One ingredient five ways: Prunes

PRUNE SOUP
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil; add 1 cup prunes, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 1/4 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Add 3/4 cup macaroni and continue cooking until macaroni is done. Add water, if needed. After macaroni is done, remove from heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar and stir well. Cover saucepan and let stand a few minutes. This soup is good served warm or cold.

BAKED CHICKEN AND PRUNES
Arrange 21/2kg chicken pieces in a large open roasting pan; place 3 carrots, cut into pieces and 300g pitted prunes around chicken. In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until blended. Pour over chicken. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, basting frequently, until chicken is fork-tender. Arrange chicken, carrots and prunes on platter; skim fat from juice and pour over chicken. Makes 8 servings.

PRUNE WHIP DESSERT
Beat 12 egg whites until they hold shape when bowl is tilted. Fold in 1 teaspoon sugar for each egg, a little at a time. Then fold in 14 prunes, cooked and mashed fine, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until it will stay in bowl when tilted. Bake in slow oven at 120C for one hour. Serve cold with whipped cream.

PRUNE BREAD
Sift 2 cups sifted flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup dry powdered milk, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg all together twice; set aside. Blend well. Combine 2/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup soft shortening or butter, 2 large eggs; add 3/4 cup prune juice and 1 cup drained chopped prunes. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Let stand 20 minutes. Bake in two well greased small loaf pans in medium 176°C oven for 35 minutes or until done.

GLAZED SWEET POTATOES WITH PRUNES
Combine 1/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup light corn syrup or honey in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until well blended. Place 12 pitted prunes and 2 cans of 480g each of sweet potatoes in a baking dish. Pour butter mixture over potatoes and bake at 180C for 10 minutes. Serves 4. —[email protected]