Posted by Jennifer Tyler Lee on February 17, 2013 0 Comments
This easy apple pie recipe is a simple French
twist on a favorite sweet treat: apple galette.
“Get the galette!”
shouted my 6-year-old son with the tenor of a football captain cheering on his
teammates toward the game-winning touchdown. Called into the kitchen by the
sweet smell of warm apples and cinnamon, my kids raced to the table and huddled
around our delicious French creation, hoping to be the first to snatch a bite
of this sweet treat.
It was no surprise to me
that they were excited about trying apple galette. A perfect combination of
their favorite flavors and textures – crisp apples, gooey cinnamon, and flakey,
buttery pastry – it was a new food I knew everyone would enjoy. After my failed
leek soup attempt last week, I needed an easy win. So much for no emotional
eating!
Inspired by Martha Rose
Shulman, we decided to add this French-style, easy apple pie recipe to our list
of 52 New Foods. Without a doubt, this will become a regular part of the lineup
at our family table!
What we Liked: Although this is a sweet treat, this easy apple pie recipe has a
minimum of sugar. Like Martha says, “It’s all about the apples!” That’s what we
loved.
An Easy Apple Pie Recipe: Apple Galette
Prep time: 15 minutes
(plus 45 minutes in the freezer)
Cook time: 60 minutes
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings Crunch a Color points: 5 red
2 lbs Braeburn apples
¼ cup brown sugar plus 1 Tbsp
1 small lemon
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 egg
1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 premade dessert pastry pie crust (12” diameter)
Note: When I have the
time, I love to make my own apple pie crust. But with busy weekdays in full
swing I wanted to find an easier solution so I made our apple galette with an
organic, pre-made pastry crust. If you go this route, be sure to pick a crust
that has five ingredients or less. The ingredient list on ours was: unbleached
organic flour, butter, water and salt.
Directions:
1. Peel and slice the
apples. Wedges should be between ¼” and ½” at the widest part.
2. Toss the apples with
the juice from one small lemon.
3. Heat the pan over
medium, then add the butter. When the butter is bubbling (but before it turns
brown) add the apples and ¼ cup of the sugar. Toss gently in the pan. Simmer 5
to 7 minutes, or until the apples are brown on one side. Then add the vanilla
and half of the cinnamon / nutmeg mixture and turn the apples gently. Simmer
another 5 minutes until the apples are golden brown and fragrant.
4. Place the cooked
apples on a parchment lined bake sheet and let cool. While the apples are
cooling, remove the pie crust from the freezer and allow it to thaw slightly
(about 10 minutes).
5. Place the pie crust on
a lined bake sheet. I like to use a Silpat liner for easy cleanup. Add the
apples and then fold the pastry around the edges of your pie, pleating as you
go. Place the galette back in the freezer for 45 minutes. This will help to
keep its shape when baked.
6. Preheat the oven to
350 degrees. Remove the galette from the freezer. Beat the egg together with
the milk to create an egg wash and brush over the edges of your galette.
Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon / nutmeg mixture and 1 Tbsp brown sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
7. Serve warm or cool,
whichever you prefer. Either way, enjoy with friends and family!
*
Do you have a favorite easy apple pie recipe? Have you tried apple galette?
What other ingredients have you tried with this rustic French pie?
About the author: Jennifer
Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® --
award-winning nutrition
games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled
to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into
a healthy
eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’
nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved
awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food
Revolution, Rachael Ray's Yum-O!, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum
Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to
get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making
mealtime fun and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips,
and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery
Barn Kids, Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution, The
Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.
Posted by Jennifer Tyler Lee on January 07, 2013 2 Comments
Pear sauce made with crisp Asian pears and a hint of
ginger is an easy and fun twist on homemade applesauce.
It’s 2013 and Crunch a Color’s 52 New Foods adventure is setting off on a
tour around the world! Like the sun, we begin our journey in the East, sampling
and savoring foods from Asia. What better way to get ready for the Lunar New
Year than a stop at the fresh market in Chinatown!
A visit to San
Francisco’s Chinatown would not be complete without heading home with a bushel
full of sweet, crunchy Asian pears. Their flavor and texture is like a cross
between an apple and a pear, and they are delicious sliced into wedges as a
snack. But on this brisk January afternoon, my kids were craving a warm treat,
so we whipped up a batch of Asian pear sauce with a hint of ginger, and not a
drop of refined sugar: an easy and fun twist on homemade applesauce.
Asian Pear Sauce
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 to 30 minutes
Yield: Makes 6 cups Crunch a Color points: 5 yellow
Ingredients:
2 pounds Asian pears
2 pounds Fuji apples
Juice from 1 lemon
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
1½ cups water
Directions:
1. Wash, peel, and core the
Asian pears and apples. Chop the fruit into ¼” size pieces. This is a fun job
for the kids to do!
2. Load all of the
ingredients into a large pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer
for 25 to 30 minutes until the fruit is soft. The Asian pears will remain
slightly crunchy compared to the apples.
3. Let the kids mash the fruit
mixture with a potato masher until you achieve the texture you prefer. We made
our sauce with small chunks of pear remaining.
4. Let cool, then enjoy with friends!
This delicious Asian pear sauce is a wholesome
treat and an easy way to try something new alongside yogurt, roast chicken, or simply
on its own as a healthy snack.
* What
is your favorite way to enjoy Asian pears?
Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on
last week’s recipe: Kumquat Jam
About the author: Jennifer
Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the
award-winning nutrition
games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled
to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into
a healthy
eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’
nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved
awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food
Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum
Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to
get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making
mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips,
and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery
Barn Kids, Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution, The
Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.
