Time to pick some apples!

Crunch! There is nothing better than biting into a crisp apple just picked from the tree.  Each fall, I soo look forward to our family fall ritual of apple picking. Our new favorite apple orchard is Honey Pot Hill Orchard. It is a beautiful setting and well laid out, so you don’t realize the crowds. For the little kids there are animals, a hedge maze and their famous hot fresh cinnamon-cider donuts!

I have to say that apples are one of my favorite fruits. They are simple, inexpensive, portable nourishment. With my friend the apple in tow, I am never caught without something healthy to eat!

In addition to their simplicity and deliciousness, here are my 5 top health reasons to eat an “Apple a Day”

• Reduce Cholesterol

Apples are full of a fiber called pectin—a medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fiber. Pectin is classed as a soluble and viscous fibre. The soluble fiber found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which means lower cholesterol levels for you!

• Help Protect Against Cancer

Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—found in apple peels that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in our liver, colon and breast.

• Boost your Immune System and Your Brain

Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out. It has proven to be more effective than vitamin C at protecting brain cells from oxidative damage which could help keep your memory sharp.

• Decrease Risk of Diabetes

Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type-2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. It helps that apples are loaded with soluble fiber—the key to blunting blood sugar swings.

• Smile Pretty

Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.

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When we got home from the orchard, I needed to make an apple dessert fast, and apple pie was not an option. So I chose to make an Apple Clafoutis — so simple, and pretty enough to serve guests!

Apple Clafoutis

As the clafouti cooks, the fruit that sits at the bottom will rise up as the batter surrounds the fruit.  The end result is a beautiful, golden dessert. Its consistency will lie somewhere between a custard and a cake. The best part is that it is lower in sugar and higher in fiber than other traditional apple desserts.

Apple Clafoutis
You can use either apples or pears for this simple and elegant dessert

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs

• 1/4 cup organic salted butter, melted

• 3/4 cup So French Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer

• 1/3 cup blanched almond flour

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp celtic sea salt

• 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼ thick

Directions

1. Preheat oven to  325 degrees. Butter a 9-inch ceramic tart pan, generously.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, butter and vanilla. In another bowl, stir together almond flour, cinnamon and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into wet until smooth.

3. Arrange the apples or pears in a circular shape on the bottom of the tart pan, then pour mixture over apples or pears.

4. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until clafoutis is set in the center and top is golden. Cool and serve

Note from Denise
If So Vanilla Coconut creamer is not available, you can replace it with 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1/4 cup organic pure cane sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

 Download recipe now!

So go ahead, grab the kids for a day in the apple orchard or farmer’s market and fill your bags with those fresh, crispy apples. Your body and family will thank you for it!