Yummies: An apple a day!

The crisp fall air will always bring apples to mind... OK, so we live in California and the crisp air is more like insanely hot air, but it is still the end of September and you can still enjoy the bounty of the Fall... Even while wearing your sundress. 

Delicious and sweet or sour and tangy, it is apple season. 

Remember the old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"? 

Well, their may be some truth to that. 

French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

And also, A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

And we all know that Brazilian women are HOT! 

So maybe Eve was on to something when she ate that famous apple! 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy those delicious apples. 

From the queen of all things perfectly perfect.. Martha Stewart comes this insane and indulgent looking Apple Pie... Well, more like deep dish bowl of yummy apple filling blanketed with flakey crust... Getting super hungry just looking at it. 

Recipe here... 

Miss Me's mom used to bake apples with brown sugar... SO GOOD! 

Here is another recipe for baked apple goodness. 

Baked Apple

1 apple, peeled and cored

1-2 tsp butter

1-2 tbsp almonds, chopped

2-3 tsp spice sugar (or use a mix of cinnamon and sugar if you don't have any spice sugar at hand. But you *should* make some!)

Place the apple in a small oven-proof dish. (I use ramekins from Le Creuset.) Push butter and almonds into the hole. Top with the rest of the almonds, if you like me can't fit them all inside. Sprinkle with spice sugar. Bake at 175°C for about 30 minutes, or until the apple is soft.

We heart apple slices with peanut butter!! 

It is so easy and so yummy and pretty good for you right? 

Plus, it makes you feel like a kid again, and that has GOT to be good for you. 

When you get home from a chilly autumn day (It will happen Angelinos, we just have to believe) of running errands and your ears are cold and the tip of your nose is a cute shade of flushed pink... Grab a cup of yummy warm apple cider! 

If you are entertaining this Fall, weather it is a dinner party or just having some friends over... Put a pot of this on the stove and your house will smell like a dream come true! 

Then you can add a little rum and get toasty. 

• 6 cups apple cider
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Don't forget the caramel apples! 

How could anyone resist these amazingly sweet little green apple cupcakes? 

We had to post them just because they made us smile! 

If only their was the time in a day to make these... Ok well, Martha would find the time... But not us. 

See all of these yummy things to heart about the fall? Now we just have to wait for the temperature to drop and we can pull out the pretty sweaters and scarves! 

Until then... 

"How you like them apples?" 

XOXO- Things-We-Heart

Yummies: Oh Summer Fruits! Please don't go! We heart you! Berries and peaches and tropicals...oh my!

You've heard it before and now we say it again...(this time with tears welling up in our eyes from sadness...or maybe that's just from the horrible fires) we are summer lovers and heart everything that glorious summer has to offer...the beach, weather, the beach, bbqs, picnics, bikinis, flowers...but what we will miss the most about the end of summer?...

The glorious fruits!

We uber HEART summer fruits!

There is nothing juicier, sweeter, higher in antioxidents, more versatile and just plain more fantastic to eat than summer fruits...

So why don't we take advantage of Miss Summer (it has to be a woman...so warm and bright...sorry boys) and run to your nearest farmers market (best and most fresh fruits and veggies there...they actually taste like what they are supposed to) and load up on her fruits.

Take said Summer Fruits and cook like you have never cooked before...you will be in Summer Fruit heaven...

Oh P.S. you don't even have to cook...just wash and devour!  But keep a napkin handy...they are messy (in the best most juiciest way possible!)

So with out further adieu, here are just a sprinkling of our most favoritest summer fruit recipes...

Nothing says summer like ripe delish berries...so easy, so juicy, so tasty and tartly sweet...perfection!

If you are in the mood to bake with them rather than just finish the basket off while driving home from the market (not that, that's what we do..just sayin) we found and tried an amazing Berry Lemon Shortcake recipe.

It's soooo good you will be the toast of the town...or not if you eat the whole thing like me with out sharing...hey...it's that yummy!

It's filled with berries and custard!!!!!!!!! Done and Done!


OMG what we wouldn't give to have a ripe juicy peach right now!!!

Uggh...why did I have to eat them all yesterday?  Oh well...at least I still have time to go get more :) and I will buy extras so I can make one of our most fanstastical favorite desserts ever! (Yes it's that good!)

Fresh Peach Cobbler!!!  

Here you go!  Just don't drool into the bowl you are prepping in!

4 cups of fresh peaches, sliced.
1 ¼ cups of flour.
1 cup of sugar.
½ cup of brown sugar.
½ cup of margarine.
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
1 teaspoon of lemon peel.
½ teaspoon of cinnamon.
¼ teaspoon of salt.

Preparation Instructions:

Combine 1 cup of flour, ½ of cup sugar, the salt and the cinnamon.

Cut in the margarine until the mixture resembles corn meal.

Combine the sliced peaches, lemon juice, lemon peel, ½ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of flour; then spoon into greased nine-inch square dish.

Sprinkle the flour mixture over top of the peaches.

Cover and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake for another 40 minutes.

Go here for the whole recipe ;)  you will be super happy you did!

Speaking of the gloriousness of peaches...

We found an amazing way to start your day or just an amazing way to make all of your friends and neighbors fall into heartville with you when you give them the slice of this delish Yogurt Peach Almond Cake.  Yup you read that right...now stop drooling ;)

Lurving Almost Bordain Site!  Sooo great!


Oh cherries!  Why do you tease us so?  You are so crispy, juicy, sweet, tangy, bright, flavorful and portable.  And why oh why do we finish the whole bag you come in before we can even make this next delish recipe?

How amazing is a fresh cherry pie? (No not the song silly boys)

If you say not..then chances are you have not had a fresh one!  Just try Summer's most famous dessert and you will be a fan for life.

Up next is one that actually hurts my heart.

My mom used to make this for me during summer parties and again, sharing was tough for me.  It is by far one of my most favorite desserts ever created and now I pass the Fruit Pizza torch to you...enjoy and you're welcome!

The crust is made from Sugar Cookie dough...ding!  The fresh summer fruits are coated in a zesty citrus glaze...ding ding!  And they sit atop a ridiculous sweet cream-cheesy filling!  DING DING DING!!!

Here is the recipe...take care of it!  (tear)

Hello Pineapples!  We super heart you too!  Why do you have to go??!?!??!!

Well, before you do we will make an amazing Pineapple Sorbet to celebrate your gloriousness...how's that sound?

  Um yum!  We got this one off of one of the cutest sites ever!  Kissmyspatula!

Fresh Pineapple Sorbet
Tweaked from The Perfect Scoop, by David Lebovitz

Ingredients

• 1/2 ripe pineapple, peeled and cored (about 2 cups)
• 8-10 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• small squeeze of fresh lime juice (optional)

Method

Slice the pineapple into chunks and puree in a blender with 8 tbsp of sugar and water until smooth.  Taste, then add up to 2 tablespoons additional sugar, if needed.  If the pineapple is fairly ripe, you should be good to go.  You don’t want to add more sugar than you need or the sorbet will end up tasting far too sweet.

Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Eat right away if you like your sorbet on the softer side.  For an icier treat, leave it in the freezer for 3-4 hours before serving.

Oh...this one would be amazing at your next dinner party!

Yummy yummy in our tummies!!!!!!!!  

Don't feel like baking anything to enjoy the fruits of summer?  Just toss them all into a bowl and eat...easy breasy and unbelievable!!!

P.S. The best thing about Summer Fruits and eating all of these recipes???  The weather is warm enough to just go outside and exercise the desserts away!

P.P.S. Sorry for the late post!  We Labored all day yesterday we broke our brain!

xoxo t.w.h.