A b s t r a c t. The main objective of this study was to develop high fibre cakes utilizing and valorising cabbage by-productscabbage outer leaves. Cabbage outer leaves were dried and milled in order to produce cabbage leaf powder. The cabbage leaf powder was added at 0, 10, 20% into sponge cake. All of the samples were subjected to physicochemical analysis and sensory evaluation. Methods of descriptive sensory analysis were used for a comparative analysis of the sponge cakes with cabbage leaf powder and the cake without cabbage leaf powder. Addition of cabbage leaf powder in sponge cakes significantly affected the cake volume and textural properties. Springiness of cakes with cabbage leaf powder and crumb tenderness were lower, while the structure was stable at high loads, as expressed by lower shrinkage in comparison with the control cake. The nutritional value of the sponge cakes with cabbage leaf powder was lower than the control cake. The cells cakes modified by cabbage leaf powder were smaller and almost equal, uniformly distributed in the crumb, and at the same time had thicker walls. The cakes with addition of cabbage leaf powder showed the springiness and their crumb tenderness were lower, while their structure was stable at high loads. Control cake showed higher water-absorbing capacity compared to the cakes with 10 and 20% cabbage leaf powder.

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The current paper presents the initial scientific research on a new enriched flour mixture with nectarine powder, comprising physicochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, microbiological load, and sorption characteristics data. A mixture of 70% Einkorn flour and 30% fruit powder of Bulgarian origin as a functional food supplement was blended. The presence of bioactive components was proved by the in vitro analysis of antioxidant activity through DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC methods. The microbiological indicators, the total count of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms, yeasts and molds, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., coagulase-positive staphylococci and coliforms, were within the permissible norms and no presence of pathogenic microorganisms, were detected in the flour mixture. Adsorption and desorption processes were studied at 10, 25 and 40°C and aw = 0.112-0.868 following static gravimetric methods. The obtained S-shaped equilibrium sorption isotherms confirm the constant trend that with increasing equilibrium moisture content, the temperature decreases in conditions of constant water activity. Based on the obtained sorption capacity data, a calculation of the monolayer moisture content was made using the linearization of the BET model. One of the modified three-parametric models of Oswin, Halsey, Henderson, and Chung-Pfost was selected as a suitable model for describing all sorption isotherms.

It has been long recognized that fruits are healthy diet compounds as they are excellent sources of health-beneficial bioactive components (polyphenols, minerals, vitamins, organic acids, etc.). The diversification of the consumer’s taste calls for an expansion of food options and novel ingredients. Puddings are a well-known food choice introduced in the human diet at a very early age because of their easy and high digestion. Four formulations with two types of starch (corn and rice) were selected as object of analysis. Nectarines were incorporated as a purée, and lyophilized powder. The nectarine variety “Gergana”, used for the preparations, is a local variety with proven beneficial properties. The study aimed at analyzing the physical (moisture, ash, color, water-holding capacity, water activity, density and syneresis), textural (firmness, gumminess, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness), nutritional, and sensory characteristics of the nectarine-enriched puddings. The outcomes obtained from this study provided significant information about the possible application of the formulations in the children’s daily menus. All four formulations had distinct peachy aroma. The formulations prepared with nectarine purée resulted in a better sensory perception about their texture, and better water-holding capacity. At this point, the formulation prepared with lyophilized fruit and rice starch has the most promising results. Sufficient evidence leads to further exploration of the perspective of fruit-enriched puddings in order to improve their technological and health-promoting properties.

The aims of the current scientific study are to present the initial data research on the flour mixture of whole wheat flour enriched with nectarine powder of Bulgarian origin – intended for sponge cake production - was created. The natural content of the antioxidants was evaluated through the in vitro methods DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and monolayer moisture content (MMC) were investigated at 10°C, 25°C, and 40°C, resembling the diapason of temperature conditions in the storage house. The water activity (from 0.1 to 0.9) is provided through saturated salt solutions of LiCl, CH3COOK, MgCl2, K2CO3, MgNO3, NaBr, NaCl, and KCl. The obtained adsorption and desorption EMC declare the tendency – with its increase, the temperature decrease at the constant value of aw. According to Brunauer’s classification, sorption isotherms are of the second class, showing their characteristic S-shape profile. The modeling of the obtained sorption data includes their mathematical description using one of the three-parametrical models of modified Halsey, Oswin, Chung-Pfost, and Henderson. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller linearization was presented to the values of the monolayer moisture content – for the adsorption process they are between 5.78% and 8.94%; and for the desorption - between 7.25% and 8.89%.