RivkaBelle)

+1: Fan/friend on fb (RebeccaMFleming)

quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com

Lucie Simone said...

OMG! I would LOVE to win this book!

My favorite period in history is the Tudor reign, but I also love stories about the turn of the century - the 20th century, that is.

I follow on FB & Twitter & I posted this to both!

Thanks!
Lucie

Lucie Simone said...

Oh darn, I forgot to put my email, but you guys know it. ;-)
Lalucie at sbcglobal dot net

Linda Kish said...

The scones recipe sounds tasty and the book sounds wonderful.

My favorite period in history would be the 1920s. I really like all of the technological advances of the 20th century.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Dawn said...

My favourite time in history is the early 1900's

Thanks!

gleamofdawn3 at yahoo dot ca

Kristen said...

Favorite period: medieval Europe.


Follow the blog and fb. I agree, the scones sound amazing! Would love to get my hands on this book!

Kly(dot)327@gmail.com

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

1. My favorite time period to read about is WWII but I would like to learn more about the 20s!
2. I'm a follower!
3. Fan on FB
4. amber_johnson2004 at yahoo dot com

Kritters Ramblings said...

I would have to say my favorite time in history is the 80s, I am a product of the 80s and I wish I had been a little older to enjoy the fashion, music and more.

i am a fan on facebook
i follow via gfc

kdurham2@gmail.com

Marthalynn said...

I really enjoy reading about the 20's and 30's.

I follow you on GFC

marthalynn16 (at) gmail (dot) com

Jeryl M. said...

I would love to read this book. I read The Violets of March also by Sarah Jio and loved it.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I don't really have a favorite period of history. There is good and bad about all time periods.

I am a Facebook fan.

I am a subscriber.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Anjana said...

vasan.anjana@gmail.com

My favorite time period of history is when the Mughal Empire existed, along with the Rajputs (India history) . The Taj Mahal and all the lovely palaces were built in India then. Wish I could've seen it.

I'm already a follower - GFC : Anjana Vasan
Already on FB.

karenk said...

i like the 1950s

i'm a follower, too.

thanks for the recipe...and the chance to read this fabulous novel :P)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite period of history?

I think now is a pretty interesting time in the history of the world.

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

Am already a follower.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Twitter - stereoqueenbee

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Already a member!

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

BRN2SHOP9 said...

The 80s

brn2shop9 at gmail dot com

follow via gfc, twitter and facebook

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

I would love to go back to the 50's. What a time of change, especially in the music scene. It would be awesome to witness that time.

I am a GFC follower.

I am a fan on Facebook.

I LOVED The Violets of March and am so excited to read The Bungalow!

suzebomb(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Jencey @ Writer's Corner

I love historical fiction. I guess the WWII era would be one of my favorites.

I am a GFC follower and FB Follower.
jenceyg@msn.com

Kim W. said...

1. WWII is my fave period of history

2. Follow CLC blog

3. Posted to FB

4. Belong to CLC on FB

kewalker1972@gmail.com

Tiffany Drew said...

I love to read about WWII :)

GFC follower Tiffany Drew
Facebook Member Tiffany Drew
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/153909487667908608

jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net