Apple Pie Quinoa

I love apple season!! What ever apple is in season, I eat one a day (to keep the doctor away). A fun activity to do is to go apple picking. My family's farm (Duffield's Farm) started a hayride to the apple orchards a few years ago and people love it! Just make sure you do not pull too hard or all the apples will fall off!
My sister-in-law and I took the little kid we babysit, Conor, on a hayride to go apple picking. It is so cute to see kids get excited about picking their own fruit and being able to eat it right from the tree. We had a great time and he had a ton of apples to take back to his family.

Conor choosing one that is his height. He is the cutest little farmer I have seen!

Picking some Jersey Golden Delicious 

Conor and I 

Conor and Kylee (my sister-in-law)

I always wanted to make a dessert/breakfast quinoa, I figured I have a ton of apples so why not make apple pie quinoa! 

Apple Pie Quinoa 

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients:

-2 apples

-1 tsp lemon juice

-1 cup apple cider, divided

-1/2 tbsp cinnamon,

-dash nutmeg

-3/4 cup quinoa, rinsed

-Optional additions: dried cranberries, walnuts, raisins, cool whip, yogurt

Directions:

1. Peel and cube apples, sprinkle with lemon juice.

2. In a saucepan, add apples, ½ cup apple cider, ½ tbsp cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg, cover, and heat on high for 5 minutes.

3. Measure out ¾ cup quinoa and rinse before cooking (they have a natural cooking on them that does not taste good!).

4. After the 5 minutes is up or the apples are soft, add quinoa and extra apple cider. Cover, lower heat, and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.

5. Enjoy as a dessert, snack, or breakfast! Add some yogurt or cool whip on top for a bigger treat!

I added dried cranberries...yum!

*Fun Facts About Apples*

-1 medium apple= 80 calories, 25g carbs, 18g sugar

-Good source of fiber (4g) for digestion and keeping you full longer

-Vitamin C to help antioxidant function, boost immune function, and iron absorption.

-B Vitamins for metabolism, energy, fights disease, and fights infection

-Top Source of quercetin: for immune and brain health

-Helps keep teeth white and good for your breath!

-For baking use: Rome, Granny Smith, McIntosh, Braeburn

-Fresh eating: Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Cameo

-In a pie: Rome, Jonagold, Jazz, Honey Crisp

-For sauce: Granny Smith, Jonathan, Golden Delicious, SweeTango 

-When baking, making applesauce, or in a pie I still think a mixture of different apples is the best!

-Apple season: End of July to End of November

-Keep apples fresh by storing in the fridge

-Be careful to store apples separate from other fruits and vegetables because it can ripen other produce quicker than you would like.

-Bake them, add to meat dishes, eat right from the farm, make applesauce, add to oatmeal, dip in peanut butter, and many more ways to enjoy apples!