Rocking winter fruits

I love a 2-minute dessert, something that can be put together quickly and served as is, warm or at room temperature, or jazzed up with extras. Ta-dah!  Tamarillos Baked with Maple Syrup: just 3 ingredients, 2 minutes prep and 15 minutes to cook. I think there’s a book in that concept (yes, yes, I know, it’s already been done). Tamarillos Baked with Maple Syrup
Tamarillos are intriguing things. Do you know the origin of the name? Like many people my age I remember them as tree tomatoes. Read about them here Tamarillos
And get on to them as winter fruits will soon be gone (or coming, if you are at the top of the world!).
And maple syrup. What a blessing. If you haven’t discovered it yet, consider swapping it for sugar whenever you can. I’ve given a guide on how to use it in baking in place of sugar. Unlike stevia, a sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, maple syrup is clean in the mouth and doesn’t leave that ghastly sugary-sweet taste in your mouth that lingers for hours – even water won’t wash it away (sorry, stevia fans, but I hate it). Maple syrup is simply the sap taken out of a certain kind of tree, boiled down, and there you have it, a product rich in zinc, with plenty of calcium and iron along with magnesium and potassium, too. Don’t for a moment think that these good properties are to be found in ‘maple flavoured syrups’ or in any product not labelled genuine maple syrup. For a step up, seek out Escuminac, a late harvest maple syrup with a gorgeous buttery caramel popcorn flavour and rich lingering taste. Maple Syrup
And balls. Got to chat about balls … Meatballs with Peppers & Onions is a great mid-week meal that can be stretched to feed a large family by adding a mash or crusty bread and an extra vegetable dish or salad. Making a batch of tasty tender balls is easy with a few tips. You’ll find those here
Roll ‘em up and roll ‘em out
And I’ve re-posted one of my favourite meatball recipes in a tomato sauce. For this you need good quality mince, or you can use the meat from good sausages. The emphasis is on quality – you will be disappointed with the result if you use sausages with cereal and other fillers. Tiny Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
FYI last week’s posting on jacket-baked potatoes broke all records. I’m so thrilled as I am a potato addict (I try and hide it, but it sneaks out every so often). If you are on a keto or no-carbs after 6.00 diet, put the jacket-baked potatoes in the ‘to make sometime’ pile because they are simply sensational.
And, finally, Shared Kitchen was a finalist in the Foodies Awards announced on Monday for Best Recipes. Yay!
Have a great week

Julie