Makes 20
Ingredients:
20 marshmallows
20 cranberries
Red and blue icing pens
Instructions:
Push one cranberry into the centre of each marshmallow. Draw bloodshot lines with the icing pens all over the marshmallow. Set aside to dry and serve as a spooky snack.
Serves about 12
6 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 celery stalks, sliced
You have worked all spring and summer long to grow your garden with great success. You discover that you cannot possibly use all of the fruits that have sprung up in your garden. No problem – preserve them for future use. You can use different methods to preserve your fruits such as canning, freezing and drying. You can even use a simple recipe and create your own jams, preserves or butters to further indulge in. Best of all, by preserving your fruit you are ensuring that you are not letting all of the labor you put into your garden go to waste.
Freezing
The easiest way to preserve your fruit is to freeze it and store it for later use. How to freeze your fruit depends on the type of fruit. For berries, drain the berries in a colander for about 30 minutes then lie them on a cookie sheet and stick in the freezer overnight. You can take the berries out the next day and bag them when they are completely frozen.
Melons should be cut out of the rinds and sprinkled with sugar before freezing. The sugar helps to preserve the flavor of the melons. All fruit needs to be placed in a freezer bag or freezer safe container and marked with the date of freeze. Frozen fruit can be kept in the freezer for up to one year.
Canning
Canning is another great way to preserve your fruit. Pick the fruit when it is at its ripest for canning methods. Cut the fruit up and place into canning jars. You do not have to use sugar to sweeten the fruit, but like when freezing melons, using a simple syrup will help keep your canned fruit
So many apple desserts involve large amounts of sugar, butter, shortening, or white flour – or all four of these! It’s really too bad, since naturally-sweet apples make excellent, healthy desserts without all of the added ingredients. Here are some recipes for healthy apple desserts that everyone in the family can enjoy.
1. Jellied Apple Squares
This natural dessert is great for kids, and adults who want a dessert that is refreshing and easy on the digestion. It uses agar-agar, a healthy, seaweed-based jelling agent that acts like gelatin. It is available in some grocery stores and most health food stores.
Ingredients:
* 3 medium apples, sliced into thin slices. Peeling is optional
* 2 cups water
* 2 cups unsweetened apple juice
* 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons agar-agar flakes
* Pinch of salt
Bring all ingredients except the salt to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for just under 3 minutes. Pour into a jell-o mold or dish and refrigerate until firm. This will take about an hour. When firm, cut into squares or remove from the mold and slice.
2. Nutty Apple Crunch
With their good fats, nuts are a healthful addition to this apple dessert. Arrowroot is a natural thickening agent that is a healthy substitute for cornstarch.
Ingredients:
* 1 dozen medium apples, skins optional
* 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch
* 1 cup rolled oats
* 1/2 cup walnuts
* 1/4 cup each almonds and hazelnuts (filberts)
* 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup or honey
* Pinch of salt
Slice apples and add salt and arrowroot; mix well and place in baking dish. Pan-roast the oats in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Stir constantly. Roast the nuts the same way if they are not already roasted. Chop nuts and add them to the roasted oats. Mix in the brown rice syrup or honey with your hands, and sprinkle this mixture over the apples in the baking dish. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, then remove the cover and bake for 5 to 10 minutes more.
3. Apple Pie
A healthy apple pie starts with a healthy pie crust (yes, there is such a thing). Here is how to make the dough for two pie crusts.
Ingredients:
* 4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons – 1/4 cup corn oil
* 3/4 – 1 cup very cold water
Mix flour and salt, then add the oil and mix it with your hands, rubbing it between your fingers and palms to coat all the flour. Then add the water gradually until it forms a dough that is not too sticky. Knead the dough into a ball and let it rest for a few minutes. Then divide it in half and use one part for the bottom crust and the other part for the top.
Apple filling:
* 10 or 12 medium apples, sliced. Peeling is optional
* 1/2 cup honey or brown rice syrup
* 1-2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix all of these ingredients together and pour into the pie shell. Cover with the top crust, crimp and seal. Vent the top by cutting 4 small slits in the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for half an hour.
Makes about 4 Pancakes
1/4 cup Gram flour (garbanzo bean flour, available in ethnic food shops)
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup tapioca starch
2 tbsp sugar, ideally fruit sugar
1 tsp baking soda
Cinnamon to taste
1 tbsp of mixed dried fruit (optional)