Using fruit as a healthy substitute in cooking

Being an avid user of Twitter I tend to be logged on to the site all day every day.  I find it a fascinating way to keep up with the goings on in the world.  During a regular day of being nosey and seeing what everyone had to shout about I noticed a tweet that took my interest.  It mentioned that fruit can be used as a substitute for certain ingredients in baking.  This struck a particular chord with me because here at Simply Nectar we know only too well that fruit can be used instead of sugar.  Simply Nectar drinks don’t contain any refined sugars.  If the drinks need sweetening at all we just add a dash of grape juice.  That is all they need.   Knowing this I was then intrigued to find out more about other ways fruit can be used to sweeten products and what else it can replace.  My curiosity encouraged me to delve deeper into the subject and this is what I found out.

Fruit can be used to replace artificial sugars and sweeteners in most recipes.  You can swap about half a cup of fruit for one cup of sugar.  It can be used in all forms too – from liquid to solid.  Fruit juice – such as Simply Nectar (of course!) – can be used to add sweetness to food.  If you want to juice your own fruit then you can obviously do this but make sure you use the fruit pulp as well as the juice because this can thicken as well as sweeten.  Another thick liquid you can use is apple sauce.  This can be used as a healthy replacement to butter and oil as it has similar properties to these ingredients.  It allows the finished product to retain its moisture so deducting oil or butter from the recipe won’t dry it out.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Purees are also a good way to add sweetness and the trusty apple can be used once again.  An apple puree will work especially well in many baked goods.  Pear and prune puree can also work well as they can replace a significant amount of sugar in cake mixtures in particular.  You can even play around with sweet vegetable purees like pumpkin, sweet potato or butternut squash.  They all add nutritional benefits.  You could try using the purees with spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.   You can make your own puree or sauce by simmering one cup of water with around a quarter of a cup of fruit for about an hour.

Image courtesy of Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As well as pureeing the fruit, you can use overripe fruits such as pears, bananas, figs and mangoes.  If you drain off the excess juice from these fruits then you can usually use an equal ratio of fruit to sugar.  Overripe fruit doesn’t just have to be added to recipes either.  Why not mash it up to form a paste which can then be used as a topping.  Smother it on toast, bagels or muffins instead of jam or chocolate spread.

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Another option is to use the zest of a lemon, orange or lime to add sweetness and enhance the fruitiness of a dish.  Dried fruits also work well.  Try fruits such as plums, apricots, raisins and cranberries.  When fruit is dried it retains its natural sugars and so can provide bursts of sweetness if used in baking.  Take caution though.  Dried fruit is very dense so it needs to be used in small quantities in particular recipes, otherwise it may ruin the end product.  It may sink to the bottom of the mixture or not get distributed equally. 



Image courtesy of Rawich / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So there we have it; the proof that fruit can be used in lots of ways and can be used to replace many ingredients.  We all for getting rid of added sugar in food and drinks and now you can help us.  Stop including artificial sugars and sweeteners in your recipes and start using fruit.  It’s pure, natural goodness and by the sounds of it it’s also very easy to use.  Give it a try and see for yourself.

Simply fruit,

Simply Nectar

Uses for fruit juice in cooking

Great news for chocolate lovers!  Good news for fruit juice lovers too!  A new chocolate has been invented that will have less fat than normal chocolate.  Why?  Because the designers behind it have replaced the fat with fruit juice.  Hurrah!  In fact, according to chemists at the University of Warwick, the brains behind the new product, up to 50 per cent of the chocolate’s fat content has been replaced with the juice.  They also claim that they have spent months making sure the ‘mouthfeel’ of the chocolate is perfect.

According to the scientists, people crave the indulgent sensations of chocolate which are brought on by the fat i.e. the silky smooth texture and the way it melts in the mouth.  But Dr Stefan Bon from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick has said he and his team have found a way to maintain those characteristics by using fruit juice.  Sounds delicious if you use us!

This got us thinking about other uses for fruit juice.  As well as drinking Simply Nectar you could use it for all manner of things.  Here is a little list of examples.

Ice lollies or frozen yoghurt

Fill some ice lolly moulds with Simply Nectar, add some water and stick them in the freezer for delicious ice lollies.  Or simply add some yoghurt to the juice and try making frozen yoghurt/ice cream.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cereal topping

If you’re not a fan of milk perhaps use Simply Nectar for cereal.  Pour it on and enjoy a fruity sensation for breakfast…or lunch, or dinner – whenever!

Cake ingredient

Perhaps add some Simply Nectar to cake mixture to give it a fruity kick.  Or alternatively add it to icing sugar or butter icing to give a flavoured cake topping or filling.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Meat or fish flavouringRather than adding beer or wine to meat or fish, perhaps add a splash of Simply Nectar when it’s cooking.  It’ll soak into the meat/fish and add a fruity flavour.

Salad dressingCombine Simply Nectar with a vinegarette and drizzle over salad for an exotic twist on a regular dish.

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So, what do you think?  Would you use Simply Nectar for any of these? If you have any other suggestions please do let us know.

Simply fruit juice uses,

Simply Nectar

(For more detail on the chocolate story, please see: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2188119/Good-news-chocaholics-Scientists-replace-fat-FRUIT-JUICE-create-healthy-chocolate-bars.html#ixzz252SGTST2)

What On Earth seeks a new baker to join the team

Our close friends at What On Earth are looking for a new member to join the team.  They're searching for a baker...not a butcher or a candlestick maker!  The role is full time and the candidate in question will need to be experienced in the baking industry as they will be making What On Earth's renowned organic pizzas.  Here are more details that What On Earth has provided us with:

About The role

• Producing food up to company spec
• On-going quality control and informing supervisor of any changes to raw ingredients that might affect quality
• Effective production (min 300 pizza bases in a shift)
• Assisting supervisor and passing comments on to senior staff, which might make working more efficient
• Ensuring all technical standards are met by communicating with department managers.

Who we are looking for

• Available to start with us ASAP
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to promote a positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be open for input from all members of the team
• Able to promote good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Willing to undergo training
• Flexible & good attention to detail
• Punctual & a team player
• People person, “can do” attitude, optimistic, “cool head” personality

Qualification & Experience:

• Have relevant quality experience on bakery level-preferred experience of organic food industry
• Good  knowledge of industry standards (HACCP) & food hygeine
• Food Hygiene certificate preferable

Benefits

• 28 days paid holidays
• Discount on WOE products
• Most important- “room to grow”
  
  

How to Apply

If you are interested in the role please apply by sending your CV & covering letter to Tara@whatonearth.co.uk  for immediate consideration.

What on Earth Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.  Due to the high number of responses we receive we may not be able to get back to you all.  If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks please consider your application as unsuccessful.

Good luck guys.  Go forth and apply!

Simply baking,

Simply Nectar