Pan Fried Apple Crisp

This is a delicious little dish that can be made in about 10 minutes and serves as little as 1-2 and up to as many as you'd like.

My husband and I get the sweet tooth like a lot of people but we don't want to keep sweets on hand all the time because we don't have the will power to stay away. This way you make it, eat it and be done with it.

1 apple per person

Slice 1/2 apple in fairly thin slices

Dice the other 1/2 apple

Place some hormone-free butter or organic virgin coconut oil in a pan to coat and turn the heat to medium. Once the pan is hot add the sliced apples. Let them sit evenly for about 2 minutes. Be sure to adjust temperature so the apples caramelize but not burn. You want a nice sizzle going on in the pan. Check to see if the color is turning caramel. Then flip to the other side. Finish this side for about 2 min or longer if needed.

Divide portions out onto plates.

Add about a dollop of oil to the pan and follow it with the diced apples for about 2 minutes.

Follow it with

~6 tbsp rolled oats

~2-3 tbsp brown sugar

~2 tbsp flour.

Stir it around in the pan keeping it moving for a few minutes to cook off the flour taste. Taste mixture to see if it is sweet enough. If it needs more sweetener you can add any natural sweetener at this time.

Dish out to top the apples. Serve with a thin pat of butter on top. (optional*)

You can also serve with naturally sweetened yogurt or fresh banana. Try pear crumble or peach crumble this way too!

Be Well,

Jenny

P.S. The photo for this post is not the actual photo of my dessert. It came from (www.dailyunadventuresincooking.com). Sorry I didn't have both my photos and thoughts together at the same time.

Baked Apples & Maple Yogurt

Hi everyone,
We are in the midst of harvest time and I have been cooking up a storm from squash purees, to applesauce to quasi-healthy desserts. Today I wanted to share a really quick and healthy treat for bonbon time.

Take an apple or pear (you can even use acorn squash) and slice it in half and scoop out the core. Bake in oven or toaster oven at 350 for 30-40 minutes depending on the size. Also if it is pear it could use even less time if it isn't very ripe.

Now you can either place face down in a water bath for the first half of cooking to keep the moisture in place and then flip over and stuff with any combination of butter, virgin coconut oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, dried craisins or raisins, and chopped nuts. You can sprinkle with cinnamon or coconut flakes or both. This is where it gets fun.

Or you can just stuff it from the beginning and cook it all the way through with the stuffing side up. Either way. If you are lazy at all just do the quickest way.

For this recipe I used an apple and stuffed with craisins, squash puree (sweet potato or pumpkin too) and a pat of butter. I baked it for 30-40 minutes and topped it off with plain organic whole yogurt and maple syrup.

*Tip: Buy plain yogurt and sweeten it to order. Then you can use the plain yogurt in the house as a substitute to sour cream and/or blend berries or just use a more natural sweetener to flavor it. Multiple purposes for one tub of yogurt. It's healthier for your body and your pocket book.

Have a Happy Thursday and enjoy the harvest! And remember, comfort foods can be healthy as well as delicious!

Yours in health,
Jaybird

Saturday morning

Aside from the childhood days of "Saturday morning" chores, I have adopted a new set of traditions on Saturday morning. I have traded my cooking for my husband's cleaning. Yea!

I woke up this morning with only an indentation of where my husband slept last night:( Not unusual considering my cat like abilities to sleep a ridiculous amount. But to my surprise I scoped out my 513 sq. ft condo to find him and not a trace. Everything tidy and in its place. Hmmm?

Is he out being the best husband in the world to hand deliver me a large individually brewed cup of Misty Valley Ethiopian cup of coffee?

Indeed!

What a man! I am holding this delicious cup of the last of their supply for the season. I want to savor it. I am going to the kitchen now to play and prep for the week but now I have everything I need. Thank you husband. Thank you Paradise Cafe (Vancouver, WA)

I-Phone!

I just "copied and pasted" for the first time on my I-Phone. I love technology. It's just another crazy Friday night. So exciting!

Banana Lemon Cream Soda

1/2 frozen banana (use fresh too if you like)
1/2 fresh lemon or couple splashes of lemon concentrate
Drizzle of Agave Nectar or Stevia to sweeten
Splash of Coconut Milk ~1-2 oz based on preference
Blend all these ingredients and pour over ice (I used grapefruit ice cubes but regular ones work just fine)
Finish the glass off with Perrier, or any other fizzy mineral water

So HOT

Check out my thermostat. I have a portable air conditioning unit running all day too. The heat is unbearable. Check out my new cold drink to stave off the heat.

