An Apple a day …….

‘AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY!’

Ever wonder if this phrase really means anything?

As our family always dives right in to the apple harvest season, I ask myself, “does an apple a day, really keep the doctor away?”.

In our home, apples are a staple.

We use them for snacking, cooking, making apple sauce, apple butter, apple crisps, pies, muffins and so much more.  We LOVE apples!

So, after our big apple picking trip, I decided to research the wonderful fruit we call the apple.

Here are a few great nutritional facts for 1 simple apple:

• Excellent source of fiber (5 g), for cardiovascular health
• Fat-free, saturated fat-free and trans fat-free
• Cholesterol free
• Sodium-free
• Contains Vitamin C (5% of daily recommended value)
• Contains heart-healthy potassium (170 mg)

Apples, along with many other fruits are full of antioxidants!   The antioxidant activity of a 100-gram apple has been equated to that of 1500 milligrams of Vitamin C, the best-known antioxidant.

When we were young, my mom used to always tell us, that eating apples will make our teeth whiter. Knowing this, I used to go to the bathroom mirror every time I ate an apple and smile in front of it to see if my teeth were whiter than before I ate the apple.  They actually act as a toothbrush, cleaning teeth and killing bacteria in the mouth, which may reduce the risk of tooth decay.

So, my mom wasn’t too far off!

One of my favourite things to make, is  the delicious apple crisp!  Some call it a crumble, some call it a crisp. I call it the most delicious dessert invention ever created!!

I usually make an apple crisp every Sunday for us all to enjoy with each other or with company.  Heat it up, and put a generous scoop of ice cream on it, and you’ve got a fun and comforting bowl of pleasure!

Apple Crisp 

• 4-5 apples of your choice (thinly sliced)
• 3/4 Cup butter
• 1 Cup Spelt flour
• 1 Cup Oats
• 3/4 Cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• a few dabs of butter

Peel and thinly slice the apples, and place in a casserole dish. Sprinkle with a touch of brown sugar, cinnamon, and a few random dabs of butter. In a big mixing bowl, mix together butter, sugar, oats and flour until a crumb mixture is formed.  Sprinkle all over apples and bake 350′ for about 45 mins

Mmmmm, enjoy!

I’m willing to challenge the phrase to keep the Doctor away. What are some of the recipes YOU do with the simple,delicious and healthy apple?.