Easy Apple Crisp
Fruit Filling
6 cups chopped apples, divided
3 dried figs or dates soaked* in ¼ cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
Chop apples with chop wizard (if available or use other chopper or by hand). Place 4 cups in a large mixing bowl. Place remaining 2 cups apples, soaked figs or dates, water, spices and vanilla in food processor or blender jar. Blend until smooth. Pour over bowl of chopped apples. Mix well and transfer to an 8 X 8 cake pan.
Crust
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups chopped apples
4 dried figs or dates soaked in ¼ cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
Place oats in a mixing bowl.
Blend apples with figs or dates, water, cinnamon and vanilla until smooth. Pour over oats and mix well till all oats are moist. Carefully place crust over apple filling and spread to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes.
No Sugar Peach Cobbler
When peaches are in season and there is an abundance, I love to make this No Sugar Peach Cobbler made with only a few whole-food ingredients and is simple to make. There’s no sugar, no oil or flour. Only whole food goodness! Check out my YouTube video here.
Fruit Filling
6 peaches, divided
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
3 dried figs or dates soaked* in ¼ cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Cut 3 peaches into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl. (I buy local non-sprayed peaches and use the peel.) Add blueberries. Place 2 peaches (remove pit) and spices into blender jar. Drain water off soaked figs or dates. (I save this for smoothie or oatmeal.) Blend until smooth. Pour over bowl of cut peaches and blueberries. Mix well and transfer to an 8 X 8 cake pan.
Crust
2 cups rolled oats
2 peaches
4 dried figs or dates soaked in ¼ cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
Place oats in a mixing bowl.
Blend peaches with figs or dates (include soak water) and cinnamon until smooth. Pour over oats and mix well till all oats are moist. Carefully place crust over peach filling and spread to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 23 minutes. I like to slightly brown the crust.
This is best eaten the day it is made. The crust will soften as it sits.
Apple Oatmeal Crumble
Oat groats are the whole oat kernel when it comes off the plant. Eating grains in their whole intact form is the most nutritious way to eat them. And oats, in particular, are one of the best foods for restoring a healthy gut. (This is a great interview with Dr. Richard Matthews about this.) And Dr. Tom O’Bryan, who specializes in gut health, says that the pectin in cooked apple skins is more biovailable then raw and is really good to heal the gut. (Video interview with Dr. Tom O’Bryan) He recommends eating a tablespoon of cooked apple 3 times a day. I figure I’ll get it done in one shot with breakfast. It’s a great way to sweeten up the oats. Feel free to add a tablespoon or two of chopped nuts or sprinkle on some flax meal.
Watch my video on how to make this here.
1/3 cup oat groats that have been soaked over night (Sprout them another day and they are even better!)
1 cup water
1 large apple chopped
1/2 cup cranberries (optional)
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t cardmom
2 T rolled oats (optional for creaminess)
1 t honey (optional)
Soak oat groats over night for quicker cooking. In the morning, rinse the groats and place them in a sauce pan, add a cup of water, cover, turn on burner to high and bring to a boil. When it comes to a boil, lower heat to simmer, add cranberries and apple. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Stir in spices and rolled oats if using and let it set for 15 or 20 minutes. Add a little honey for sweetness.
Figgy Oat Bars
After being on an elimination diet for a year I learned to be totally satisfied with fruit for dessert. However, when my fig tree produced an over abundance I wanted to try making some kind of dessert. I took a Banana Oat Bar recipe that I have and used figs instead of bananas, left out the nuts and dates and it worked great!
25 figs, trimmed (leave on skin)
1/4 cup of red flame grapes (For extra moisture and sweet. I had an abundance of them as well.)
2 cups rolled oats
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1 T apple cider vinegar
Blend figs, grapes, and vinegar in a high-powered blender until smooth. The seeds in the figs make this very thick. Place oats, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix well. Pour pureed fruit over oats and mix so that all the oats are moistened. Transfer batter to an 8 X 8 cake pan and bake at 350 for 15 – 17 minutes. Cool before cutting.
Cranberry Relish Salad
From Whole Food American Favorites
This recipe was inspired by my love for cranberry sauce without all the sugar! If you prefer less sweet, use a more tart apple and/or less dates. Cut down on the walnuts if you need to cut back on the fat.
1 medium Fuji apple
1 cup raw cranberries
8 small pitted dates
1/4 cup walnuts
Chop all ingredients in a food processor to a relish consistency.
Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
These vegan pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips are decadent enough for a Halloween treat and healthy enough for breakfast. And they just happen to be gluten-free as well.
Servings: 10 muffins
1 cup pitted dates soaked in 1/2 cup water for at least 4 hours
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 cup raw pecans
1 cup oats
1/2 cup millet flour (1/3 cup whole millet ground)
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar (optional for extra sweet)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Grind dates, water from soaking, pumpkin, and pecans in a food processor. Add oats, millet flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda, vinegar, and vanilla. Process to a dough-like consistency. Mix in chocolate chips. Fill muffin tins and bake for 15 to 17 minutes.
Blueberry Muffins
Blueberry Muffins
Adapted from a recipe by Cathy Fisher that was posted on the Forks Over Knives web site.
1 cup pitted dates soaked in 1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, divided
3/4 cup millet
2 t cardamom powder
2 t baking powder
1/3 cup walnuts or pecans
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 t vanilla
zest from one lemon
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Grind millet and ½ cup oats in blender or coffee grinder to coarse flour. Transfer to mixing bowl and add cardamom and baking powder. Mix well. Blend dates and soak water, 1/3 cup nuts, vinegar and vanilla until smooth. Add to dry ingredients. Add remaining cup of oats and lemon zest. Mix well. Fold in blueberries and chopped nuts if using. Fill muffin cups and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.