PRUNE PUREE

Prunes contain a natural sugar called sorbitol, which helps relieve constipation. Like fibre sorbitol soaks up water wherever it can find it. Most fruits contain small amounts, but prunes are about 15% sorbitol, making them a potent bulking agent.

Prunes are a valuable fat substitute in recipes and can replace butter or oil in baked goods, cutting fat by as much as 980% without sacrificing flavour or texture:

Puree 8 oz (250g) (about 24 prunes) of pitted prunes in the blender with 6 Tabs of water.
In recipes, replace 1 Tab of fat with an equal amount of prune puree.

LOW FAT APPLE ‘N’ SPICE MUFFINS

Super moist bundles of apple and spice – makes 18 large muffins

2 cups white SR
1/2 cup wholemeal SR
1/4 cup each of sweetener powder and unprocessed bran
2 tsp BP
3 granny smith apples – peeled, cored & chopped
1 tsp each of cinnamon and mixed spice
1/2 tsp each of gr ginger and nutmeg
1/4 tsp gr cloves
3/4 cup skim milk (liquid)
1/4 cup apple juice concentrate
3/4 cup apple sauce
2 egg whites
50g plain low fat yoghurt

1.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.   Spray 1.5 muffin trays with vege oil spray.
2.  Sift flours & BP together into a large bowl. Add sweetener, bran, spices & apples.
3.  Put other ingredients in blender and mix well. Add wets to dry mixture;  stir well to combine.
4.  Spoon into muffin trays, bake 25 mins. Cool 5 mins in tray then turn onto wire rack.