50


Apple of your eye


Heart health begins with local food


It’s no coincidence that February is not only apple month, but also heart health month, and apples are a good addition to a heart-healthy diet.


Jude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVES


As well, they are locally grown in BC,


so by purchasing apples you’re supporting your neighbours and not buying food that’s been shipped half- way around the world, at a high cost in fuel use and energy waste. It’s also the month when we can


enjoy something special with those we love by celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14. Heart shapes are a classic way to signal ‘I Love You,’ whether the shape shows up in lipstick on the bathroom mirror, a crude crayon drawing from your youngster, a cake or cookie or is in the dust on your car. Seems to me that cookies are one of the best ways to form that heart shape, and for me, they’d have to be chocolate ones, but I also love the homey flavour of spice cookies or gingerbread ones, and both make perfect doughs to roll out and cut into heart shapes of whatever size you wish. Heck, I’ve even cut a slice of bread into a heart shape, with a smaller heart cut out of the middle in which to crack an egg for breakfast. Both then are fried in the pan with a dab of butter. It’s a fun way to begin Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.


Apples are a good source of dietary fibre, which helps to


reduce cholesterol, plus they contain antioxidants and phytonutrients and they’re great fist food, so easy to enjoy, and contain no salt or fat. Apples not only make a good snack, but can also be stewed


or even fried for breakfast; cut into salads or chopped into pita bread with cheese or peanut butter for lunch; or served alongside pork or other meats for dinner, either sauced or made into a compote with ginger. Naturally, they're excellent in all kinds of desserts and other sweets, too. Now that you’ve resolved to include more apples in your


everyday diet, think about being a bit more active as well. You don’t have to climb Mt. Everest to satisfy your body’s need for activity. Even a half-hour walk a day is better than sitting in your chair or on the couch for the whole day. Anything more than that is even better. Oh, and take your sweetie with you, so you’ll both be healthier and happier.


Sign up for FREE toda


WEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATES


countrylifeinbc.comcoun


YOUR Helping You


oday. Old-fashioned flapjacks made better with apples (and slices of bacon). JUDIE STEEVES PHOTO APPLE SLAPS OR FRITTERS


These are crispy little shapes with hearts of soft, sweet apple, delicious with a slice of bacon for breakfast or with pork for supper. This recipe, although adapted some, came in a little book with my Findlay Oval wood cook stove many decades ago.


1/3 c. (75 ml) whole wheat flour 1 tsp. (5 ml) baking soda 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) salt 1 egg


3-4 apples


• Mix flours, soda, cinnamon and salt. • Core apples, and peel if you wish, then cut into about four or five shapes each. Normally I just slice them into rings, but for Valentine’s Day, I used a cookie cutter to make heart shapes.


• Beat egg and stir into flour mixture with milk and oil until dry ingredients are just moistened. • Heat frypan over medium-high heat and add enough butter for sizzle before dipping each piece of apple in the batter and frying until brown. Turn over and brown well before removing and serving.


• Repeat, adding butter to the pan as needed, and browning all the shapes, and using all the batter.


ICEBOX SPICE COOKIES


These are warm and mellow and taste like home. They’re perfect for keeping in the freezer or fridge until the grandkids come over, then liberate the roll, slice them up and present fresh-from-the-oven cookies to your favourite people.


1 c. (250 ml) butter or margarine 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) baking soda


1/2 tsp. (2 ml) ground cardamom 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) ground ginger 1/8 tsp. (.5 ml) ground cloves 1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla


1 c. (250 ml) whole wheat flour


• Preheat oven to 375° F. • Cream butter or margarine (not soft margarine), then add sugar, baking soda and spices and beat until thoroughly combined.


• Add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated. • Add flour gradually and beat for as long as you can use the electric beater, then use a spoon to add the remainder and mix well.


• Shape into two cookie-sized rolls (if cutting in heart shapes, be sure the rolls are large enough for your cutter) and wrap in wax paper.


• Chill until easy to handle, an hour or so, then slice into rounds. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make each into a heart, then gently gather up the remaining bits of dough and roll out to cut out the rest of the heart shapes.


• Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375° F for about 10 minutes. • Cool on a wire rack. • You could keep a roll in the freezer, then thaw in the fridge before making cookies. A roll can be kept in the refrigerator for several days.


1 c. (250 ml) brown sugar 1/4 tsp. (1 ml) salt


1/2 tsp. (3 ml) cinnamon 1/4 tsp. (1 ml) nutmeg 1 egg


1 1/2 c. (375 ml) white flour


1/4 c. (60ml) white flour 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) cinnamon 1/2 c. (125 ml) milk 1 tbsp. (30 ml) oil


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • FEBRUARY 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52