New here and wondering why an asthma blog is featuring recipes? Read how apples maybe help with asthma inflammation and the allergic response first.
Now the downside of apples lies in their regular appearance on the list of top 5 most contaminated fruits. Peaches, pears, and strawberries fill the other top fruit slots, and although availability factors and household budgeting don’t allow my family to eat all organic food all the time, I’ll always spend the extra money to buy the cleaner versions of these four.
We’re at the tail end of holiday prep time, but you may have the Christmas dinner menu locked down with no plan in sight for breakfast. I like muffins and quick breads for fueling up after the early free-for-all beside the tree. They’re a little more special than our usual cold cereal and milk, and I can make them ahead of time. These pumpkin apple muffins originally came from All Recipes, but I made a few changes with the flour, sugar, and spices.
Pumpkin Apple Muffins
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups peeled apple, finely diced or pulsed in the food processor until lumpy but not pureed (the second method is my favorite)
Streusel Topping
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut
5 teaspoons butter
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly coat 18 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Sift the flour, sugar, spices, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.
3. Mix the remaining muffin ingredients together in a separate bowl and then add the entire liquid mixture to the dry.
4. Stir just until the two are combined, and then fold in the apples.
5. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin cups.
6. For the streusel, mix the first 4 ingredients together and then cut in the butter to make a coarse crumb.
7. Top each muffin cup with streusel, and bake approximately 35 minutes.
Want some more last-minute Christmas morning ideas with apples? Try these:
–Pour some apple cider into the crockpot first thing in the morning, and set to high. Add a tea ball or cheesecloth bundle stuffed with crushed cloves or cinnamon sticks and some whole orange slices (wash, but don’t peel first). By the time the kids plow through the presents and stockings, the cider will be ready and you can keep it simmering on low for the rest of the day.
–If you’re having a savory breakfast, add a sweet side dish by cooking up some peeled apple slices in a few tablespoons of butter, a teaspoon or so of cinnamon, and some brown sugar to taste.
And one final apple idea. I’m cooking the big dinner this year and we’re headed to Mom’s for dessert, but this apple and Calvados croustade featured in the L.A. Times will be on my table next Christmas. Or maybe even New Year’s.
Then again, my birthday’s coming up, too. . . .
