An Apple a Day for the Holidays

We’ve expounded on the benefits of apples before, but because they are one of the few local fruits that are still fresh at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, they’re perfect partners for the winter holidays.

Give them as gifts, use them as tree decorations, fill the toes of Christmas stockings, or make delicious applesauce bread (recipe below) to serve during your holiday festivities—they’re a beautiful and healthy addition to your December celebrations.

APPLE ACTIONS!

Not only are apples gorgeous and tasty, but they’re also good for you in so many ways! 

Livotonic. The malic acid in apples does a great job of cleansing and supporting the liver.

Cholagogue. A cholagogue stimulates the flow of bile to usher waste out of the body and break down fat.

Alkalizing. Apples promote alkalinity in the body.  One function of alkalinity is its ability to decrease inflammation.

Ojas-building. Apples build ojas, our life-sap, strength, and immunity!

Sattvic. The sattvic quality of an apple refreshes, lightens, and enhances clarity.  *Cooked apples are more sattvic than raw.

Nourishing. Apples have an affinity for nourishing and fortifying the plasma, lymph, and blood (red blood cells and vessels) tissues.

Detoxifying. Apples are a first-place fruit when it comes to removing toxins.

*Raw apple tip:  If you experience gas and/or bloating when you eat a raw apple, eat it at room temperature and try sprinkling ground cinnamon and fennel on it.

RECIPES: APPLESAUCE BREAD & CHAI

This recipe is nice to have on hand for holiday guests—or yourself! Accompany it with a warm cup of chai for a delightful December dessert.

APPLESAUCE BREAD

Ingredients

¼ cup ghee
1 1/3 C. unbleached cane sugar
2 C. whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. arrowroot powder
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. mineral salt
1.5 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1.5 C. steamed and puréed apples (unsweetened applesauce can be substituted)
½ C. raisins
½ C. chopped nuts of your choice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Grease and lightly flour 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.
3. Cream the ghee and the sugar.
4. Mix the dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture.
5. Add the apples and mix until all the ingredients are blended. 
6. Stir in the raisins and nuts.
7. Spoon the mixture into the loaf pan and spread evenly. 
8. Bake about an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the loaf. Cool before removing from pan.
9. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

CHAI

Ingredients

• 3 quarts water
• 5 cinnamon sticks
• 21 cardamom pods
• 12 black peppercorns
• 5 whole allspice
• 1 large long pepper (pippali) or 3 small
• 9 cloves
• 3–5 star anise
• Heaping tablespoon fresh ginger (you can substitute a with a couple of  ginger tea bags)
• 1 antioxidant tea bag such as rooibos or tulsi
• Optional:  Milk and sweetener of your choice

Directions

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients except the milk and sweetener and return to a boil.
3. Turn down to a simmer for 20 minutes.
4. If using milk, strain the spices from the water before adding the milk, and then,  add sweetener to taste.