Slimtone’s Pick of the Crop

It’s that wonderful time of the year when all the soft fruits are in abundance. I love them – strawberries, raspberries, loganberries, red currants….mmm, my mouth is watering already! Here are a couple of recipes to ring the changes with these delicious summer fruits.

Hot Berries and Banana
Serves 1 – approx 150 cals per serving
1 small bananas                                                    2 tbsp/30ml orange juice
56g/2oz fresh or frozen raspberries                 Half fat aerosol cream

Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Remove the skin from the bananas and cut in half length ways and place on a sheet of foil – make sure the foil is large enough to cover the bananas during cooking. Spoon over the raspberries and 2 tablespoons/30ml orange juice. Fold up the foil to make a parcel. Place on a baking sheet and cook for approx 13-15 mins. Serve with half fat aerosol cream.

Summer Pudding
Serves 6 – approx 120 Cals per serving
8 thin slices of wholemeal bread, crusts removed               
500g/1lb bag frozen fruits of the forest or a mixture of fresh soft fruits
Granulated sweetener to taste (add to fruit after cooking)   
5 tbsp apple juice

Place 1 slice of bread in the bottom of a 1½ pint pudding basin. Reserve 2 slices of bread and use the remainder to line the sides of the basin. Gently simmer the fruit with apple juice until slightly soft. Fill the basin with fruit pressing down firmly and place the reserved bread on top. Pop a saucer on top of basin within rim. Place a heavy weight on top and chill in the fridge overnight. Carefully run a knife inside of the basin and turn out onto plate. Delicious!

Of course, all these summer fruits are delicious on their own – but beware of the topping! Take a look at the winners and sinner:-

****Marie’s Tip: The small container of milk you have with a tea/coffee is approx 28g/1oz and is ideal to measure any of the above.