Balsamic Marinated Onions

If you are like me and too cheap to shell out the extra dollar for an expensive balsamic vinegar, buy a cheaper version and reduce it down. (May end up costing you the same but if feels better when you buy it.)

Slice the onions any way you like. Fill a bowl with water to cover them and let them soak for a few minutes.


Place a sauce pan on the stove at about a medium heat and fill the pan with enough vinegar to coat the bottom or a little more.

Bring to a low simmer and then reduce heat to low for about five minutes.

Strain the onions and place in a glass container. Drizzle the vinegar over the onions to cover. Toss to coat.

Let marinate overnight and then enjoy with your
favorite salads, or goat cheese platter. They are great on burgers. Ymm.

My Stumptownesque coffee experience lost in Splenda Stupor!

My hubby and I cruised 3 hours for a little birthday weekend getaway. We love Bend. Even though there isn't any new snow on Bachelor, it won't get us down. 

We have been searching for some coffee shop time ever since we got here. One of our favorite ways to pass the time.  A little Newsweek, and little Stephanie Meyer (I blush), and we search for our favorite little nook to settle in for a few hours in a local coffee shop.

Backporch Coffee Roasters! It is located on the Westside and just perfect for the tourists that really wish they were locals. I found this little place on Blogspot of all places. They roast their own coffee, use organic milk in their delicious mocha's, and a local chocolate. Yum. Bend loves supporting locally made items. I love it. They finish it with a beautiful rosetta design. We ordered 1/2 chocolate because we love the idea but can't take all the sweet. 

I asked a friendly coffee barista what I should try from here. As I usually order an americano with room I explained how I wanted to experience Backporch's best. He suggested the french press. They don't have drip. They french press everything and change the roast every hour! 

This place is so romantic and the quality is all there. 

Nothing could ruin this moment, and then it happened...

Five paces to my left, an act of sin was in the making. Tap, tap, tap against the coffee counter like the packing of a fresh cigarette. She waits in eager anticipation for her fix. Waiting to complete the transaction with her artificial packet of death. The ripping sound of the promise-filled pouch was utterly deafening as I ponder the consequences of these accumulated choices. 

I set aside the obvious snobbish insult of adding salt and hot sauce to a gourmet prepared meal before trying a bite. The real tragedy is contemplating which is more true. Is this pure ignorance? Or worse, did she really buy into the fact that this artificial Splendor can provide her all the happiness without repercussions? Did advertising and mainstream media really have a grip on changing the belief that one can indulge in a Non-fat Latte with Splenda and not get fat? 

Unfortunately fat is the least of these that one should worry about. This sweetener can excite your brain cells to death, lead to depression, migraines, seizures, strokes, brain cancer, and wait for it.... weight gain! How comical. It is like taking a muscle relaxer drug and having muscle spasms as their side effect. 

So how do I deal with this moment other than writing about it? Well I try for now since I can not shake the baby, imagine it as a tragic comedy. Because really in truth, it is the little contradictions in life that lead to death that are in some respects funny. 

You ever notice how 'hippies' got labeled as the spirulina sipping, tofu-eating tree-huggers? It is funny when the same group of people are known for their free spirit, love and Smokefest. Yeah, how is that not a contradiction? I have heard all reasoning because I was that person. In fact, to a degree we all have contradictions. It is the degree of contradictions that determines are success, happiness, and healthiness. Think about it...

Couple examples to ponder. How happy, healthy and successful do you think the:

• Six day sinner and seventh day saint is?
  
• The smoking, all-night partying yoga instructor?
• The alcoholic doctor?
• The abusive therapist?

Okay, these are dramatic pictures. Most of us don't have contradictions that are that obvious or severe but that is where the room for growth is for you. To determine where yours are and go after them. 

I don't know if we will ever totally be free of them, it comes down to the choice in front of you. And if you fail, and you will fail sometimes, just remember the next moment is your next chance to make a different choice. 

In good health-

Jaybird

I also believe...

I believe in health, but I also believe in dualities, which is why I also believe in mayonnaise. I believe in water, but I also believe in Vodka, tonic & lime as a tastier version. I believe in movement, but I also believe in something sacred us American's refer to as: couch.