The crisp fall air will always bring apples to mind... OK, so we live in California and the crisp air is more like insanely hot air, but it is still the end of September and you can still enjoy the bounty of the Fall... Even while wearing your sundress. 
Delicious and sweet or sour and tangy, it is apple season.
Remember the old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"?
Well, their may be some truth to that.
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
And also, A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.
And we all know that Brazilian women are HOT!
So maybe Eve was on to something when she ate that famous apple!
Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy those delicious apples.
From the queen of all things perfectly perfect.. Martha Stewart comes this insane and indulgent looking Apple Pie... Well, more like deep dish bowl of yummy apple filling blanketed with flakey crust... Getting super hungry just looking at it. Miss Me's mom used to bake apples with brown sugar... SO GOOD!
Here is another recipe for baked apple goodness.
Baked Apple
1 apple, peeled and cored
1-2 tsp butter
1-2 tbsp almonds, chopped
2-3 tsp spice sugar (or use a mix of cinnamon and sugar if you don't have any spice sugar at hand. But you *should* make some!)
Place the apple in a small oven-proof dish. (I use ramekins from Le Creuset.) Push butter and almonds into the hole. Top with the rest of the almonds, if you like me can't fit them all inside. Sprinkle with spice sugar. Bake at 175°C for about 30 minutes, or until the apple is soft.
We heart apple slices with peanut butter!!
It is so easy and so yummy and pretty good for you right?
Plus, it makes you feel like a kid again, and that has GOT to be good for you. When you get home from a chilly autumn day (It will happen Angelinos, we just have to believe) of running errands and your ears are cold and the tip of your nose is a cute shade of flushed pink... Grab a cup of yummy warm apple cider!
If you are entertaining this Fall, weather it is a dinner party or just having some friends over... Put a pot of this on the stove and your house will smell like a dream come true!
Then you can add a little rum and get toasty.
- 6 cups apple cider
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 6 whole allspice berries
- 1 orange peel, cut into strips
- 1 lemon peel, cut into strips
Don't forget the caramel apples!
How could anyone resist these amazingly sweet little green apple cupcakes?
We had to post them just because they made us smile! If only their was the time in a day to make these... Ok well, Martha would find the time... But not us.
See all of these yummy things to heart about the fall? Now we just have to wait for the temperature to drop and we can pull out the pretty sweaters and scarves!
Until then...
XOXO- Things-We-Heart
