Fabulous Magic Elixirs Made With Prunes
Magic: you know it when you see it, and you certainly know it when you eat it. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that I infuse my life with bits of magic every day, including in the kitchen. It began with my Marinated Red Onions and I quickly realized my Magic Elixir creations would be a shortcut to deliciousness and a surefire secret to impressive cooking. Today I want to highlight the California prune, which is an extra special secret ingredient in my cooking. If you haven’t yet added California prunes to your everyday cooking, you’re in for a real treat!
I share about and partner with only the most fabulous brands. The wonderful folks at California Prunes sponsored this blog post.
A Lovely Thought from Teri
Ever since I was assigned the number 48 on my very first day of school, it’s been my magic number, a sign that tells me I’m on the right path. It’s my very own angel number. The magic inherent in this number, and in my other magical signs, has been infused by my experiences with them and the knowledge that I can rely on them.
The same is true for my Magic Elixirs. Knowing I can rely on them, time and time again, to take my food from delicious to extraordinary, is exactly what makes them magical. You can elevate your food too, with my simple recipes that will make you feel confident in the kitchen and excited about the possibilities of what you can create. Frankly, while all of my Magic Elixirs are wonderful, the ones that include my favorite secret ingredient, the California prune, really raise the bar with their rich depth of flavor. They may be the most underrated magic ingredients in your kitchen, and I am here to change their reputation!
I love to keep them in my cupboard both as a snack and as a key ingredient in my dishes. They are the perfect not-too-sweet bite that is also quite good for your body, and who doesn’t love a win-win? I’m thrilled to share these Magic Elixirs and my love of prunes with you. If you’re not already a super fan like I am, these recipes are likely to win you over.
Why do I love prunes?
- Absolutely delicious.
- A healthful alternative sweetener.
- Loaded with fiber.
- And for me, they are a health tonic.
Not just a delicious treat, prunes offer a plethora of health benefits.
They’re rich in vitamins and minerals, aiding digestion and providing a natural sweetness that can replace artificial sugars.
Click here to learn more about California Prunes.
Teri’s Favorite Magic Elixirs Made with California Prunes:
Sweet & Savory Caramelized Onions
This Magic Elixir is extraordinary and so great to keep in a little jar in the fridge. I absolutely love serving this one with grilled cheese or a burger, and it’s a great way to level up a quick dinner for your family or dinner guests. Everyone always loves it, and the secret ingredient always remains a secret.
Prune Reduction
We created this foundation as a jumping-off point for deliciousness. The base is made with prunes, red wine, balsamic vinegar, and a touch of coconut sugar, creating the perfect canvas for some of our beloved sauces. You can make our Enchilada Sauce by adding crushed tomatoes and chipotle pepper. You can make a Mondae Sauce by adding chocolate to the prune reduction, which creates the most elevated topping for a bowl of ice cream. My Mondae Sauce was actually inspired by a balsamic sauce I had at Cook St. Helena, a restaurant in California! I absolutely love to make a note of the deliciousness I find everywhere I go for creative inspiration.
Onion Jam (& Bacon Jam!)
This is truly the Magic Elixir we didn’t know we needed but suddenly can’t imagine living without. You’ll be blown away by its gentle sweetness and versatility. The best part of creating my own Onion Jam was that I simply combined two already awesome Magic Elixirs: my Sweet & Savory Caramelized Onions and my Prune Reduction. When you make it, I’m sure you’ll see why it’s become our most recent obsession. And because we can never have too much of a good thing, we added Crispy Oven Bacon to one of our Onion Jam batches, resulting in the most delicious and savory Bacon Jam.
Whole30 Homemade Mayo
Did you know that most commercial mayonnaise contains sugar? I was so surprised to find that out! I wanted to make a beautiful sugarless version for Whole30. This mayonnaise is naturally sweetened by prunes and is so perfect that you may never go back to store-bought.
Creamy Clementine Dressing
This is such a scrumptious dressing. It’s a sweet, tangy, and creamy Whole30 dressing with savory notes, and it goes with most salads, especially our Citrus Chopped Salad. It’s perfect in a chicken or egg salad instead of mayo. It’s similar to a ranch dressing, but the clementine juice takes it in a different direction and helps knock it out of the park.
Prune Puree
Whether you are trying to reduce refined sugar, cut unhealthy fats, or simply want to make healthier recipes, Prune Purée can enhance cakes, cookies, muffins, savory sauces, and more.
Swap for sugar: Use prune purée to replace anywhere from one-third to half of the sugar in a recipe.
Swap out eggs: To replace 1 large egg, use ¼ cup prune purée. Keep in mind that this works best in recipes that call for no more than 3 large eggs.
Lose the fat: To cut down on fat, replace up to half of the butter or oil with an equal amount of prune purée.
