Apple Crispness

So we got a ton of apples. And really, there’s only a certain amount you can consume as is before you get really tired of them. This is the apple crisp I’ve been making:

I am secretly proud to report that when I make it, it’s gone in one day! :-O (Nobody needs to know that it’s enough for at least 6 people, not 2; oh well!)

Preheat oven to 350 F, butter a glass dish thoroughly.

• 5-6 giant apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 Tbs sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Mix it up, dump into the glass dish.

• 1/2 cup oatmeal (quick cooking works)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour (tried different kinds, even mixing tapioca & almond, excellent results)
• 1/4 melted butter

Mix this up, sprinkle on top of apple mixture. I also like the crunch factor, so whatever nuts I have at home I just pile on as much as I dare.

Bake for about 50 mins, let cool so the juices from apples aren’t quite so runny, and then eat with vanilla bean ice-cream, or Fage yogurt, depending on how healthy it needs to be 😀

Cornbread

I came home this evening to a pleasant surprise of my husband baking cornbread!

Recipe:

1.5 cups milk

2 eggs

2 Tbs honey

1/3 cup melted butter

pinch of cayenne pepper

about 3 cups cornbread mix

Mix for 30 seconds. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for about 35 minutes to get a nice crunchy edge (just the way I like it).

Excellent with savory foods.

Passed the Nutella compatibility test.

Food Concept

I am a huge fan of food! Granted, I have the set of items which I refuse to eat because I am a little bit picky. I refuse to eat mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch, most salad dressings, mushrooms, and all seafood except grilled salmon. If any of these items are cleverly disguised in a particular dish, I may let it slide. I have always thoroughly enjoyed bread. Anything bready. Banana nut muffins, cakes, cookies, biscotti, bagels, Krispy Kreme original glazed donuts, poppy seed pirogi, and last but not least, French Bread. Yes, it deserves to be capitalized. Oh, and pasta. Carbs were my favorite. And I was always unhappy about my weight and my acne-ridden face.

Long story short, I was about to get married, I went on a strict diet, I lost weight, my face cleared up.

However, I didn’t ever feel good about eating. I would eat a small amount of food and would feel bloated. My stomach would hurt, my digestion was slow, I felt sluggish, and my skin was dry. I tried cleanses and low carb diets and so many different things that it’s embarrassing. One day, I came upon a book called “The G-Free Diet”.  Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. After reading through possible symptoms of gluten sensitivities or intolerances, I decided to experiment and eliminated gluten from my diet. To me that meant no bread, no pastries, and no pasta. Ack!!!

I am happy to report that I felt amazing within a few days. The symptoms listed above disappeared. I made a mistake twice (ate an ice-cream cone at McDonald’s and a piece of bread at church communion) which resulted in symptoms returning for two-three days. Thus I conclude I have a gluten sensitivity.

I realize it’s a self-diagnosis, but it worked for me, so I’m sticking to it.