REAL FRUIT PUREE RECIPES

Steps:

• Cook 2 cups sugar with 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. For peach puree: Thaw a 16-ounce bag of frozen peaches, then puree in a blender with 1 teaspoon grated orange zest and 1/2 cup of the sugar syrup. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and transfer to a bottle or jar. For strawberry or blueberry puree: Thaw a 16-ounce bag of frozen berries, then puree in a blender with 1/3 cup of the sugar syrup. Strain and store in a bottle or jar. Refrigerate purees until ready to use.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Put the dates in a bowl with the bicarbonate of soda and cover with 200ml/7fl oz of boiling water. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes to soften, then drain. Whiz the dates in a food processor until you have a purée. Meanwhile, cream your butter and sugar until pale using a wooden spoon, and add the eggs, flour, mixed spice, cinnamon and Ovaltine. Mix together well, then fold in the yoghurt and your puréed dates. Pour into a buttered, ovenproof dish and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
  2. While the pudding is cooking, make the toffee sauce by putting the butter, sugar and cream in a pan over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce has thickened and darkened in colour. To serve, spoon out the pudding at the table and pour over the toffee sauce.