Apple Date Crumble

One of my favorite things, no matter the season, is walking into a house that smells like cinnamon.  It makes me feel so cozy and content.  I use cinnamon in my cooking and baking all year long.  Cinnamon is awesome.  It is anti-inflammatory, has tons of antioxidants, helps lower blood sugar levels, and so much more.

This recipe is great because it is a sweet and scrumptious dessert that relies solely on fruit for the sweetness.  Disdain for sugar is nothing new, but just in case you would like a little summary, these are some reasons why I have cut nearly all sugar from our diet:

1. Sugar is a lot of calories with zero nutritional value.  This is why you will hear it referred to as "empty calories."

2. An overload of sugar can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can lead to many diseases.

3. Sugar is super addictive!  It causes a huge dopamine release, leaving your body craving more.  I don't want to be addicted to anything, and sugar is one of those sneaky things that is hard to tell how addicted you are until you cut it out completely.

4. Sugar is a huge contributor to obesity.

5. Sugar consumption increases your risk for heart disease.

(References at bottom of page)

This is just a handful of the reasons we have cut most sugar from our lives.  In all honesty, we still sometimes get our kids ice cream cones, we eat cake at people's birthday parties, we use chocolate chips in our cookies.  We use honey and maple syrup, which some even have arguments against those.  We have just taken steps so that, especially when we are home, we consume very little sugar.  I, especially, don't want my body addicted to anything.  It is a warning sign to me that something in my life is off if I am getting satisfaction and comfort from particular foods.  Sugar just all too easily can become a source of happiness, excitement, or numbing tool for negative emotions.  If you think you might be addicted to sugar, I would highly recommend the Whole30 program.  I learned so much from it.

Apple Date Crumble

35 min, serves 4-6

Ingredients:

·      2 apples, chopped

·      6 dates, pitted and chopped

·      ½ t cinnamon

·      ¼ t nutmeg

·      ¼ t salt

·      ¼ c walnuts, chopped

·      2 T coconut oil, melted

·      ½ t cinnamon

·      1 T maple syrup

·      1 T nut butter (I used cashew butter)

·      3 T coconut flour

For glaze:

·      1 T cashew butter

·      3 T full fat coconut milk

Directions:

1.     Heat oven to 350 F

2.     Spread apples and dates in oven safe skillet

3.     Sprinkle on ½ t cinnamon, salt, & nutmeg and stir to coat

4.     Melt coconut oil in small bowl.  Stir in walnuts, ½ t cinnamon, syrup, nut butter, and coconut flour.

5.      Spread the oil mixture on top of the apples & dates

6.     Bake for 25 min, or until top is getting golden brown edges

7.     Mix cashew butter & coconut milk in small bowl.

8.     Once skillet dish has cooled partially or all the way, drizzle the cashew coconut cream on top.

References:

https://authoritynutrition.com/10-disturbing-reasons-why-sugar-is-bad/

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-too-much-added-sugar-increases-the-risk-of-dying-with-heart-disease-201402067021