These baked apple crisp rings made with almond meal are a healthier version of the classic dessert. Top with vanilla ice cream for a delicious treat.
Being on the road for the past few days has really made me disturbingly aware of how much I keep myself in a bubble when I’m at home. We have no cable and my internet awareness is whatever I read on twitter, facebook or blogs, all content that I control by the people I choose to follow. God, that makes me sound lame.
There are many things I like about fall.
In fact, my decision to move back north when we lived in Florida was about 95% due to me *thinking* I missed the change in seasons, apple cider donuts and pumpkin picking in a real patch while not 90 degrees outside.
However, there are two major downfalls of the season.
Football and politics.
For my thoughts on football, see this post on edamame dip – it’s a little intense.
My thoughts on politics? Glad you asked.
Short story…I cannot stand them. Or at least what they’ve become in this country.
Longer story…The hoopla, and yes, that’s an appropriate word because nothing concrete ever actually gets discussed, drives me nuts.
We turn conventions into freakin’ spectacles where news reporters comment on the dress of the first lady or other stupid trivial things rather than actual issues, we listen to politician after politician say absolutely nothing of substance and instead deliver 1 liners that will bring the already incredibly biased audience in attendance to their feet, clapping every other minute so we can pause, wait for the ruckus to die down and then listen to the next 1 liner and we listen to commercials that attack the opposite party about their past and marital relations rather than state what they actually stand for.
It.is.ridiculous.
My parents think because of my lack of interest in all this I’m a naïve, liberal (I’m not liberal, but they’re about as Fox News slanted as it gets) youngin’ that is living in some blogging la-la land.
Part of that may be true at times, but naïve I am not.
In truth, I honestly just think this country is so far broken in many of it’s policies and “systems” that it’s beyond fixing. Well let me rephrase that, it’s beyond fixing because the way our electoral system is set up, the American public will never elect a person who is capable of actually making real change.
I do believe those people exist, they just don’t make it on the ticket and even if they did, I don’t believe we have the balls to “hire” them for 4 years. We’re a country that wants everything and yet for the most part, aren’t willing to put in the effort or sacrifice anything so change will never actually happen.
So when I’m forced to listen to and watch pathetically shallow recaps of the democratic convention while eating breakfast at the hotel, getting coffee in line at Starbucks and even when discussing deferred maintenance on a college campus, it makes me want to scream and go back to my bubble.
A bubble that happily includes apple crisp rings.
Because to me, that’s way more interesting and attention worthy than critiquing Michelle Obama’s attire or speculating on why Bill & Hillary are still married.
Baked Almond Apple Crisp Rings
Ingredients
- 1 large apple, cored and sliced into rings
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- vanilla ice cream & maple syrup for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Pour coconut oil into small shallow dish.
- Mix almond meal, cinnamon and nutmeg together in another shallow dish.
- Coat each apple slice in the coconut oil then dip in the almond meal mixture on both sides. Place on wire rack on top of baking sheet.
- Repeat with remaining apple slices.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes then carefully flip each slice and bake for another 5-7 minutes.
- Turn oven to hi-broil and finish baking for an additional 3-5 minutes with the door slightly ajar.
- Stack on a plate and enjoy warm topped with vanilla ice cream and maple syrup if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I can totally relate to this – I would totally rather eat apple rings than talk politics. My parents are as “Fox News slanted” as they come as well (I love that terminology) and I am definitely not. ANd I also hate talking about it to anyone except myself. Let’s just power through election season with some apples. For sure.
Haha – I hear ya on the politics. If I had been forced to watch much of the convention shenanigans, I’d scream too. All these slanted (okay okay… lying) advertisements with candidates slamming each other are driving me bonkers.
Yep, those look awesome! Thanks for all the great Paleo stuff lately :)
ugh i hate politics. HATE them.
so, bubble with apple rings it is! i’ll join you there :)
they look so good and I can only imagine how good they smelled!
If it doesnt have to do with Bravo Tv, food network, or blogs, I really don’t know what’s going on and I kinda like it that way :)
Oh heck yes.
I am ridiculously excited for apple season (I am a Washingtonian!), and I can’t wait to try these! Beautiful photography, as usual (you are my hero). And I am with you on football and politics. I am quite happy keeping my head in the sand as all the political mayhem takes place. I’ll pull it out just in time to vote.
Those look freaking fantastic. Also, now I really want an apple cider donut.
Gina, you always make me laugh! I used to get so annoyed with politics. I thought that it didn’t matter who was elected because they couldn’t actually make a difference. To some extent I do still believe that because it’s almost impossible to get anything done in Washington when people are trying to get their side to “win” rather than figuring out what will really work.
However, now that I’ve seen certain policies effect my life and my friend’s lives and businesses, I have become quite passionate about it. I keep it to myself (as much as I can) because I agree, no one is having their opinion swayed by an angry political facebook status update.
I’m hoping I kept this whole statement vague enough that no one can tell what side I’m arguing. Last thing I want is to get into a political scuffle on the internet. :)
Apple crisps look amazing by the way!
I have no idea which way you “swing” after reading that. Good job ;)
This recipe is absolutely brilliant and I cannot wait to go apple picking so I can make this. YUM!
And I hear ya on all the political stuff. On one hand, I am happy to see people taking interest and wanting for a better tomorrow and keeping up with what is going on around them and the other hand, I am with you and I am just not sure how much of this stuff even matters. I, for one, would much rather spend my days working my a$$ off to ensure a better tomorrow for myself, no matter what goes on in the government. Because I know no matter who is elected, the only one that has my best interests at heart at all times, is ME!