Luscious Joys March 2015 - BAKED APPLES & More

Since our theme for March is Health and Nutrition, I’m obliged to give you recipes that will be good and healthy for you, but I promise you these recipes will also be very superbly luscious. I certainly don’t see why something can’t be good and bad for you at the same timeL; it’s like the concept of santosha (Santosha is about allowing the good and the bad in our lives to live together without overshadowing one another). I would think that same thinking could apply to food – why, of course it could!

The definition of luscious, according to Wikipedia, is:

Adjective: luscious - (of food or wine) having a pleasingly rich, sweet taste. "A luscious and fragrant dessert wine" synonyms: delicious, succulent, lush, juicy, lip-smacking, sweet, tasty and appetizing.

I’m feeling hungry all of a sudden!

And the definition of nutrition is:

Noun: nutrition - the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. "A guide to good nutrition" food; nourishment. Nourishment, nutriment, nutrients, sustenance.

So here is the fun part: try typing in “Luscious Healthy Food” in your search engine. Really try it; it certainly does not make my job any easier! Most of the “helpful” listings are for books you can buy on Amazon, like Luscious Lorraine’s Organic Juice Bar, but I was vigilant and persevered to find you not just “healthy” but also “luscious” recipes. This has certainly been an arduous task but you will be extremely happy with my results – I left no stone unturned!

Now, I have got to say I am not a fan of quinoa. I tried it and thought I would like it and there are hundreds of recipes using this “new super food,” but I’m sorry – there is just something about the texture of the stuff that doesn’t do it for me. But I might just give it one more try, as this recipe sounds quite “Healthy and Luscious,” as promised.

Warm pineapple quinoa cakes

2 egg whites                                                                       

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup milk                                                                        

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup cooked quinoa                                                      

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder                                                    

2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

1/2 tsp baking soda                                                         

3 cups chopped fresh or canned pineapple

3 tbsp packed brown sugar                                          

1 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, whisk together egg whites, applesauce, milk and canola oil. Stir in quinoa. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) of the cinnamon and baking soda. Pour applesauce mixture over top of flour and stir to combine. Divide among 12 sprayed muffin tins. Bake in 375°F oven for about 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat pineapple, sugar, vanilla and remaining cinnamon over medium heat until softened and hot.

Turn out cakes onto small serving plates and top with pineapple mixture to serve. Sweet and luscious – anything with pineapple is luscious to me!

Sautéed Pears with Vanilla Yogurt and Honey Peanuts
Filled with protein, fibre, and calcium, this fresh dish can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a simple dessert.

1 tbsp unsalted butter

4 large pears, such as Bosc, Anjou, Bartlett, Forelle, or Red Pears, peeled, cored, and sliced

1 tbsp sugar                                                                       

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground ginger                                                        

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Pinch of fine salt                                                               

¼ cup smooth peanut butter

1 tbsp honey                                                                      

1 cup low fat vanilla or plain yogurt

¼ cup honey roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Melt butter in a large heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium high heat.

Add pears and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon juice. Season with a pinch of fine salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Keep warm. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and yogurt; stir until smooth. Set aside. To serve, place the pears in a shallow bowl. Top with yogurt mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts. Serve immediately.

Sleep Nut Cookie

Magnesium is the nutrient that muscles need to relax. Here is an evening snack to be eaten two or three hours before bed that will increase your magnesium level in the tastiest way possible and soothe you into slumber. Two cookies and one cup of milk is an excellent high-magnesium snack that’s less than 300 calories.
2 cups any combo of all-natural nut butters like almond, peanut, or hazelnut

¼ cup molasses                                 

¼ cup honey

1 egg                                                    

3-6 tbsp whole-wheat flour, divided

Combine all ingredients except flour in a bowl and mix with a spatula. Sprinkle in 1 tbsp of flour at a time until dough comes together and is quite thick and less sticky. Use your hands to roll into 36 small balls and place onto a baking sheet. Press with a fork. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. The cookies should be a little soft in the middle; they will harden as they cool. By Theresa Albert

When I found this recipe, it brought back so many memories, they came rushing into my heart; oh, the good old days when I was just a child and had no worries and came home after school to the smell of baked apples! Big sigh; those were the days.

Source: www.shutterstock.com

Baked Apples

These are most certainly luscious and nutritious! Good warm or cold, they make a perfect do-ahead treat. You can even freeze them without losing their fabulous flavour and texture. 

4 medium crisp apples                                   

⅓ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup graham cracker crumbs                   

2 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp ground cinnamon                                 

½ tsp freshly grated lemon zest
¼ tsp ground nutmeg                                     

½ cup apple juice
3 tbsp honey                                                      

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from ½ lemon)

Heat oven to 350°F. With melon baller or paring knife, remove stem and core from apples, making a ¾”-wide cavity in each nearly to blossom end. With vegetable peeler or paring knife, remove a ½”-wide strip of peel around the top of each apple. If the apple doesn’t sit flat, slice a thin piece off the bottom, being careful not to slice into the cavity. Combine sugar, graham cracker crumbs, butter, cinnamon, lemon zest, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Mix with fork or rubber spatula until evenly moistened. Pack filling into apple cavities. Place apples in 8” x 8” baking dish. Pour apple juice, honey, and lemon juice into microwaveable cup. Microwave on high just until warm, about 30 seconds. Stir to blend and pour around the apples. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Uncover pan and baste apples with pan juices. Bake until apples are very tender, 10 to 20 minutes longer. Serve warm or cold with the pan juices.

Stay healthy, my friends!

Kathryn Hartwell

References: prevention.com, prostate cancer.ca and healthylivingtips.com