thegreekbite

Follow Me on Pinterest

March 13, 2011

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away



Apples are great for you. In Greek mythology apples were associated with the healing God Apollo. Also, apple juice was one of the earliest treatments for depression and disturbances of the lungs, nervous system and stomach. Apples might not have all the nutrients that other fruits have but do have their share of benefis. First, apples are loaded with soluble fiber which helps control insulin levels by slowing the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Second, apples are loaded with phytochemical antioxidants which have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Third, apples also have vitamin C, beta carotene, and B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin and vitamin B-6. I love apples because they are tasty AND good for me. My taste-buds have grown to crave apples and I would choose one over a candy bar any day.
Below is my favorite homemade apple sauce recipe and some ideas on how you can incorporate this healthy sauce into your meals.

Apple Sauce: Dice 4-5 apples and cook over a stovetop with about 1/4 cup of water, sweeten with some sugar, honey or stevia and add cinnamon to taste. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring often.

Healthy Apple Cobbler: Once cooked put apples in a pan and alternate layers between the cooked apple and your favorite cookie crumbles. I love macaroons- they give a nice almond-coconut flavor. Serve with cream if you desire. You can also omit the cookies and just serve the apples warm. Yum.
Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal: Add warm apples on your oatmeal
Hot Apple Ice Cream Sundae: Add warm apples to your ice cream sundae for a delicious, healthy treat
Apple and Bacon Sandwich: In Denmark, it is common to bake the apples with pieces of bacon and then served on dark, rye bread (rogbrod) and topped with bacon slices. If you are vegan you can use bacon substitutes such as Morningstar, or top with your favorite meat substitute. I have used the pepper flavored tofurkey slices which are delicious with these apples.
Apples and yogurt with dried fruits and nuts (muesli)
Cheesecake topped with apples
Fruit salad with apples- bananas. berries, peaches, etc.
Warm apples with fresh cream- soy cream or regular creme
Strawberry Apple Jam
Warm apples with cashew milk- Homemade cashew milk topped with warm apples
Warm Apples- Eaten just as they are!!

Next time you are at the store buy a large bag of apples and have some fun experimenting with different recipes. If you would like to share your recipe we would love to hear from you!






No comments:

Post a Comment