Unfortunately Fall has arrived…I may be the only person around that thinks Fall is the worst season. And even though the trees are beautiful when they change colors, it means they are dying. Dying leaves bring thousands of people to New Hampshire to admire, it’s such an odd concept. Anyways, in light of my bad attitude I do try and make the best of it, which includes doing the only Fall thing I love, going apple picking. So this past weekend me and my man friend went, yes I dragged him to the orchards to do cheesy couple things. But it was my birthday weekend number 2 so he had to do what I wanted. I’m not entirely serious here, he wanted to go really. Now most of you non paleo people get to take your apples home and make apple pie, apple crisp, apple streusel, and all sorts of beautiful apple treats. Not me though. I’m sure I could take my bag of apples and eat them as is, but that’s just boring. So what is my favorite thing to make using apples without adding the dreadful grains and refined sugars?
Baked Apples with Nut Butters.
I am limited here, peanut butter is my favorite but I try and stay away from eating peanuts. I love almond butter especially since they now make so many different flavors, Justin’s Maple Almond Butter is life changing. Turns out almonds and I don’t mix well, like everything else I love. Cashew butter is my go to for baked apples. It’s the closest consistency to peanut butter and pairs perfectly with a tart apple. If you have a nut allergy, first of all I’m so sorry but second they make sunflower seed butter that is actually really tasty. So these are the easiest things to make. All I do is cut the apple in half and scoop out the inside with a spoon. I add about a tablespoon or so of whatever nut or non-nut butter into the center and sprinkle cinnamon on top. I bake them in the oven at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You won’t be mad eating this.
Crockpot Apple Sauce.
Apple sauce is fun to make because you can literally do it however you want. If you like it sweet make it sweet, you like it with lots of cinnamon well do it up people. Here’s how I make it: About 10-15 apples depending on the actual size of your apples, Honey Crisp are my favorite but Gala are a close second use whatever your heart desires. Peel and slice them into pieces. Add them to the crockpot with about ¼ cup of water. Turn the crockpot on low and let them cook for about 5-6 hours. I personally like when the apples are a chunkier consistency than the applesauce we are all used to so I tend to only cook for 5 hours. But if you don’t, cook it more to the 6-hour mark. Once they are done you add about ½ cup to ¾ cup of honey, this all depends on how sweet you like it and how sweet your apples were. Same goes for Lemon Juice, add up to 1 tablespoon. Lastly add 1 teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract and Cinnamon. The Cinnamon can be adjusted to how you like it but I wouldn’t add any more than 2 teaspoons. If you want your applesauce really smooth you can add it to the blender and pulse it a few times.
Apple Chips.
This one is stupid easy. Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees, slice your apples thin like real thin, line them up on a baking sheet and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Bake on one side for an hour and flip over to bake another hour on the other side. That’s it. Apple chips. How cool and easy and a tasty snack that you made all by yourself without any weird preservatives or unknown chemicals. Just saying.
Apple Sausage Hash.
This is my favorite thing to make. I make it almost every week, no matter the season. But obviously it’s better in the fall. I make my own sausage, I have a favorite recipe that is my go to. It’s a breakfast sausage blend of spices that I mix with ground pork, if you don’t want to make your own you can most definitely buy it already made I won’t judge. Here’s what you need, 1 lb breakfast sausage, 2 sweet potatoes, 2 apples, and coconut oil. I usually put my oven to 375 degrees. I dice my sweet potatoes and my apples with the skin still on. Mix the diced sweet potatoes with about ¼ cup of coconut oil, maybe a little less depending on how big your potatoes were. Add salt and pepper and spread them out onto a baking sheet. Bake the sweet potatoes for about 20-25 minutes. Take the potatoes out of the oven and add the sausage uncooked, I usually just put small amounts all over the top of the potatoes. Add the diced apples on top of the potatoes and the sausage. Bake for another 25 minutes or until the sausage is fully cooked. It’s that simple and amazingly delicious. My man friend I mentioned earlier loves this meal.
I love being able to still enjoy apples in a variety of ways even though I am so limited on desserts and foods. I cut out all the refined sugars while respecting the sweetness and tartness of the apples. There are so many healthy alternatives, using real food. And what’s more satisfying than creating delicious meals and treats for the people you love?
