A Merry Christmas Recipe ~ Nutty Maple Stuffed Baked Apples

Merry Christmas!
Joy and blessings to you this Holiday Season and Always
May you Celebrate Life From The Depth of Your Soul ~

When we acknowledge, honor, and rejoice with others, we smile inside and out. We become a bright light in the world when we share our truth. This is when we cultivate peace, embody love and compassion for ourselves and others.

Enjoy these scrumptious, nutritious, Nutty Maple Stuffed Baked Apples, from the depth of your soul and the bottom of your tummy.

During the holidays we tend to pig out. There are many ways to indulge without beating yourself up too bad. Smaller portions and bigger breaks between eating is great advise. More important, savor every bite in good company. Hugs and laughter burn a lot of calories. So does a good snowball fight, dancing in the kitchen, or taking a brisk walk.
Here in Hawaii, swimming in the ocean between meals works great for me.

Gluten Free and a healthy decadence.
Yummy for Christmas morning!

Nutty Maple Stuffed Baked Apples
Ingredients~ All organic, of course

4 large crisp and firm cooking apples (I use Granny Smith)

3/4 cup chopped nuts of your choice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp maple syrup

1 Tbsp butter or coconut oil

1/2 cup apple juice or better yet, fresh apple cider

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Wash, dry, and then core the apples about 1″ across and 1 1/2″ deep. The bigger the apple the bigger the core. Be sure to leave the bottom intact to hold in the ingredients. Prick the apples skin with a fork. This helps the apple keep its shape while baking.
2. In a small bowl, mix the apple juice and 2 Tbsp of the maple syrup. Set aside.
3. Toast the nuts for about 5 minutes in a pan over medium heat, stirring often to ensure they don’t burn. Let them cool.
4. In a medium bowl, mix the remaining maple syrup, chopped nuts, and spices. Place 1/4 Tbsp butter or coconut oil at the bottom of the hollow in each apple. Fill each apple to the top with nuts and maple syrup mixture. Place the apples in a small, lidded, oven-proof baking pan or Dutch Oven. Pour the apple juice and syrup mixture around the apples to pool at the bottom of the pan. Put a lid on the pan and bake in a 375F oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the apples are completely tender. Be sure not to over bake them. They may lose their shape and fall apart. Still delicious, but not the best presentation.
5. Serve hot or cold, with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, thick yogurt or a dairy free option.
Yield: 4 servings

From the depth of my soul, wishing you Big Love and Aloha
Mama Donna and Family
Give yourself the gift to follow your dreams.

You’re AWESOME
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt