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Michelle Obama's All-American Apple Cobbler

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:15:36 PDT

Michelle Obama's first cookbook American Grown will be released on May 29, and we're cooking up some of Michelle's tried-and-true recipes like this apple cobbler, a favorite of President Obama.

The First Lady has a unique, slow method of preparing this cobbler. She marinates the apples in their spicy, sugary juices overnight, then slow cooks the cobbler at a low temperature to gradually break down the apples and crisp up the crust. The end result is absolutely heavenly: the cinnamon and nutmeg are perfectly balanced; the slow marination and long cook-time create a complex, caramel flavor; the apples dissolve upon bite, and the crust is as crispy as promised.

I used the lesser amount of sugar, and opted for a crisscross pattern on the top of the cobbler rather than covering the entire baking dish. Despite the 12 or more hours it requires to make this cobbler, it is a cherished, special occasion treat to be enjoyed during family gatherings or neighborhood barbecues.

Make the recipe here.

Taste the Rainbow: Yellow

Camilla Salem — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:28:56 PDT

We're moving on to the yellow produce part of our journey. When I think of yellow fruits and vegetables, I immediately taste lemons. But beyond lemons, crookneck squash happens to be one of my favorite vegetables to cook with. Golden delicious apples are often overlooked for fancier varieties, even though they boast a unique and refreshing flavor. And yes, you guessed it, we're looking at more bell peppers! For some colorful recipes using all of these yellow ingredients, keep reading.

3 Ways Apples Can Help You Lose Weight

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:21:06 PDT

An apple a day may or may not keep the doctor away, but it sure can help you see results on the scale. Make these apple-inspired choices throughout your day and see how this fruit can help you lose weight.

Breakfast: Low-Calorie Swap
Oatmeal for breakfast is an excellent choice. You can sweeten your bowl of oats with maple syrup (one eighth of a cup is 100 calories) or pour on four times as much unsweetened applesauce instead: half a cup contains 52 calories. Make this switch for a whole week of breakfasts, and you'll not only save 336 calories, you'll gain 10.5 grams of filling fiber.

Morning or Afternoon Snack: Fill Up on Fiber to Prevent Mindless Snacking
Full of flavor, apples are also great sources of hunger-satiating fiber. Snack on one large apple (with the skin) for 116 calories, and you'll consume 5.4 grams of fiber. The high water content and amazing amount of fiber will keep you full until your next meal, curbing hunger, and preventing the temptation to reach for a high-calorie nibble.

Dessert: Skip the Calorie Bombs
Half a cup of chocolate ice cream contains 250 calories.
Two homemade chocolate chip cookies contain 178 calories.
Half a Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate Bar contains 300 calories.

Holy calories! After-dinner treats can really add up if you make a habit of indulging every night, so save your calories and enjoy a naturally sweet treat instead. Slice a small apple (77 calories), drizzle it with one tablespoon of honey (64 calories), and sprinkle on cinnamon for 141 calories. For a more decadent "dessert," remove the core from a raw apple, stuff it with a few chopped walnuts and raisins, a small dollop of honey, pop it in the oven, and enjoy a treat for even fewer calories.

Source: Flickr User daniel.he

Healthy Snack: Creamy Peanut Buttery Apples With Grapes

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:35:34 PDT

Craving something crunchy and nutty but don't want all the calories and fat that come along with straight-up peanut butter? Here's a sweet low-cal alternative that's also high in protein (over eight grams per serving!).

This filling and fun-looking snack is great for a postworkout treat and is even sweet enough to satisfy your dessert cravings.

It's only 150 calories, so keep reading to see this simple snack recipe.

10 Apple-Inspired Snacks to Help Keep the Doctor Away

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:04:30 PST

Eating an apple a day may not prevent you from ever having to see your doc, but they are full of nutritional goodness: one medium apple is 95 calories with 4.4 grams of fiber and 195 milligrams of potassium. The high fiber content keeps you full, which helps prevent weight gain, and also keeps you regular, which results in a healthier body. Crunching on an apple is good for your smile because the fruit acts like a toothbrush, cleaning your teeth as you chew.

Another bonus is that apples are supersweet, so they're a healthier way to satisfy your sugar cravings. Here are 10 delicious, good-for-you snack ideas, all made with the goodness of apples.

Shredded apple mixed into plain yogurt
Warm apple toast made with whole-wheat bread, peanut butter, and sliced apples
Apple slices drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sliced almonds
Applesauce mixed in cottage cheese and sprinkled with Craisins
Baked apple filled with raisins, walnuts, and a little maple syrup
Diced apples sprinkled with cinnamon and warmed in the microwave
Apple, peanut butter, and pumpkin stacks
A piece of homemade apple cinnamon cake
Slices of apple paired with slices of Cheddar cheese
Apple chips made with apples, cinnamon, and sugar (using this recipe)

Taste Test: Junami Apples

YumSugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:15:17 PST

We love any opportunity to taste test new and exciting products, and trying a new kind of apple was particularly exciting. The Junami apple comes from Switzerland originally and its standout characteristic is its juice. The apple is large, round, and brightly colored - definitely something you can't wait to sink your teeth into. Find out what we thought of the Junami apple when you keep reading.

Savory Sight: Bacon Bread Pudding

Yum Community — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:02:17 PST

Bacon doesn't do anything wrong - and that certain truth applies to everything, including the blank canvas of bread. Here, Monica Bennett shows how, when combined, bacon, apples, and sage make for a killer sweet-salty bread pudding.

Bread pudding is like a blank canvas. The sky is the limit as far as what you can add. This time I wanted something savory. I was craving bacon so into my bread pudding it went along with some diced apples and sage from my garden.

For the recipe, check out her blog - and share your latest culinary creations with us in the YumSugar Community.

Sip on This: Green Juice Loaded With Antioxidants

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:52:51 PST

Fresh green juice might be the "next frozen yogurt" in terms of a trendy, healthy snack. What could possibly be better for you than a glass of homemade, fresh-pressed vegetables and fruits? This is a super easy, delicious, and addictive green juice recipe that you can happily indulge in to rake up your daily values. Apples are high in vitamin C and naturally sweeten the beverage. Antioxidant-rich spinach and parsley are also high in vitamin A and C and iron. Cucumber and lemon add flavor and immune-boosting phytonutrients. Warming and spicy ginger aids digestion.

See juice recipe.

A Reader Recipe: Grain- and Dairy-Free Apple Crisp

Fit Community — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:06:00 PDT

FitSugar reader AllieNic gives apple crisp a healthy makeover by making it grain- and dairy-free. She shared the recipe in our Healthy Recipe community group.

I love apples; they're beautiful and delicious! A few weeks ago, I took a trip up to Vermont to visit family - we went apple picking, so I whipped up some apple crisp (apple crumble). I remember loving the apple crisp we used to get with elementary school lunches, but this recipe is decidedly more healthy: grain-free and dairy-free!

Learn more about this recipe after the break!

Get Into Fall With These Healthy Apple Recipes

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:07:43 PDT

On Thursday I spotted the first signs of Fall at my farmers market: McIntosh apples. I ran straight to that farm's stall and filled my bag with almost a dozen of this favored Fall fruit. I love apples; the sweet and crunchy snack is full of all sorts of nutritional goodness, and they taste good on their own and in salads, desserts, and savory dishes, too. Here are 10 healthy recipes to welcome back Fall and one of my favorite fruits, the apple.

Source: Flickr user sleepyneko