Something a little different for sweet

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Written by Staff Reporter

Thursday, 15 July 2010

When people look for something sweet, they tend to go for some chocolate or sugary snacks such as mixed sweets, muffins or scones. Rather than go for these shop bought sweet foods, how about trying to make your own. As part of my 'Eat Real Food this Summer' campaign, I'd like to give you tips on getting that sweet taste without spooning in loads of sugar.

You can use naturally sweet foods to sweeten things, like I have done here below with these muffins. Using ripe bananas or stewing fruit such as apples, pears and stone fruit can make foods sweet. Cinnamon is a great sweet flavouring that is natural and has no sugar. Nuts and seeds are also naturally sweet and can be added to your favourite foods.

Some people opt for artificial sweeteners but the research around the use of these is controversial. Artificial sweeteners can also be dangerous as they can increase your cravings for sweet foods and can result in side effects such as headaches, digestive problems etc.

Pear and Chocolate Muffins

1 cup of wholemeal flour
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
¼ heaped teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground linseed and/or wheat germ (optional)
3 ripe pears

½ inch root ginger (optional)
2 large squares 70% dark chocolate (roughly chopped)
1 egg
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
Preheat oven to 180 oc or 160 oc fan

Chop the pear finely and place in a saucepan with the ginger. Cook on a medium heat till soft (about 10 mins). Allow to cool. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl and add the seeds and linseed and wheat germ. In a measuring jug or separate bowl, whisk the egg with a fork, add maple syrup and chocolate. Mix well and add cooled pear.

Add the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well – don't be too rough. Scoop into a lightly oiled muffin tray – I make 6 with this recipe but if you want to make 9 or 12 smaller ones feel free. Cook in oven for 20 mins. You know when they are done when you stick a skewer in and it comes out fairly dry.

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