Last week at Out of the Box Food we discussed easy alternatives to frozen waffles and pancakes.  So what can we do this week to top those healthy, delicious waffles and pancakes?  Syrup of course!  Okay, this is a tricky one.  Real, honest-to-goodness maple syrup is great.  It’s single ingredient is natural, sweet and even better warm.  But if the amount of sugar in maple syrup makes your kids go a bit wacky like it does mine, then what can we top pancakes and waffles with on busy school mornings?  How about warm, thick blueberry syrup?  Sweet, rich strawberry syrup?  We getting somewhere?

This week we will do something a little different.  Our comparison will be between a nationally recognized “syrup” product and good old fashioned Maple Syrup.  Then we’ll dig a little deeper and offer some alternatives to Maple Syrup to sweeten the deal.  With the Out of the Box Berry Syrup, you’ll be able to up the health ante on your already healthy waffles and  pancakes.  Your kids will get more nutrition and you can rest easy knowing that not only have you avoiding filling their stomachs with chemicals to start the day, you’ve filled them with more fresh goodness.

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THE COMPARISON:  Aunt Jemima Original Syrup vs. Trader Joe’s Grade A Maple Syrup

(All ingredients followed by an * can be referenced at www.wikipedia.org by clicking on the ingredient)

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AUNT JEMIMA ORIGINAL SYRUP

INGREDIENTS:

• corn syrup
• high fructose corn syrup
• water
• cellulose gum
• caramel color
• salt
• sodium benzoate and sorbic acid (PRESERVATIVES)
• artificial and natural flavors
• sodium hexametaphosphate

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TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC MAPLE SYRUP GRADE A

Ingredients:

• 100 % organic pure maple syrup

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Shall we discuss the comparison?  Nah…there’s really nothing to say.  I think you’ll agree the ingredients do all the talking.  Please make sure you reference the ingredients in the Aunt Jemima brand syrup, I think you’ll find it some very informative reading.

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Out of the Box Food^SM Berry Syrup

SERVES: Makes 2 cups cooked syrup

TIME: Prep 1 min
Cook 16 min

SUPPLIES:  sauce pan

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 C frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries or mixed berries)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

• Pour frozen berries into saucepan over medium heat
• Cook berries for approximately 8 minutes or until they release their juices and begin to cook down
• reduce heat to medium low and add cornstarch.  Stir to dissolve
• continue to cook for an additional 8 minutes, stirring occasionally

NOTE:  Syrup will thicken further after cooling

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ADDITIONAL TOPPING IDEAS:

• Whip up 1 pint heavy whipping cream with 1-2 tsp vanilla extract.  Top waffles & pancakes with whipped cream and sliced fruit.
• Top with sliced bananas, strawberries or blueberries and dust with either 1 tbsp powdered sugar or 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• KID FAVORITE: Top with melted butter.  With micro plane zester, grate 99% cocoa unsweetened chocolate bar over waffle/pancake.  Sprinkle 1/8 tsp powdered sugar.  (you may also use a 70% cocoa or higher bar and omit powdered sugar).  Add sliced strawberries if desired
• Any combination of the above!

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The testing phase of this week’s topic may possibly have been my boys favorite Out of the Box Food experience thus far.  My son who swears he only likes “Hershey’s” milk chocolate, was LOVING the unsweetened chocolate grated over the waffles.  Though he is normally a blueberry syrup connoisseur, he was willing to test outside the box and try the mystery chocolate.  You may be asking, “chocolate for breakfast? Can that possibly be healthy?”  Ohhhh yeah…unsweetened chocolate has loads of health benefits.  We’ll dive further into the vat of dark indulgence next time.  Until next week…

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If you like what you see, please forward Out of the Box Food to friends and help encourage more parents to break the processed food habit!

**All listed product ingredients are taken from product’s package label.  Though Out of the Box Food makes every effort to provide complete ingredient information, please check the package for the most current information.