Healthy Snacks: Part 1

Hi everyone!

Sorry I've been MIA from the blog world. I'll spare you the details but long story short my laptop was stolen out of my car. But no pity party wanted here, you live and you learn!

Lately I've been experimenting with a lot of fun recipes that are healthy and also taste good! Today's post I begin to share just two of my healthy snacks. Don't worry though, there are many more to come! 

If you're anything like me, you love a good snack. And if you're also anything like me, you know that snacks can include excess sugar and fat. I find myself often searching the internet for easy and yummy snack ideas. Although I've found many, I wanted something made from scratch. This is going to be first of many healthy snack posts with recipes from moi! 

For a sweet tooth, this recipe is a life saver. But this is also a great recipe for kids, adults and an altered version makes an amazing homemade baby applesauce ( one of my best friend's unborn baby was in mind for that one ). 

**This recipe does require a dehydrator. I bought one this past Christmas and it's been amazing! Homemade beef jerky, dried fruits, veggies and other tasty treats. For anyone that plans on making their own dried snacks regularly it is highly recommended. There are great deals on amazon, eBay and most home stores.

 

Homemade fruit leather

Ingredients for Applesauce/ fruit leather

• 4-6 apples of your choice ( I used gala)
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon 
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• lemon juice

These ingredients alone can make a delicious applesauce. For a baby food apple sauce use organic apples and puree in a blender or food processor.

For the fruit leather, refer back to all ingredients listed. Peel each apple and puree everything together. Spread evenly onto the fruit leather dehydrating sheet ( this comes with most dehydrators). 

It is usually best to do this in the afternoon because it takes about 12 hours to go from applesauce to fruit leather. This way, you can go to sleep and enjoy your fruit leather as an early afternoon snack the next day. 

Homemade Apple "Chips" 

• 4-6 apples of choice

• lemon juice ( if desired) 

Slice each apple through the core ( about half an inch thick) so each slice has a piece of the core in the middle. If you have an apple corer use this before hand. If not, just cut out each center before placing each slice in the dehydrator. 

You can cover each slice with lemon juice for a little tang. Most of the zip from the lemon juice disappears once dehydrated and leaves a sweet taste that compliments the natural apple flavor.

Allow the apple slices to dehydrate for 10-12 hours. Both the fruit leather ingredients and the apple slices can be dehydrated at the same time. This allows you to make one snack two different ways!

Check the apple chips after 10 hours and once they are light and airy they are ready to eat! Check the fruit leather after 10 hours also. Mine took about 12 hours but to be safe, always check it at 10 hours. 

Once they are done, enjoy! These both last for weeks if sealed in am air tight container or zip lock bag.

Check back soon for more CT Green Gal updates. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment !

xo-

Christina