*APRIL* Monthly Recipe Challenge: *** APPLES ***

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here are the rules:

Every month we will choose an ingredient and everyone makes a recipe using that ingredient.

Everyone is welcome to participate.

This is for support and inspiration.

I was thinking that maybe at the end of the month we can vote on the best recipe, and the winner gets to choose the ingredient for the next month?

Or we can just say no winners, and we can have a poll on the monthly challenge thread with options of the ingredients for the next month, and people can vote on that. i actually think that is a better idea because it is easier to organize.

anyway... go APPLES!

i'll post mine up soon.

[Veronica01]

Do people have to submit recipes or pictures?

[circle]

people can submit either or, but i think a recipe without a photo is kind of lame. =(

recipes are encouraged, but photos are even better, and photos with recipes are the best.

cliff notes:

recipes < photos < photos with recipes

[brownies]

I made a thread for this a few days ago:

I came up with this by adapting a recipe in an old (80s) vegan cookbook. This is a great replacement for the yummy Apple Butter your granny used to make. No cooking or refined sugar involved in this version so it's oh so good for you

Ingredients:
2 small apples
5 pitted dates
1/2 cup water (a tiny bit more if you need help getting the mixture to move)
1/4 cup oats
sprinkle of cinnamon
pinch of cloves

Preparation:
Wash & core apples. Blend all the ingredients together in blender or food processor.
Ready to eat straight from the blender!

http://goneraw.com/sites/default/files/images/DSC00934.normal.JPG

[anniez]

I can't do photos. I am from back in the day that when we typed term papers in college, if we made a mistake we had to use the tape with chalk on it where you repeated the mistake to fill it in with the chalk and then typed the correction over it! And if you wanted to move text around, you re-typed the whole thing. I am doing well to use a word processor.

That said, I will still post a recipe, and I know just the one! But it will be without a photo. Sorry!

Annie

[anniez]

Shoot! I posted this in the wrong place. Here it is:

Waldorf Salad & Another Apple Salad

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At the risk of giving an obvious apple recipe, I will nevertheless continue because this mayo is awesome. It is Karen Knowler's and is delicious. It is, however, quite rich, and expensive, so I save it for special occasions. (I really like Alissa's mayo for everyday.)

Karen Knowler's Mayo
Makes 4 cups
Keeps 5-7 days in fridge

1 C water
1 C macadamia nuts
1 C pine nuts
1 1/2 C cashews
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp lemon juice.

Process in processor with S blade, mixing very well. Add more water if necessary. Will thicken in fridge, so make a little runnier.

Waldorf Salad

This is one of my "go-to" recipes because it's so versatile. I always use whatever is on hand and/or needs using up. I use any of the following:

Chopped apples (duh!)
Chopped celery
Chopped walnuts or pecans


This is the classic recipe. I sometimes add:
Grapes
Chopped Pineapple

Add mayo slowly, as much as your taste dictates.


- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Apple Salad

1 C Spring Mix (a lettuce mix)
1/2 C sprouts
1 apple, shredded
1/2 C grapes, halved
1/2 C soaked, then dehydrated almonds, chopped

Mix together.

Drizzle with:

olive oil
juice from 1 lemon, lime, or orange

Sorry! No pictures.

Enjoy.

Annie

[Nani]

I love this idea....I'm game! :D

Hmmm...apples apples apples....let's seeee. :rolleyes:

[anniez]

Bummer! I am disappointed in the response to this thread. I wonder if those who read this but don't post a recipe will tell us why? Are apples too common an ingredient? I can't really believe that's it, but I truly am surprised. I thought lots of people would jump on this horse.

Annie

[sport]

The only things that I do with apples are.
1. Cut in slices and dip in pine nut butter.
2. Chop and place in a bowl to which I add cream made of cashews and macadamia nuts.

[xPIXIEx]

Apple Cobbler

I used Ani Phyo's Fresh Mango Cobbler recipe, but used apples instead of mango.

[Nani]

Bummer! I am disappointed in the response to this thread. I wonder if those who read this but don't post a recipe will tell us why? Are apples too common an ingredient? I can't really believe that's it, but I truly am surprised. I thought lots of people would jump on this horse.

Annie

Ohh, I'm sorry. :o I love this idea and would happily add a recipe with a picture...but I am out of apples right now, but am going to the store sooooon and then I will be an apple posting fool. :D Or try to be. lol.

