Prunes! Nature's Perfect Snack

Mention prunes and most people pull a face or make a gesture to indicate an unpleasant side effect.  In fact prunes are one of nature’s little miracles.

They are full of protein, low in sugar (due to the way they are left on the tree for a much longer time) and low in saturated fats.  They are also full of calcium which is necessary for good healthy bones and 'B' vitamins essential to help build a healthy immune system. But best of all they are so versatile and taste so good.

Prunes are the perfect take anywhere snack and are versatile working equally well in baking as general recipes.

 California Prune Board is made up of around 900 independent prune producers. Because of the climate and weather conditions California produces some of the best prunes in the world.

California Prune is not a brand but a mark of quality and control and indication that the product was grown and processed in California.

The California Prune Board recently invited a group of bloggers and journalists to spend the day with Chef Rosemary Shrager at her cookery school in Tunbridge Wells. We were welcomed on a freezing January morning with hot coffee, fresh pastries and of course bowls of prunes!

Rosemary Shrager is a lovely lady with a passion for food and for passing her knowledge to her students and that was certainly the feel of the day as we prepared our lunch under her watchful eye. 

All of the dishes we made contained prunes, were simple to make so that you could make them again at home and really tasty.

In fact the food that we made during the morning was our lunch later on in the early afternoon.

California prunes are running a competition and have teamed up with the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School to encourage people to cook deliciously healthy and indulgent recipes using this versatile and incredibly tasty super fruit. 

We finished the afternoon and left with a generous goodie bag, all the recipes we had used during our day and the loaf of Prune Bread we had made to take home with us.

Whether it’s a gorgeously indulgent winter warmer or a tasty high-fibre snack for a healthy new you, California Prunes are rich and flavourful, healthy and nutritious -which means they are great in both gooey desserts and light healthy snacks?

Share a California prune-based recipe in one of their two themes, for the chance to win a Bread-making Masterclass for two with Rosemary Shrager – including travel and overnight accommodation plus the chance to have your recipe published in an e-recipe book.

Upload your recipes in either category at www.californiaprunerecipes.co.uk or visit the California Prunes Facebook page for details. Ten runners up will each win a £100 supermarket voucher to spend in a store of their choice.

 

I was a guest of California Prune Board and Rosemary Shrager Cookery School. I was not paid to attend this Masterclass and as usual all opinions and photos are my own.