Healthy Apples at New Year (From Times Series)
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Denise Phillips is a renowned chef, food columnist and the author of four cook books. She runs regular and popular 'hands on' cookery classes, as well as Date On A Plate, a cookery class and dinner party for singles. For more information on Denise, visit www.jewishcookery.com or telephone 01923 836 456. |
Healthy Apples at New Year
9:54am Tuesday 7th September 2010
Wednesday night, 8th September, marks the start of the celebration of the Jewish New Year.
The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycle and therefore does not directly link to our secular January – December calendar.
In addition, the start point of the calendar is somewhat older than the regular calendar, going back to the perceived time of creation, so this year will be the year 5771.
Most Jewish festivals are associated with particular foods or recipes that symbolise the purpose behind the festival itself.
One of the most important traditions at New Year is the dipping of apples into honey as it expresses our desire for the forthcoming year to be sweet and healthy.
However this particular tradition also has some strong nutritional benefits, that were probably not anticipated by our Rabbis all those years ago?
Apples are a good source of soluble fibre, especially pectin which helps control insulin levels and slows the release of sugar in to the blood stream.
They also contain complex carbohydrates, which give you a more sustained energy boost than foods that are highly processed, or foods that are high in sugar.
In addition, apples contain antioxidants that help to combat the effects of bad LDL cholesterol, which in turn help to prevent heart disease.
In recent times it has been revealed that the skin of an apple contains 4mg of an anti-oxidant called quercetin. This is a compound that prevents oxygen molecules from damaging individual cells.
This can prevent cell changes that can lead to cancer. A Finnish study concluded that men who had the highest intake of quercetin lowered their risk of heart disease by 20%.
This compound has also been shown to inhibit the growth of tumours and keep cancer cells from spreading.
As well as being full of goodness, apples contain no sodium, no fat and no cholesterol. So for all these reasons, eating an apple a day, throughout the year, should indeed contribute to a healthy body and life.
To all my readers ~ L’shana Tova ~ Happy New Year and may you enjoy a sweet year ahead full of good health!
Below is one of my healthy apple recipes.
I have used Orange blossom honey which is my favourite; this honey has exceptional taste and is great used in tea, spread on breads or biscuits and however you choose to use it; a great all round honey!
Orange blossom honey is often a combination of citrus sources, usually light in colour and mild in flavour with a fresh scent and light citrus taste. Orange blossom honey is produced in Florida, Southern California and parts of Texas.
HONEY APPLE CAKE
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 8- 10 people
Will Freeze
Ingredients
340g Orange Blossom honey
60ml Apple juice
1 large orange – zest and juice
4 large eggs
60ml Vegetable oil
120ml Strong coffee
200g plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons Baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
100g raisins 2 apples – peeled and roughly chopped
Method
1) Grease and line a 25 cm/ 10 inch round cake tin with baking parchment paper.
2) Pre-heat the oven to 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas mark 4.
3) Whisk together the honey, apple juice, zest and juice of 1 orange, vegetable oil, coffee and eggs.
4) Place all the dry ingredients; the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a separate bowl and then gradually add to the wet ingredients.
5) Stir in the chopped apple and raisins.
6) Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until set in the centre.
To serve the stylish way: Invert the cake on to a plate and dust with icing sugar.
Honey and Apple cake