"Apple April" is not over yet....I say, keep bumping up this post and maybe more people will catch on. :D

[circle]

i just got some apples. not sure what to do with them yet though. =)

[JoyceH]

What a great idea. Too bad apples won't be in season until the fall time in Vermont. I'll definitely have to revisit this thread when the time comes for local VT apples! :)

[anniez]

The only things that I do with apples are.
1. Cut in slices and dip in pine nut butter.
2. Chop and place in a bowl to which I add cream made of cashews and macadamia nuts.

I LOVE these two ideas. I never thought of pine nut butter, nor did I think of chopping in a bowl and adding a cream.

Let's have some more simple ideas!

Annie

[piccolittle]

I hate nut-based recipes so my stuff isn't very complicated... Don't have any pictures either, sorry! Yeah, I'm lame.

CINNAMON-RAISIN-APPLE ICE "CREAM"

Ingredients:

Two or three large bananas, frozen
One red apple, chopped finely or grated
Handful of raisins
Vanilla extract (not raw?) and cinnamon

1) Process frozen bananas in food processor or blender until smooth, adding some nut milk or coconut milk if needed
2) Add apple and raisins to banana mush
3) Add vanilla and cinnamon to taste

Is that one too simple? The apple isn't technically the main ingredient...

[Veronica01]

I made a thread for this a few days ago:

I came up with this by adapting a recipe in an old (80s) vegan cookbook. This is a great replacement for the yummy Apple Butter your granny used to make. No cooking or refined sugar involved in this version so it's oh so good for you

Ingredients:
2 small apples
5 pitted dates
1/2 cup water (a tiny bit more if you need help getting the mixture to move)
1/4 cup oats
sprinkle of cinnamon
pinch of cloves

Preparation:
Wash & core apples. Blend all the ingredients together in blender or food processor.
Ready to eat straight from the blender!

http://goneraw.com/sites/default/files/images/DSC00934.normal.JPG


Wow what a great dessert recipe without a crust! I will keep this and maybe make it for a potluck this weekend. Thanks

[RAWmen-Noodles]

This is a sweet salad. I think I remembered all of the ingredients! I took the picture before adding my garnish of a little shredded coconut.

Apple-Carrot Salad
3 carrots grated
a little beet grated
1 apple of your choice grated
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup candied walnuts
Fresh orange or lemon zest (organic for zest, if not organic then squeeze a little juice on there)

Also try jicama, ginger

Toss and eat immediately
You can also throw in some gojis, dried cranberries, shredded coconut, pumkin seeds, currants or anything!

Walnuts of Neptune (candied walnuts)
½ cup walnuts soaked (you do not have to but I wanted to make them bigger so that I would have more)
Maple syrup (date paste would work and honey)
Vanilla
Little salt


Dry the Walnuts but leave enough moisture to have the Maple syrup stick. Dehydrate 15 minutes or until they are not as sticky or just eat them as they are.

[rawchic]

apple/strawberry cobbler

filling: apples, strawberries, & fresh squeezed lemon
topping: finely chopped pecans, dates, vanilla & cinnamon

there aren't any real measurements - just chop up however much fruit will fit into your pan, and then top with however much of the crumble you prefer (I press some of the crumble into the bottom of the pan too because I like a lot of it)

[anniez]

I just remembered a really good recipe that uses apple:

Raw Sweet Potato Salad

1 C raw sweet potato, peeled and finely shredded
3-4 dates, finely chopped
1 apple, finely chopped
2 Tbsp walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 fresh orange juice
Nutmeg to taste
1 tsp orange zest

Toss. Can serve immediately or refrigerate. Keeps a couple of days and just gets better as it sits!

Enjoy!

Annie

[qnjnean]

I read raw model "lives" on apples and almond butter when he travels. I haven't done anything else with apples yet myself. But I will keep it in mind.

[Veggiefamily]

:D I had this salad today and it was so wonderful.
French apple & celery salad
Celery
Green apple
lettuce
cocktail tomatoes
chopped walnuts

dressing:
1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 tbs. flax seed oil
mustard powder
salt & pepper

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3455446126_8bbc5930a6.jpg

apple theme bento

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3455454848_af2cb7064e.jpg

with apple dressing

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3454647501_0628c6b089.jpg

apple picado bento

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3455462014_f6b8be259e.jpg

green apple juice

[Spraenna]

I like to make a breakfast cereal in the blender of
8-10 almonds or other nuts
1/2 cup distilled water
1/2 apple with skin
1 ripe banana
small handful of sprouts or parsley

Then stir in 2 T. flax seed, ground.


