There are many interesting ways to eat an apple.
Something about an apple invites you to bite in. Even though there is no sign that actually hangs from it saying “eat me”, it technically begs for it. Ask Adam and Eve. They were so tempted by it’s delicious irresistibility, that they forgot about the consequences they were warned about. I invite you to think about the consequences of not eating apples. You’ve heard this old quote (a warning of it’s own) but have you ever considered what it really means and how powerful it actually is?
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
The origin of that quote you know so well, comes from an old English saying, “Ate an apfel avore gwain to bed, makes the doctor beg his bread”. Translating to “eating an apple before going to bed makes the doctor beg his bread.” This is one big promise coming from a little piece of fruit, but let’s be real. This fruit is a powerhouse.
Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Diabetes are NOT friends of the mighty Apple. The anti-oxidants in apples will do their very best to fight them. Sounds good to me. Even “gooder” is the reduction of tooth decay, cholesterol and gallstones. And if that weren’t enough, digestive issues cannot hold their own in the massive fiber content of this fruit. Oh and let me not forget that you’ll being seeing better and your smile will be brighter too (chewing of the divine apple reduces tooth decay).
YES. This is quite a list of benefits.
Now that we’re clear that “THE BETTER YOU EAT, THE BETTER YOU FEEL”, what are you going to do about it?
Maybe there’s an issue or two that stop you from eating better, maybe more often than you would like to admit.
Maybe you’re just bored with plain ole’ biting in?
Maybe slicing and dicing doesn’t work with your clumsy knife skills?
Maybe you’ve become desensitized to the old fashioned apple and forgot that this beauty had so many gifts for you?
To bite or not to bite.
Please don’t bite.
After 40, you may want to consider that biting straight on into a hard apple may not be the best idea. Either because you want to engage in your eating in a more creative way or you’re concerned with the possibility of leaving a tooth behind.
Let’s give the apple it’s due reverence and take a look at how we can use it more often and in different fun ways by taking this divine fruit and making pies, shakes, dressings, chips and sauces.
And you’ve got an abundance of options. Color. Size. Taste. Texture. Cost. (almost as many selection as in a shoe store)
If you want to feel abundant, go shopping for an apple. I purchased these samples at the store today and there were many more.
You could technically eat a different apple every day for more than 19 years, and never eat the same kind twice!
Believe it or not, there really are 7500 varieties worldwide! And then on top of that you can use them to make so many different things.
There is ample opportunity to create abundance in your kitchen as you prepare recipes and start to look at this perfect little fruit in different ways.
You can chop, dice, or grate them over and in anything, raw or cooked. Use your divine imagination.
I am happy to share my divine imagination and invite you to experience something new and nakedly different in these:
5 simple extra-ordinary ways to eat an apple that you may not have thought about
Try these recipe ideas and see how you can enhance your eating experience by thinking outside the ordinary and place your mouth on the extraordinary.
I’ve included a recipe for an pie, an apple dressing, an apple shake, an apple tea and of course an apple sauce.
Baked Apple Pie ~ (A piece of pie is an amazing breakfast)
Crust:
- 1/4 cup pecans
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 5 large dates
In a food processor or vitamix, whirl together. It should a slightly chunky and sticky consistency . Spread and press into a pie plate covering bottom and sides.
Filling:
- 8 chopped apples (I like mixing fuji, macintosh)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon (or your favorite fall spices, cloves, nutmeg or apple pie mix)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup water
Slice up 6 of the apples into even size thin slices and set aside in a bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon and layer the slices into the crust.
Using the remaining 4 apples and ingredients for filling, whirl them together in a blender till you have a smoothie consistency. (if you don’t have a vitamix or high powered blender, shred the 3 apples with a grater into your blender) Pour over the apples in the pie crust.
At this point you have 2 options.
KEEP IT RAW – Place pie in fridge for a few hours till it firms up before slicing.
BAKE IT – At 350 degrees for 30 minutes, bake this baby till your house smells amazing.
Serve topped off with coconut whipped cream.
Apple Smoothie ~ (Yummy for breakfast or a snack)
Blend the following ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth and creamy.
- 2 medium apples
- 3 dates, pitted
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 1 cup hemp or almond milk
Apple Tea (This is the perfect special treat anytime of day or nite)
- 1/2 apple
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- your favorite tea
Cut 1/2 apple cut into chunks and add to tea as it brews. Strain the apples and sweeten with 1 tsp honey. I like to leave a few of the apple chunks sinking to the bottom of my tea for a surprise at the end of my sipping.
Apple Sauce ~ (treat yourself on the side or on top of anything and everything)
- 8 apples /assorted types
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon /adjust to taste 1 nutmeg /adjust to taste
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Chop apples into small chunks. Sprinkle on cinnamon and nutmeg. Add 1/4 c water and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes until apples are mushy. You can leave it chunky or put it in a blender and make smooth sauce.
Apple Dressing (Sweet ! dress your salad well and if you like sweet, this will make your meal)
- 1 gala apple
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 c almond milk
- 1/4 cup raw cashews
- 1 tbsp raisins
Blend in blender (you’ll need a high powered blender for this one) until creamy consistency (adding more almond milk or water according to desired thickness)
Cool Combos
It would be wrong of me not to remind you of the simple yumminess of dipping in.
My favorite peanut butter company Crazy Richards would agree that the apple is the perfect addition to peanut butter. But because we are talking about kicking up your experience, consider using CASHEW BUTTER and ALMOND BUTTER (check it out here) for a great snack for dipping or spreading on apple slices.
Cool Stuff about Apples
Here’s another cool thing about apples. Besides using them to keep the doctor away, they aid in weight loss. It would be wrong of me not to mention these tidbits, tips and tricks for using apples as a weight loss tool. Their high fiber content fills you up, so you’ll naturally want to eat less.
TIDBIT: If you’re feeling an emotional need to overeat, consider using a bag of apples instead of a bag of chips. You may even eat just one (and be satisfied) Consider your need, if you want warm and cozy, bake an apple till it’s soft and gooey at 350 for 40 minutes. If you want crunchy crisp, slice your apple thinly with a mandolin or knife and bake on cookie sheet till crisp.
TIP: If you are crazy hungry and need to grab and go, grab an apple and 10 almonds.
TRICK: Eating an apple before a meal out is a great trick for eating less.
TIDBIT: Not that you are counting, but if you were, apples are a great naked “UNDER 100 CALORIE” snack pack. They are available almost any where and every where. And they come in multiple colors, flavors, firmness and texture.
TIP: I am pretty sure it wasn’t the one extra apple that made you feel fat.
TRICK: Adding 1/2 apple blended into a shake will sweeten it up.
Juicy information.
Did you know that apples float because 25 percent of their volume is air?
or that it takes nearly 40 apples to make 1 gallon of cider?
or that an apple tree has to grow for four or five years before it will produce an apple?
or my favorite one…that in ancient times, apples were thrown at weddings (instead of rice or birdseed … ouch!)
What new experience will you try?
Perhaps you consider what new variety you can find in your store.
Perhaps you’d like to try new varieties and use 4 different kinds in your sauce or pie.
Be creative and you’ll never get bored in your kitchen while cooking naked after 40.
And if you want more apple recipes, I’ve got them for you. Leave me a comment on this blog below and I’ll email you a free copy of my Apple Cooklet.