A is for apple and absolution

I woke up today dreaming of baked apples.  Well, actually I dreamt of grey hairs, heart attacks and baked apples (in that order).  Strange, I know, but it all sort of makes sense if you know the back story.

This year has been a tough one for me on my path to good health.  I have been on this journey for nearly three years and have done incredibly well up until the beginning on 2011.  I have managed to get my fasting glucose down 10 points (well out of the danger zone - yay me!) and my joint aches and pains had disappeared.  My dark circles had (mostly) vanished and my skin was looking pretty darned good for a 40-something Mama of two.  Then I fell off the wagon about this time last year and when I fell, I fell off hard.

I have been thinking a lot about my general health and well being for about six weeks or so.  In addition to falling off the healthy eating wagon last year, I suffered from some low level depression that most definitely part of the reason for the fall.  I have emerged (mostly) from the depression but still fully immersed in the old eating habits.  As a result, the joint aches and pains are back, my dark circles are frightening and I am struggling to get into the dress pants that I bought last Christmas.  Add that to the grey hairs that I can hardly seem to keep at bay, the cold that was making my chest itchy and sore and then the dream starts to make sense.

So this morning, after about six weeks of contemplation, I have decided that I need to forgive myself for the last year and move on.  I am a work in progress after all, right?  I could continue to wallow in the pity that was 2011 but that won't make me better.  I just have to face the consequences and move forward.  Apparently that is where the apples come in (I think anyway).

So, since I woke up renewed AND dreaming of baked apples, it was baked apples for breakfast this morning.  While the apples were baking, I made a quick batch of low sugar granola and served that over the top.  Number One Son and I loved this but Number Two was only so-so on it (to be fair, he hates apple peels).  Note that I baked the apples with just a touch of maple syrup which increases the sugar by 3 gr per serving to an already fairly sugary dish (the apples are full of natural sugar but it is natural so I am going with it).  You could omit this and I am sure these would still taste fantastic.  I am going to try that later in the week and report back.  In the meantime, if you are wanting to start your new year off with a virtuous meal, this might be just the one.

Enjoy!

Baked Apples with Granola (serves 2)

2 apples, cored and cut in half
2 t maple syrup
2 T low sugar granola

Preheat oven to 350.  Places cored apples, cut side up, in baking dish.  Drizzle with maple syrup.  Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes or until soft.  Top with granola and serve warm.