An Apple a Day…

Everyone knows how the saying goes. An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Turns out…there’s some truth to this statement.

Apples are among the most popular types of fruit in the world, and are still in season in North Carolina!  They contain about 95 calories each and make for an easy and inexpensive way to get in a cup of fruit!  There are many different types of apples, each with their own texture and level of sweetness.

Apples are a good source of:

• Soluble Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Potassium
• Antioxidants
• Water

Apples are very versatile and can be eaten raw or cooked.  And don’t toss the peel – that is where most of the fiber and nutrients are! Try adding sliced apples to your salad or sandwich for a touch of sweetness, or enjoy a balanced snack of sliced apples with peanut butter. Try the recipe below for a quick and easy way to incorporate apples into your diet.

Apple Peanut Butter Delights

makes 12 servings

Ingredients

• 6 whole Multi-Grain English Muffins, split in half
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 whole apples, cut into thin slices
• 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread each English muffin half with about 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Lay slices of apple on top, overlapping and stacking a few.
3. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle a teaspoon or two over each English muffin half.
4. Bake them for 10 minutes, then broil (watch them constantly!) until the top is nice and bubbly and starting to caramelize. (You can sprinkle on a little more cinnamon sugar after the initial 10 minutes of baking if you want to add a little more!)
5. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then enjoy!