Then stir in

[Conscious Midwife]

Apples roled in honey or Agave nectar then coated with raw nut blend of chice enjoy with or without a stick!

[Nani]

I'm bumping this up baaaby. Yep, I finally was able to get to the store today and I bought some lovely organic apples. Sooo since "Apple April" is not over....yet. ;) I am going to make my apple dish tomorrow and hopefully I will get it posted soon. It's a recipe from Sarma Melngailis....we'll see how it comes out. :) It looks really yummy...can't wait to make it and take a picture for everyone. :D

[Teraw]

I found this recipe on the E, but it sounds really good. If I have time to make it, I'll post pics.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
4-5 raw dates
squeeze of lemon juice
1/4 of vanilla bean seeds or 1 tsp vanilla (If you use the bean, let mixture set for a bit to meld flavors.)
And Apples!!
Preparation:
Process seeds in a food processor, then add dates, lemon juice, and vanilla. Mix well until dough like ball forms. I liked it thicker because it was a lot like caramel. Spread mixture onto apple slices and enjoy!

CLick here for the link: http://goneraw.com/recipe/caramel-apples

[circle]

why don't you guys post photos!!!?? =(

[Nani]

Here is something I made today...and ate. :D I tweeked a recipe from Sarma Melingailis...her recipe "Apple Crepes with apple walnut filling and cinnamon maple cream". My recipe...."Apple Crepes with apple walnut cranberry filling and cinnamon cream".

It goes something like this....

**Apple Crepes**

for the crepes:
1 apple, chopped with skin on
1/4 cup of ground flax
1/8 cup of dried coconut
1/2 tsp vanilla
squirt of raw honey, agave
cinnamon
nutmeg
pinch of salt
water to thin out batter a bit

(I just played around with the flax and coconut...feel free to add what works best for you...I just kinda wanted a thicker apple rollup kind of thing. ;)
Place all crepe ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Put batter onto teflex sheets in circle shapes or cover the entire teflex sheet and once dehydrated cut dried batter into circles with knife. Dehydrate until dried but not crisp, they should be pliable.

For the filling:
1 apple, diced small with skin on
handful of dried cranberries
handful of chopped walnuts
cinnamon
nutmeg
pinch of salt
raw honey or agave to taste
zest of one lemon
juice of one lemon

Mix all together in bowl. Place in dehydrator until warmed through and the apples are somewhat soft.

For the cinnamon creme:

1/2 cup soaked cashews
1/2 cup dried coconut
1 TBS. coconut oil or butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract
cinnamon to taste
nutmeg to taste
1/4 tsp salt
lemon juice to taste
raw honey or agave to taste
water as needed.

Mix all in blender until smooth. Add water as needed to help blend it. Creme should be thick not runny.

Adjust and play with the ingredients...this is just a rough draft. :)

When all is ready....fill crepes with filling and top with cinnamon creme. Mmmm...yummy.

[SweetTangerine]

I made this a few days ago as inspired by a smoothie I had at the pike place market in Seattle. The one there used apple cider so I changed it up at home and added some berries...

Handful of dried apricots
3 plums
2 peaches
handful of blackberries
handful of strawberries
4 juiced apples

Blend all ingredients until smooth and delicious :D

[circle]

ooooooooonhhh my nani. that looks fantastic!!

[Nani]

ooooooooonhhh my nani. that looks fantastic!!

Thank you! It was so yummy. :D I kept eating the filling as I was stuffing the crepes and almost didn't have enough to fill em up. lol. :D

[marissa_al1]

what's going to be the food of the month on may? I want to participate this time!

[anniez]

As I was slicing an apple I remembered how much I liked a slice of cheese on my apple pie when I was a kid. I remembered that I had some cheeze in the fridge. I spread the cheeze on the apple slices. Not like the apple pie and cheeze that I remember, but pretty dang good anyway! And it certainly won't do to me what that pie did!

Cheeze: (I probably got the recipe here, so apologies to the original poster!)

1 orange pepper
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 peeled lemon
1 T nutritional yeast
2 T water - start with 1

Process well.

Every time I make this I have to tweak it. Peppers and lemons are different sizes. I almost always add more nutritional yeast.

If somebody doesn't start a May thread by tomorrow, I will do it. So here's your chance!

Annie

[Nani]

Is there a May recipe challenge yet? I didn't know if I over looked the post or not. :D