Thursday, April 16, 2009

Simple, Delicious Syrup Alternative


The Nourishing Gourmet is one of my favorite sources for nourishing recipes and cooking tips. I've recently started soaking grains, not all the time but when I remember, and hope to begin including other healthful practices, such as making my own sourdough bread and including more alternative grains in our diet. I'll do a post sometime soon on the benefits of those things, in case you're not familiar with them (I know I wasn't until a few weeks ago).

To participate in her Breakfast Carnival, I'd like to share a recipe I make often as an alternative to maple syrup. Even though we are able to purchase organic maple syrup at the commissary for a great price, it's still quite expensive (plus, it's sugar, even though it is healthier for you than white sugar)....so recently I decided to cut back on how often I give it to Graeme.

But we still need something to go with pancakes :)

Here's my solution:
Fruity Pancake Topping
Serves 2 (double or triple...or quadruple as necessary ;)
Combine your choice of fruits for a delicious variety - raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and peaches are our favorites. Fresh or frozen! I'm sure you could experiment with different oils, but I like the flavor of butter.


1. Melt 2T butter in a small saucepan.
2. Add your choice of fruit, about 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup
3. Add about 1T lemon juice and 2-3T of a sweetener, to taste (honey, maple syrup, or sugar in pinch)
4. Simmer until mixture thickens a bit and the fruit softens to create more of a syrup-y texture.
5. Adjust ingredients to taste - you may desire a bit more sweetener, depends on the sweetness of your fruits.
6. Serve on top of your favorite pancakes!

2 comments:

Sarah said...

This looks fantastic! I much prefer a fruit topping on my pancakes or waffles (sometimes even fresh fruit and just a bit of syrup - probably trying to achieve exactly what your recipe provides!) and will have to keep this link saved! Thank you!

Best,
Sarah

Meredith said...

I have found that using a fruit sauce is also a great way to wean my family off the need for sweet. I just make it a little less sweet each time. With all the fruit flavour, we don't miss the sweetness.