Recipe: Vegan Baked Apples

This healthy comfort food dessert has all the flavors of the holidays… and it couldn’t be easier to assemble!

Serves 6.

Ingredients:

• 3 apples

• ¼ cup (35 g) coconut sugar

• ¼ cup (20 g) rolled oats (gluten-free, optional)

• 1 Tbsp almond butter

• ¼ cup (30 g) slivered almonds

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp nutmeg

• 1 cup (240 ml) water

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F / 190°C.

2. Wash the apples and slice them in half lengthwise (along the core). Scrape out the core with a spoon and place the apple, flesh side up, in a baking dish.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, oats, almond butter, almonds, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The mixture will resemble a crumble topping.

4. Spoon the mixture into each apple core by heaping tablespoons. Pour 1 cup / 240 ml of water around the apples and place in the oven to bake until cooked through, about 25 - 30 minutes.

5. Remove and serve as-is or with yogurt. So good!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Hana-Photo from Getty Images 

Recipe: Warm Apple Salad

Enjoy this as a side dish. It also makes a delicious breakfast if you add organic chicken sausage (one 10 oz. package).

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 cups loosely packed spinach or spring mix salad blend

• 1 lemon, zested and juiced (separated)

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• Sea salt to taste

• ¼ cup onion, chopped

• 4 apples, sliced

• ½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds

• (optional: ½ cup crumbled goat cheese)

Directions:

1. Wash the greens and place in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, whisk the garlic into the lemon juice. Stir in the sea salt and lemon zest. Whisk in the olive oil until it’s emulsified into a vinaigrette.

3. Pour half the dressing over the spinach and toss well.

4. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and add in the onion, cooking until translucent and slightly caramelized, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add in the apples, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Toss in the pumpkin seeds to warm.

5. Add the onion-apple-pumpkin seed mixture to the spinach. Add the rest of the vinaigrette and more salt if desired. If using, sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese over the top. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Olena Rudo