Food Focus: Apples
In an investigation of 100 antioxidant foods, two kinds of apples ranked 12th and 13th, the Red Delicious and Granny Smith. Antioxidants are disease-fighting compounds. Apple fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
Recipe of the Month: Apple Turnovers
1 8oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
¾ Cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, separated
3 Tablespoons cold water, divided
2 Cups flour
7 Cups thinly sliced peeled apples (about 6)
¾ Cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
In a mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Then separate egg yolk from egg white. Chill the egg white to use later. Beat egg yolk and 2 Tablespoons cold water into cream cheese mixture. Gradually beat in flour until well blended. Shape mixture into a ball and chill 1 hour. This will be the turnover dough.
In saucepan, toss apples with sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until apples are tender. Roll pastry dough to 1/8 in. thickness; cut circles with a biscuit cutter. If you’d like bigger turnovers use a small bowl and cut out around the bowl. Top each circle with a tablespoon or more of apple mixture. Fold pastry over filling and press together with a fork.
In small bowl, whisk egg white and 1 tablespoon water. Brush over pastry and sprinkle with sugar. Place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Serve with ice cream, if desired.
Food Facts:
Apples are loaded with vitamin C. Almost half of an apple’s vitamin C content is just under the skin, so it’s a good idea to eat apples with their skins. Apples are low in calories; 100 g of fresh fruit slices provide only 50 calories. They, however, contain no saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, the fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which helps prevent absorption of dietary-LDL or bad cholesterol in the gut. The fiber also saves the colon mucous membrane from exposure to toxic substances by binding to cancer-causing chemicals inside the colon. Other benefits are:
1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
2. Help to Avoid Alzheimer’s
3. Protect against Parkinson’s
4. Decrease your risk of diabetes
5. Reduce cholesterol
6. Get a healthier heart
And much more. Eat an apple today!
