Prunes and walnuts are both listed under nutritious category.Prunes especially,though

the health benefits are excellent,some do not like prunes (dried plums),so this recipe is a

good way to introduce into the diet.To endorse a few benefits of prunes  now

1. The content of fibre,sorbitol (a sugar alcohol that can loosen the stool) and a natural

laxative compound diphenyl isatain  are beneficial to the digestive tract.

2. The high soluble fibre helps to keep the sugar levels stable,as it delays the absorption

of  sugar into the blood stream.It also makes you feel full and satisfied after a meal,hence

overeating is avoided.

3.They help in lowering cholesterol,and improving bone health effectively.

Hope this outline is enough on the health note,and let’s move on to the awesome recipe.!

Ingredients for the basic tart pastry (9-10″ pie)

2 cups flour

120 gm butter

1 egg yolk

2 tblsp.sugar

1/4 tsp.salt

1/2 tsp.vanilla essence

Method

Mix all these ingredients and bind to a soft dough.Keep covered for 30-35 minutes.Do not

knead too much,but lightly put it together.If the dough is kneaded too much the pastry

will be tough.You can prepare this the previous day,and keep covered in the

refridgerator,and use it when needed.For this recipe,you could prick the base of the

pastry, and directly pour the filling,without prebaking the pastry .

For the filling

18-20 prunes

100 gm butter

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

50-75 gm walnuts

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup rum,or grape juice (lightly heated to soak)

Method

Heat the grape juice lightly and soak the prunes for a few hours or overnight for a richer

taste.If using rum or any other liquor you needn’t heat .Remove the prunes from the

juice(do not discard the juice) and arrange on the pricked and unbaked pastry.

Cream the butter and sugar till creamy.Add one egg at a time ,beating well after each

addition.Sift flour and baking powder,and add to the mixture.Add the rest of the

ingredients,with the rum or grape juice.(it should be of a dropping consistency.)

Pour the mixture over the prunes,and bake in a moderate oven for 45 minutes,or untill

done.Serve warm or cold with cream or a blob of ice cream.

Well!we had it plain.Looking forward to your comments, and suggestions.

Variation:Dates,dried apricots,and dried figs  can be substituted for prunes