SCOTT’S NO-SUGAR ADDED, GRAIN FREE, ORGANIC APPLE PIE RECIPE

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Posted Monday, January 25, 2016 at 08:50am EDT

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The impetus for this no-sugar added, grain free, organic apple pie recipe occurred when I started to eliminate added sugar from my diet.  This pie was created to satisfy my craving for dessert.  The only sugar in it is from the apples and cranberries.  This source of sugar is the healthiest because the fiber in the fruit slows the body’s absorption of the sugar to a healthy rate (1). In addition, this recipe is grain free – meaning that no carbohydrates are added that would convert to sugar when they are digested. (2), (3).

Due to some concerns over possible contaminants in processed stevia extract (4), I made two versions of the pie. One was made with Stevia powder extract. The other was made with our own, home grown, organic, ground up stevia leaves. My girlfriend thinks the leaves taste better than the extract because it is less sweet.

The all organic ingredients shown in figure 1 are:

  1. Fuji apples – sliced about 8.5 cups.
  2. Frozen cranberries – 1 cup.
  3. Butter – 1/2 stick.
  4. Ceylon cinnamon – 1 teaspoon.
  5. Vanilla extract – 2 tablespoons.
  6. Now Better Stevia powder extract or ground up organic stevia leaves – to taste.
  7. Strips of mozzarella cheese – to taste.
  8. Small chunks of cheddar cheese to taste.

​​STEP 1.  PLACE SLICED APPLES IN BAKING DISH.

I am using a Pyrex two-quart baking dish 7″ x 11″.

Slice the apples about 1/8″ to 3/16″ inch thick — less than 1/4″ thick.  See figure 2.

STEP 2.  PLACE CRANBERRIES IN MICROWAVE SAFE BOWL, SPRINKLE SLIGHTLY WITH STEVIA, AND MICROWAVE FOR ONE MINUTE.  See figure 3.

After heating, mix cranberries and stevia in the bowl and add mixture to sliced apples.  Combine apples and cranberries.

STEP 3.  SPRINKLE A LITTLE STEVIA OVER THE CRANBERRY APPLE MIXTURE IN THE BAKING DISH.  See figure 4.

STEP 4.  MELT BUTTER WITH CINNAMON AND VANILLA EXTRACT IN SMALL SAUCE PAN ON STOVE.

STEP 5.  POUR MELTED BUTTER MIXTURE EVENLY OVER APPLE MIXTURE IN BAKING DISH.

STEP 6.  PLACE IN PREHEATED OVEN AT 375 DEGREES.

Oven temperatures and cooking times vary.  I am using a convection oven that cooks faster than non-convection ovens.  First, I baked it for 30 minutes and then checked it.  At this point I stirred the mixture to coat all of the apples with the butter mixture in the bottom of the pan and cooked it for 15 minutes more.

STEP 7.  ADD THE CHEESE.

Cut mozzarella into thin strips.

Place the strips of mozzarella over the apple mixture in a lattice pattern so the apple mixture can bubble up between the mozzarella strips.  See figure 5.

ADD A FEW SMALL CHUNKS OF CHEDDAR CHEESE.

See figure 6.

STEP 8.  RETURN DISH TO THE OVEN.

At this point I baked it for 15 minutes, followed by two more ten minute periods.  And finally after five more minutes it was done when everything was a beautiful golden brown.  See figure 7.

​STEP 9.  ADD THE TOPPINGS.

There are two toppings one is a sunflower seed mixture and the other is a mixture of chopped pecans and stevia.

SUNFLOWER SEED TOPPING.

ALL ORGANIC INGREDIANTS.

  1. Sunflower seeds.
  2. Gluten free Tamari soy sauce.
  3. Now Better Stevia.
  4. Garlic powder.
  5. Crushed red pepper flakes.
  6. Vindaloo curry powder.

Spread the seeds out on a plate making a very thin layer.  If the layer is too thick, the seeds will be soggy and not nice and crisp.

Add enough Tamari to lightly coat the seeds and a pinch of the other seasonings.  Mix these ingredients together and spread out a thin layer on the plate.

Heat the seeds in a microwave for two minutes.  Use a spoon to scrape and scoop the seeds to the center of the plate.

See figure 8.​​

Be careful when working with the seeds.  They will be hot enough to burn you when they come out of the microwave, but you have to scrape them off the plate shortly after they come out or they will fuse to the plate.

Next, you have to break up the seed clusters that have formed. Use the individual seeds for the topping.

See figure 9.

PECAN STEVIA TOPPING.

Sprinkle a small amount of stevia onto some chopped pecans and mix.

THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE THIS.

Let the pie sit for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting into it, to let the juices be absorbed back into the pie.

CAUTIONARY NOTES.

  1. Error on the side of using too little stevia and too little cheese rather than too much Stevia or cheese.  When too much stevia is used it will taste bitter – it is not like sugar.
  2. When too much cheese is used, the cheese flavor will overwhelm the dish and detract from the flavor of the fruit.
  3. Not all stevia is the same. The Now Better Stevia powder extract works well in this recipe.

Good luck.

Scott​

References:

  1. Egan, Sophie. “Making the Case for Eating Fruit.” Well. The New York Times, 31 July 2013. Web. 21 January 2016.
  2. “Are Whole Grains Making Us Fat?” THESWEETBEET. THESWEETBEET. 2O March 2011. Web. 21 January 2016.
  3. Roberts, Barbara. “The no Grain Diet.” HealthyEatingonTheRun. Healthy Eating on The Run. n.d. Web. 21 January 2016.
  4. Barthelemy, Jane. “The Toxic Truth About Stevia.” JanesHealthyKitchen. Jane’s Healthy Kitchen. n.d. Web. 21 January 2016.
scott
My interest in natural medicine peaked when I developed diabetes and started to search for a cure. After three years of research and hard work I no longer needed to take diabetic medication.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
BA in psychology from George Washington University.
BS in basic science from the California College of Podiatric Medicine
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the California College of Podiatric Medicine.
CHT – Certified Hypnotherapist.
Candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates.
Election law reform grassroots activist.

INTERESTS:
Nutrition and Health
Spirituality – A personal relationship with God.
Physics.
Freedom and Liberty.

“The best way to get what you want is to help everyone else get what they want.”
Paraphrase of Zig Ziglar Quote.