Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

An Apple a Day

By

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

We all know this saying. Apples are full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, not to mention versatile and tasty for recipes and snacking. Fall is known for colorful leaves, colder days, and apples! One of my favorite memories is of picking my own apples from an orchard and bringing barrels of them home to enjoy over the next month.

As soon as Foodbuzz called bloggers to submit their meal ideas for 24×24, I thought of apples. They’re comforting. They’re healthy.

A few friends gathered to share this spontaneous meal, and we gathered on my back porch that looks out over a small lake. We lit a few candles, and the chatting and eating began.

P.S. Ping Pong tables make great buffet-tables. Simply lay a tablecloth over it and serve.

My own rule for the feast: every dish must contain apples. And, yes, I did make all the food without a kitchen. I used the outside table as a prepping station, the laundry room’s sink as a washing station, and a brand-new oven we just plugged in.

Menu

Appetizers: 

Apple Crisps with Peanut Butter Hummus Dip

Antipasto Skewer of Chicken Apple Sausage, Roasted Tomato, Artichoke Heart, and olive

Main Course:

Beer-Braised Apple Cider Pork Chops with Sauteed Onions

Sides:

Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Pecans

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Apples and Bacon

Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing

Dessert: 

Fresh Apple Pie with Whipped Cinnamon Cream

Drink:

Sparkling Apple Cider


Sparkling Apple Cider. Mix Equal Parts sparkling water (unsweetened) with apple cider (preferably organic). Serve with cinnamon stick.

Recipes will be coming soon, and all of them were sugar-free, dairy-free, and grain and gluten-free. Consider this coming week a week of apple recipes!

Apple Benefits: 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. The pectin in apples lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and it supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

Thanks to FoodBuzz for sponsoring this meal, and allowing me to share it with others.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY: 

Do you have a favorite apple recipe to share?

Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Sugar-Free Challenge! Each participant is entered to win some Artisana nutbutters.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex this is amazing, it looks like such a nice meal with friends and you clearly put a ton of work into it!! Can’t wait for all the recipes especially that pork, it looks awesome!

    • Thanks, Katie! And yes, it was a ton of work, but completely worth it. I think it took twice as much time as it should have because of my lack of kitchen! I can’t wait to share the pork recipe, too! It’s my favorite passed down from my mom.

  3. This looks incredible, I have major food envy. What a beautiful meal to share with friends – really love your photos, everything looks like it was made with love 🙂

  4. wow girl that whole apple spread of food looks amazing! wish we could have been there to join in on the fun and eating haha
    and so impressed you did all that with no kitchen!! you are amazing!

  9. i just posted a post with the same title! how funny. this menu looks AMAZING…( except for the pork coz i don;t eat it).. LOVE love LOVE apples!!!

  13. Wow Alex I’m IMPRESSED. So many yummy apple creations. The fresh apple pie sounds delicious and the brussel sprouts look amazing. Not to mention the fact that your handwriting is so cute. I love it!

  14. Hm, strange, your pictures from your blog don’t show up. Any idea why? Would appreciate help and advice from any tech ppl out there!
    Cheers

    • Hi Juliet,

      I changed servers a while ago and none of the pictures transferred over 🙁 I’ve been slowly trying to fix this since, but don’t know which posts are missing pictures. I’ll check on this page, thanks!