It is apple season here in Minnesota. Although the frost back in April has diminished the size of the harvest this year, there are still plenty of delicious apples to enjoy. Here are 10 new ways to eat apples and a few apple recipes to fit this healthy fruit into more than just a grab ‘n go snack.
- Salads! Cut up apples and toss them into any salad: spinach salad with a balsamic vinaigrette, chicken or tuna salad made with 1/2 Greek yogurt and 1/2 mayo.
- Apple Pancakes are a great way to start the day if you make them whole grain. Use your whole wheat or oatmeal pancake recipe and toss in diced apple pieces or puree apples in a blender to mix in with the batter. Cinnamon apple pancakes don’t even need syrup!
- Homemade Applesauce is quite easy to make with a crock pot or a big pot on the stove. Chop up about 16 apples and simmer in 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of brown sugar for a couple hours. This makes a great, healthy snack with no preservatives, HFCS or chemicals.
- Turkey, Apple and Avocado Sandwich (TAA): Slice up an apple thinly and throw onto some grainy bread with nitrate free turkey and avocado slices. Delicious!
- Pork Chops with Apples. The grilling season is not completely over yet. Soak apple slices in a marinade or BBQ sauce and then place them on top of pork chops while grilling on both sides.
- Cinnamon Sugar Apples: This is a very fast apple dessert with far less calories than a real apple pie and all the flavor. Remove the core from an apple and mix 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon (you can add some chopped walnuts too!) Place the cored apple on a baking sheet and pour the cinnamon sugar mix in the middle of the apple. Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the apple is soft and the cinnamon sugar is aromatic.
- Apple Flat Bread: This is a fun and tasty kitchen challenge for all of you foodies. Find a great whole grain or multi-grain flat bread recipe. You can use a foccacia recipe or a healthier pizza crust. Layer apple slices with basil, onion and mozzarella or gruyere cheese for a salty and sweet appetizer or main dish. Add some grilled chicken for a little more protein too.
- Apple Bran Muffins can be a good way to get in healthy fiber to an otherwise refined carbohydrate.
- Apples and Peanut Butter or Almond Butter: This is a tried and true snack recipe that can’t go wrong.
- Apple Trailmix: This is great for a party mix or a ziplock snack to carry with you. Spread these ingredients on a cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes and then let them dry in the oven turned off. Diced apple pieces, old fashioned rolled oats, almond slices, pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of canola oil, about 2 Tablespoons of honey and any spices like cinnamon and all spice.