We have been spoilt with home produce this week having been given some runner beans and a cucumber when we returned from our mini break, and at the weekend some rhubarb by our neighbours who run an allotment. I must say it was absolutely delicious, needing very little sugar and my crumble topping was an experiment following a conversation with C about cooking desserts in the microwave and no recipe!
My first effort was with a couple of pears we’d asked if we could pick off the tree in one of the gardens up the road.
The pears were firm so I sliced and cooked them first, then put them in a pyrex bowl and covered the fruit with my topping, cooking it in the microwave for 2 minutes.
I served Hubby’s with custard and I had quark on mine.
It was nice, but a little dry, so I thought this particular mix would be better with a fruit that was wetter and juicier.
The rhubarb was perfect, and I cooked it until it was just beginning to soften, draining off as much of the liquid as I could.
In the past, I would have used the liquid in a jelly as it gives it an extra zing.
As with all fresh fruit, sweetening is up to the individual, so I will leave that to you.
I used 2 teaspoons of brown sugar in the rhubarb and one teaspoon of brown sugar on top.
The topping is so easy, and you don’t even get your hands sticky as it’s equal amounts of rolled porridge oats and granola cereal (no fat, no sugar, no flour).
Note:
The granola cereal I prefer is quite high on the syns list having 8 for a 45g portion.
However, there are lesser varieties available, and if you like muesli, I suppose you could use that instead.
The rhubarb produced enough additional liquid to be absorbed by the oats and kept the mix moist but not hard. Again, Hubby had his custard, and I had quark.
It worked and I’ve made it again since, so I’m glad to say I’m still Queen of the Crumbles!
Also this week, we have had a cooked breakfast of ham and eggs at home (no syns)
and those runner beans went beautifully with a pork chop, new potatoes in their skins, carrots and stuffing (4 syns).
The main meals this week though have been mostly salad of some description.
Hubby had his chicken breast with rice and a curry sauce, and today he had McCheese whereas I mixed some cooked pasta with ham for me (syns for mayo only).
I have a little detective work to do next time I’m in the supermarket as the Baby Leaf salad mix I’ve had these past two days has had a hint of mint in it. I am wondering if it is included in the mix, as although I’m not too keen on the rest of it (mainly watercress), it enhances the flavour of everything else on the plate so I’m thinking of getting some dried mint to sprinkle on the top of my meals for variety.
pensitivity101 
Delicious and healthy eating.