YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Apple Pie Muffins for the Fourth!

If you’d like to make a dessert that captures the feel of July fourth, try these apple muffins from Honest Cooking and Travel. They have a streusel topping reminiscent of some fancy apple pie recipes I’ve seen, but feel free to substitute graham cracker crumbs if you like. Save one for yourself for breakfast tomorrow morning, along with your cup of tea or coffee.

Dry Ingredients
2 cups almond flour
2/3 cup tapioca flour
4 Tbsp. coconut flour
3 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Wet Ingredients
2 cups applesauce
6 eggs
1 cup mashed dates*
2 apples (peeled, cored, and chopped coarsely)

Topping
2 tsp. butter (vegan optional)
1 cup pecans (or walnuts), crushed
1 tsp. cinnamon

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
  3. In a second bowl, stir together the wet ingredients (except the apples) until smooth.
  4. Divide the dry ingredients into three approximately equal volumes, and add them to the wet ingredients one at a time, stirring each time until combined.
  5. Mix in the chopped apple.
  6. Pour the batter into well-greased muffin tins, or use paper baking cups. Fill each cup about 3/4 of the way.
  7. In a small bowl, combine the butter, pecans (or walnuts), and cinnamon. Sprinkle some topping on each muffin.
  8. Bake 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
  9. Allow the muffins to cool before serving. Enjoy!

*Mashed dates are available at certain grocery stores, but you can make your own (as I do) by tossing approx 12 pitted dates into a high-speed blender, one at a time, along with a teaspoon or two of water to get it started.

 


Is Cinnamon Still Safe?

Recent Awareness of Cinnamon Contamination  

A few weeks ago a reader wrote in to ask specifically about whether it is still safe, in light of recent events, to eat cinnamon. I spent some time researching the issue.

In October 2023, lead and chromium poisoning was diagnosed in 519 children. It was traced to consumption of specific brands of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce, and a major recall was initiated. The cases were traced to the cinnamon, which was found to have originated in Ecuador, from where it had been supplied to the apple puree and applesauce manufacturer. Continue reading


YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Musings on Applesauce with Recipe

Applesauce is a big thing around here in the fall. I make it at least a couple of times almost every year, a habit I inherited from my mom, who also used to make it when I was growing up. In fact, one of the very first gifts I received from my mom on becoming engaged many years ago was a garage-sale find, a cone-shaped food sieve (officially called a “chinois”) for making applesauce. Continue reading