An Apple A Day…

I know I am not alone when I say that going apple picking with my family in the fall is an annual highlight. Not only are we supporting local farmers but we are “shopping” in a mindful and healthy way! The fun continues and we all vote on what recipe we should make with the apples we picked. This year we had a tie! So we made both – Applesauce and Apple Crisp …. and they were a huge hit. Enjoy!

Applesauce

Recipe yields 4 cups

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 ½ pounds organic Gala apples (or any other variety of sweet red apple, about 4 medium)
  • 1 ½ pounds organic Granny Smith apples (or Golden Delicious, about 4 medium)
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, more to taste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or 1 tablespoon lemon juice

PREPARATION

  • Peel, core and chop the apples into 2″ chunks. In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine the apple chunks, water, maple syrup and cinnamon. Cover and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and falling apart, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the heat. For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher or the back of a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon to break it up to your desired consistency. For smooth applesauce, blend it in your food processor.
  • Stir in the vinegar. Adjust to taste as necessary—for sweeter applesauce, stir in more maple syrup (I usually add 2 tablespoons); for more spice, add more cinnamon; for more complexity, add another teaspoon of vinegar.
  • Serve warm or chilled; let it cool to room temperature before covering leftover applesauce and storing it in the fridge. Leftover applesauce will keep well in the refrigerator for about 1 week, or for months in the freezer.

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Apple Crisp

Recipe yields 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

​Apple Filling

  • 2 ¼ pounds Granny Smith apples (about 5 large or 7 small), cored and sliced into ¼” thick wedges
  • ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
  • ¼ cup water, or bourbon or brandy, or apple cider or apple juice (I like 2 tablespoons bourbon and 2 tablespoons water)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons arrowroot starch or 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice or nutmeg

Oat and almond meal topping

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free crisp)
  • ½ cup firmly packed almond meal or almond flour
  • ⅓ cup lightly packed coconut sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt (Greek or regular)

PREPARATION

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place the sliced apples in a 9″ square baking dish. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the honey and water until combined. Add the lemon juice, starch, cinnamon and allspice, and whisk to combine. Pour the mixture over the apples and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almond meal, coconut sugar and salt. Mix in the melted butter and the yogurt. Stir until all of the flour is incorporated and the mixture is moistened throughout.
  • Once the apples have baked for 20 minutes, give them a stir and redistribute them evenly in the baker. Dollop small spoonfuls of the oat mixture evenly over the filling.
  • Return the baker to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 more minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is nice and golden.
  • Let the crisp rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for about 5 days.