For dessert, Minoo shared a Pear, Dates and Almond Butter Muffin recipe in the South Arm Community Kitchen. Pears are high in fiber and contain a good amount of vitamin C as well.

These Pear, Dates and Almond Butter Muffins make a tasty and nutritious breakfast to go. They are moist and not doughy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted dates
• 2 ripe Bosc pears, peel, core and cut pears into small pieces
• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 3/4 cup natural almond butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Source: this recipe is adapted from Alive Magazine

Prep time: 30 mins;  Cook time: 35 mins;  Yields 12

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F.Place dates in a medium mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of boiling water over the dates, cover and let soak for about 5 minutes. Leaving the water in the bowl, use a fork and knife to cut up the dates until a puree forms.

Combine the flour, applesauce, almond butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dates, baking soda and baking soda in a large bowl.

Add chopped pears and stir just to combine.

With a spoon or ice-cream scoop, scoop batter into a lightly greased muffin pan. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.