~ * WINTER Fresh and Dried Fruit Salad !! * ~

A summer fruit salad is easy, BUT a winter salad is more of a challenge. THIS is the time to combine dried fruits with the available fresh fruits!

Preparation time: 10 minutes + ( * 20 minutes standing).
Total cooking time: 10 minutes. Serves: 6.

180 g (6 oz) dried apricots
90 g (3 oz) dried peaches, chopped
90 g (3 oz) dried nectarines, chopped
220 g (7 oz) pitted prunes
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup (250ml/8 fl oz) apple juice
2 red apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 navel oranges, peeled and sliced
2 mandarins, peeled and segmented

1 PUT the dried apricots, peaches, nectarines, prunes, cinnamon stick and apple juice in a large pan. PLACE over the heat and bring to the boil, then COVER and SIMMER for 5 minutes. REMOVE from the heat and set aside for 20 minutes. REMOVE the cinnamon stick.

2 PEEL the apples, cut into chunks and toss with the lemon juice.

3 SERVE the cooled dried fruit topped with the apple chunks and the orange and mandarin slices. SERVE with low-fat yoghurt (of your choice), if desired.

NUTRITION PER SERVE
Protein 4 g; Fat 0.5 g;
Carbohydrate 47 g; Dietary Fibre 9 g; 865 kj (205 cal)

Rosemary Stanton.

~ re "real" PURE Stevia (NATURAL sugar substitute) ~

Was in the supermarket TODAY (*Australia/02/01/2011) and thought I'd check if there were added ingredients in the available stevia supplies. IT is disappointing to find that the mass-market is NOW adulterating Stevia with other ingredients (although not surprised) compared to when it was first released onto its shelves as I knew of it. HOPEFULLY, 100 per cent pure Stevia is currently accessible from a 'HEALTH FOOD' Shop!