Oh Gwyn,

You raised some really good things about prunes. I will buy some of the Ones. I know I haven't liked prunes before but I am willing to try it now that you showed some of the benefits.

Missy

Speaking of prune juice. Get the V8 mixed juices, (Not the sugarfree or fat free, you lose your juice) I get prune juice and pour a little into the v8 juice, can't taste it and I get the benefits!

Another great idea!

Missy

I haven't had V8 in years, I always thought it was kind of spice for me, I don't like spice but I would use it as a base for soup. V8 a bag of frozen mixed veggies a handful of rice and soup is on. It is as easy as opening a can.

Now I am pissed so pissed I want to spit........

So all this talk about prunes made me decide to stew some prunes to have with my yogurt tonight since we all know baked apples are out of the question. I put some prunes in a small pot with a little water, covered it and I left the kitchen to come here. A little time has past and I smell something burning, not unusal as many people have started to burn leaves. It is illegal yet they do it anyway. So I just kept looking around the board and a nice breeze is blowing in the window and I realized it didn't smell like smoke. So where is the smell coming from. I got up to check and I forgot about my prunes, they were burned to a crisp. Had to toss them now I have the burned pot soaking I think all the scrubbing in the world will not clean it. It was a nice small pot perfect for cooking cream of wheat or boiling a few eggs. If I can't get it clean I will be lost without it. It come in a set of Faberwear pots almost 30 years ago. I wonder if they sell the size anymore. I guess I will check amazon. What I liked is not only was it small it came with a lid now a days so many pots don't have lids.

Sorry I am just babbling.

When I do that to a pan, my husband puts some dishwashing liquid in the pan and adds water and puts it on to boil, he lets it boil for about 5 minutes and so far it has always come clean (not that I burn a lot of food or anything like that)

I have done that too. I have also put an inch or so of water in the pot and then dump a BUNCH of baking soda in the pan and let it sit for a while then put it on the stove on low for a while and that generally does the trick for our burned pans.

Missy

Absolutely, let me just type it up. The cake came out so good. It was moist but dense, kind of like pound cake. We topped it with blackberries and raspberries and then had a side of ice cream made from coconut milk and sweetened with evaporated cane juice. It was AMAZING!!! lol

Christina,

You are one wicked woman! How dare you tempt me with chocolate cake when I am about to leave to get my hair done. *sigh* It will take almost 5 hours to get my hair done and I will be drooling the whole time. I sure hope my hair dresser doesn't think I am psychotic! :D:D:D:D

Missy

Ok, here's the cake recipe. I got it from the May 2010 issue of Family Circle.

Rich Chocolate Cake

Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 20 min Cook: 6 min
Bake: at 325 degrees for 50 min

1 can (12 oz) frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
3/4 c. sweet pitted prunes
1 stick (1/2 c.) unsalted butter
2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
3 eggs
1/2 c. 2% milk
2 t. vanilla extract

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9" springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a medium-size saucepan, heat 1 1/4c. of the apple juice concentrate with the prunes and butter over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted and mixture just begins to simmer, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, 3/4 c. cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Carefully transfer apple juice mixture to a blender and mix until prunes are pureed.

4. Beat eggs in a large bowl until blended. With mixer on medium speed, slowly add apple juice mixture. Beat until evenly blended. On low speed, beat in half the flour mixture, then milk, then remaining flour mixture. Stir in vanilla; spread into prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; then remove pan and cool completely.

5. Once cake has cooled, dust top with a little cocoa powder, Slice and serve with berries and ice cream.