Apple muffins, sweet and tart

These muffins are super tasty; I can’t really explain how good they are. It’s important to use a tart apple to get a proper balance between sweet and tart.

Apple muffins

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt

• 1 large tart apple (cored and diced)
• 1 tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream sugar and coconut oil(or butter), add eggs and yogurt, then almond extract and cinnamon. Add in dry ingredients, mix till mostly smooth.  Remove core and dice the apple(peeling optional), then coat the pieces with a tablespoon of flour before adding into batter. Fill evenly into lined muffin tin. Bake for 25-30mins, till top is golden brown.

-L

Homemade apple sauce

The hubby was ill all this week too, and now finally showing signs of improvement. Earlier in the week he wanted apple sauce, I had some apples in the fridge and figured I’d give it a try. At first I was wondering how long do I have to cook it to get it mushy, then I remembered I had an immersion blender (so it didn’t matter). Then later on I realized that I could’ve just blended the apples raw. But I guess cooking it gave it a smoother texture. The red apple skins made it a pretty rosy color and it was far better than store bought apple sauce. I’m feeling quite worn out this week and can’t think off the top of my head what else to do with apple sauce (pork chops, for the meat-eaters?).

Apple sauce

• 3 small apples (I had the kid sized organic ones from Whole Foods)
• 2/3 – 3/4 cup water (enough to submerge but not to cover all the apples)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• squeeze of lemon (1tsp more or less)
• dash of cinnamon
• pinch of cloves

Core and dice apples, with skins on (if organic, peel otherwise). Put in pot with water, sugar and spices. Simmer for 10min. Take off heat and use immersion blender to puree or put into blender/food processor. If it’s too thin, put back into pot and simmer till desired consistency and adjust sugar if necessary.

Apple sauce in tarts? I have to try that later.

 -L