The Golden Delicious Secret

Time to share my most favorite everyday breakfast secret:  Hot Apple Blueberry Pie (minus the crust) + Plain Yogurt.  Pie?  You must be joking!  Well, it is practically like the yummy filling of an apple pie…without the sinful part because it is SUGAR FREE.  Let me show you why…

Ingredients:  One apple, handful of frozen blueberries, ground cinnamon, sweetener (of your choice), plain yogurt*.

 

1.  I recommend that you choose a golden delicious apple for your new breakfast enterprise.  (Note:  I have experimented with many different kinds of apples, and nothing retains its flavor and texture quite as well as this variety of apple.  But if you prefer a Mac or Granny or Honeycrisp, whatever floats yer boat.)  Wash it with a drop of dish soap (how many hands have touched this apple before you?) and rinse it well…then take your paring knife or vegetable peeler and take about half of the peel off.  I don’t really like the peel and I have never seen it INSIDE of an apple pie, however…my healthy side wins out because it has lots of fiber and vitamins that I should partake in....

This is what it looks like in my brain’s decision center: 

      ·         {good side}      the peel is the healthiest part of the apple, so you should keep all of it!  

·         {bad side}       the peel is hard to eat and I don’t want it messing up my yummy breakfast!  

·         {negotiated compromise; grudgingly}     ok fine, I will keep half of the peel…but I am not  happy about it.

2.  Cut out the core with the seeds.  Cut the apple into slices; then cut those slices in half again to make just-right bite sizes.  Add a good amount of cinnamon on top.  (Did you know that cinnamon actually has several medicinal uses worldwide?  It has antiviral properties, helps glucose levels in the blood, and acts as an antioxidant!)  Have everything in a microwave safe bowl and put it in there uncovered for about 1 ½  to 2 minutes.

3.  Now add some quickly rinsed frozen blueberries to the apples and zap them in the micro for another 45 seconds.

 

4.  I usually add some sweetener at this point, because the apple is usually pretty tart and then the yogurt is unsweetened and tangy, as well.  I use a couple of packets of no-calorie stevia, but you could use honey, agave nectar or whatever else is your choice.  (The stevia sweetener that I have found, so far, to be the best with the least amount of bitterness is from NuStevia, by NuNaturals, in the purple packaging—found at several stores including Fred Meyer and QFC in the Northwest, or you can order it on Amazon.)  Stir up the apple/blueberry mixture and voila you have the inside of an apple pie (pretty much).

5.  Then add some plain yogurt of your choice (we like Nancy’s Brand in the Nonfat or Lowfat variety)…this gives you a great boost of probiotics to keep the good bacteria in your gut going strong!  And a happy gut makes for a stronger and more resilient immune system.  *If you are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy, I think there is a yogurt option that uses coconut milk instead, and is totally dairy free.

6.  You can add some granola if you like crunch, or flax seeds if you want to boost your Omegas…or raspberries for an extra zing…whatever you like!

For those of you who need to get out the door early in the morning, you can make this ahead the night before, and just store in the fridge after adding the blueberries…heating it up in the morning by zapping it for 1 ½  minutes, then scoop in a to-go container along with some sweetener and yogurt!  I have done this countless times and I am always happy to have a healthy breakfast when I am 'on the go'.

Enjoy your “apple pie” for breakfast!

 

You ladies seemed to like the "Make-Up" posting I did a couple of days back...if you have any specific makeup questions that are vexing you, just post a comment and I will try craft a post that gives answers and solutions!  The next subject I was thinking about posting was "How to make you Make-Up last and not disappear through the day"; that was a problem I heard about from my clients quite frequently.