Posted by Jennifer Lee on December 10, 2012 0 Comments
A mini apple pear crisp is the fresh food version of a big
warm bear hug! Filled to the brim with sweet, bubbling fresh pears, apples and
cranberries, it’s the perfect treat to serve at a cozy winter get-together by
the fire with friends and family.
Pears and apples abound at
our local market and they are one of our favorite snacks. To be sure, they are
absolutely delicious enjoyed just as they are – nature’s perfect fast food. But
this week my kids and I had a hankering for a holiday treat. We wanted to make
something a little special for our upcoming school celebration, so we decided
to make a big batch of apple pear crisp in mini ramekins. A warm little treat
to greet each one of our guests.
6 medium apples
4 medium pears
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ tsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ c whole wheat pastry flour
½ c sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
For the apple pear crisp topping:
1 ¼ cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 sticks of butter
¼ cup flax meal
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
Directions:
1. Peel and core the pears
and apples, then cut into large chunks. I find this a bit tedious, but
my kids love recipes with lots of peeling and chopping so they were in charge
of this step!
2. Load the fruit into a
large bowl with the cranberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, whole-wheat flour,
cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss gently to combine. Set aside.
3. For the topping, combine
the whole-wheat flour, oats, butter, flax meal and sugars in the bowl of an
electric mixer. Mix gently until the mixture looks like large crumbles.
4. Portion the fruit mixture
into 12 small ramekins, then top each with a handful of the crumble topping.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for
30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the fruit is
bubbling. When it’s ready the smell is absolutely glorious!
NOTE: To make ahead, simply
assemble the mini crisps in the individual ramekins, cover tightly and store in
the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready, simply bake and enjoy!
My good friend and fellow
family foodie, Kim Gerber at Out of the Box Food, inspired our apple pear crisp
recipe this week. Be sure to check out her healthy remakes of all of your
favorite foods.
* Do
you have a family favorite recipe for apple pear crisp? What is your favorite
way to prepare this cozy treat?
Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on
last week’s recipe: Romanesco
About the author: Jennifer
Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the
award-winning nutrition
games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled
to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into
a healthy
eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’
nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved
awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food
Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum
Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to
get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making
mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips,
and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery
Barn Kids, Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution, The
Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.
Posted by Jennifer Lee on October 08, 2012 0 Comments
Simple, savory apple soup is the best way to warm
your kiddos from head to toe on a chilly fall day. Easy and fun to make, this
tasty recipe brings together our favorite fall flavors for a cozy dish the
whole family loves.
Apples, pumpkins and pears
herald the start of fall at our local market. It is my favorite time of year –
not only because of the wonderful family holidays and traditions but also
because of the delicious fall flavors. This year I’ve been searching for new
recipes to add to our collection of family favorites, and my good friend
Melissa Lanz of The Fresh20 came to the rescue. She’s got the easy weeknight
dinner routine nailed with her simple, tasty recipes. When she shared her savory
apple soup recipe with us, I knew we had a winner.
Savory Apple Soup with Pears and Walnuts
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 to 20 minutes
Makes about 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients:
3 tart apples (e.g., granny
smith)
6 pears
1 small yellow onion
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
½ cup water
A handful of walnuts
Salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Wash, peel, and slice the
apples, pears and onion into large wedges. Right on the baking sheet, toss with
olive oil, fresh rosemary (stems removed and finely chopped), salt and
pepper.
2. Roast in a 450 degree
oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
3. Cool slightly. Working in
small batches, add the roasted apples, pears, onion, chicken broth, and water
to a blender and puree gently. Transfer to a large soup pot.
4. Simmer over low heat,
adding salt and pepper to taste.
5. Garnish with chopped walnuts. Serve warm and enjoy with
family and friends!
What we Liked: This easy recipe was equally great as a simple weeknight dinner dish or
after school snack. We served our savory apple soup with a side of cheddar and
apple quesadillas. Delish!
*
What is your favorite fall soup recipe? Share your ideas!
Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on
last week’s recipe: Cinnamon Apples!
About the author: Jennifer
Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the
award-winning nutrition
games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled
to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into
a healthy
eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’
nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved
awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food
Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum
Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to
get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making
mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips,
and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery
Barn Kids, Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution, The
Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.
Posted by Jennifer Lee on September 24, 2012 1 Comment
Cinnamon apples are a favorite fall treat for my
kids. This easy recipe brings together the best of what goes into making a cozy
apple pie, but without refined sugar.
The crisp fall air has
arrived in California, and so have farm fresh apples. Bushels were brimming
over with red beauties at our local farmers’ market this weekend, so we decided
to reinvent one of our favorite fall treats. Apple pie, with its sweet and warm
filling, is a must on our fall table. Could we create a recipe easy enough to make
on a busy school morning that brings together those delicious fall flavors without
the sugar? You bet!
Cinnamon Apples
Prep time: 5 minutes
Assembly time: 5 minutes
Makes about 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients:
5 medium apples, granny
smith or empire
½ lemon
½ tsp cinnamon
Directions:
1. Leaving the skins on,
slice the apples into ¼” cubes.
2. Load the apples into a
bowl and add the juice from ½ of a lemon.
3. Add the cinnamon to the
apples and stir.
4. Enjoy!
Crunch
a Color Kids Vote: An
apple a day…
What we Liked: This easy recipe has all of the wonderful flavors of apple pie filling,
without any refined sugar. We served our cinnamon apples with a side of butterscotch no bake
cookies. The lemon keeps the apples from browning, which makes this recipe a
perfect lunchbox snack!
*
What are your favorite ways to serve apples? Share your ideas!
Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on
last week’s recipe: Sandwich Pops!
About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the
award-winning nutrition
games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled
to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into
a healthy
eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’
nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved
awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food
Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum
Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to
get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making
mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips,
and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery
Barn Kids, Jamie
Oliver’s Food Revolution, The
Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.
