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DIET & APPLES
This sweet package from Mother Nature's Good Earth comes with all sorts of healthy benefits.
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Maybe Eve DID make a good choice when she plucked the apple off the tree...
Okay, all kidding aside, the apple is a true friend to Dieters and non-dieters alike and has many special powers where a healthy body is concerned.
The apple can assist in ridding the body of excess water due to excess sodium consumption - commonly referred to as water retention. The apple works as a natural diuretic, encouraging the release of water from the body.
Health studies indicate that an apple is the king for waking people up in the morning rather than the caffeine fix. The sound of that well-known crunch naturally wakes the body.
Apples are not being linked to being helpful in lowering bad cholesterol levels. No wonder an apple a day keeps the doctor away!
Recommended amounts per day: 2 medium apples OR 12 ounces of pure, 100% apple juice. Using unsweetened is of course, best. You can add a few packs of Splenda is you like a sweeter nectar.
One of the fun things about fresh apples is that they come in beautiful packages, wrapped by Mother Nature herself. Red, yellow, golden, specked, flecked and even multi-colored with red tones mingling with golden tones creating a feast for the eyes. Some varieties are sweeter than others; some are smaller than others - and of course, some are very big boys. Some apples are best for cooking such as the tart Granny Smith apple.
If you want to make a tasty apple pie you can purchase the canned filling but making a homemade one is very easy. Simply peel the apples, slice them thin and throw away the cores or set them out with the peelings for the birds. While the seed of the apple is toxic to humans, it's not to birds and various wildlife.
Boil the apple slices in water until tender. Drain about two cups of the liquid into another pot. Thicken with either cornstarch or all-purpose flour. You'll need to mix both of these thickeners with water to dilute them. Add to the boiling liquid. You'll want a thin consistency - so that when you slice the apple pie it's not overly thick or soupy. Add the cooked apples to the thickened liquid using a slotted spoon to remove the apples from any remaining liquid. Add ground cinnamon and stir gently to incorporate.
While your apples are cooking on the stovetop you can bake a pie shell in your oven. Transfer the apple mixture to the baked pie shell. Top with a mix of light or dark brown sugar and oatmeal flakes. You can also top the pie with another crust and bake for about 10 to 15 more minutes until the top crust is done.
As an ancient baker I prefer baking my shells separately when possible as the crust cooks more evenly. I don't like pies with soggy bottom crusts - or more specifically raw dough crusts.
To get more apple into your daily diet, add to salads or serve as a healthy snack with a thin wedge of low fat cheese.
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