Make use of puff pastry scraps

If you are left with any scraps when you've been using puff pastry it's not a good idea to roll it into a ball and re-roll it, like you would do with shortcrust. The layers of fat between the pastry would no longer be there and the pastry wouldn't puff up. If you need more then you can press the scraps together, trying to keep them roughly in the same direction, and roll them flat.

Alternatively you can brush with beaten egg, sprinkle with cinnamon and icing sugar, bake for 8-10 minutes and enjoy them with coffee...

Or dipped in chocolate sauce.

To make the chocolate sauce mix a spoonful of Nutella with enough hot water to make the sauce as thick as you like.....and enjoy.

Sugar Free Raspberry Muffins

I felt a bit guilty after I'd made muffins with my husband's favourite chocolate so I thought I would make him something nice to make up for it. The very same day I received some Total Sweet* sugar alternative in the post so decided to give it a go in muffins.

Sugar Free Raspberry Muffins - Makes 10-12

175g Self Raising Flour

25g Ground Almonds

1 tsp Baking Powder

50g Total Sweet

150g Mashed Banana (2 small bananas)

2 Eggs, beaten

75ml Sunflower Oil

150 ml Milk

100g Frozen Raspberries

• Mix the flour, almonds, baking powder & Total Sweet together
• Mix the banana, eggs, oil & milk into the dry ingredients - do not over mix, it should be lumpy
• Break the raspberries up and stir gently into the mixture - just a couple of mixes
• Divide mixture between muffin cases 
• Bake in a preheated 180 C oven for 18-20 minutes
• Cool on a wire rack

The husband thought these were THE best muffins, and I must admit they do seem to be improving every time I make a batch. He now has a sweet treat that he can enjoy without worrying about having too much sugar. My regular muffins only have 50g of sugar in (per 12) anyway and considering your average low fat yoghurt has around 17g of sugar in, one of my muffins surely has to be better for you!

* some of the benefits of Total Sweet - low GI value, non artificial, aspartame free, suitable for diabetics, 40% less calories than sugar. Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, especially in children, so eat sparingly

I was sent some Total Sweet to try out in my recipes