Recipe: Apple Betty Bites

I feel as summer gives way to fall, there is a monthly order to my food. September is for apples and candy corn! It's a natural progression! Next month, I will consume more pumpkin and pumpkin spice than any one human should be allowed.

I know, you're rolling your eyes. But, I bet you have an order for preferred special delights. 

Momma, known as "Granny" to our son, recently moved to Tennessee to share our home, which makes for cooking magic! Yesterday, we celebrated the arrival of autumn in name only, because it's still 93-freaking degrees, and mixed up some snack bites using her favorite apple, the Granny Smith. 

APPLE BETTY BITES
(or Apple Pie Bites or Granny's Granny Smith Bites)

1 1/2 cups Old Fashioned Oats (...not quick-cooking)
3/4 cup Nut Butter (We used creamy peanut butter.)
3/4 to 1 cup Granny Smith Apple, grated
1/2 cup Nuts, finely chopped (We chose walnuts, because the other option was almonds)
1/2 cup Flax Seed (We used the whole seed instead of ground, because ground tends to suck the moisture right of nut butters.)
1/3-ish cup Louisiana Honey (Momma brought some with her.)
2 tablespoons Chia Seeds (...because I love the little "pop" when you bite into them.)
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (I imagine freshly scraped vanilla seeds would taste amazing!)
1/2 - 3/4-ish teaspoon Cinnamon, to taste

• Shred or grate the apple using a box grater. One apple didn't warrant me pulling out the food processor. Know what I mean?
• Using a spatula or a mixer, stir all ingredients together until completely combined.
• Your choice, cover and chill for, at least, 30 minutes -OR- skip to next step...
• Using a 1" scoop is much faster and less messy than rolling each 1" ball between your hands. As you scoop, release onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet and transfer to either the fridge or freezer.
• Once chilled or frozen, store in airtight container, separating each layer of bites with parchment.
• Yes, parchment paper was invented by God.
• Great to pop into your mouth when you need a little something or a little energy!

Tips:

• Use your choice of nut butter, keeping in mind some butters are drier than others requiring more honey.
• Speaking of honey... to make these little bites plant-based, use Agave! We did not have enough Agave for this recipe; thus, the honey from Louisiana.
• You could totally dust the top of the bites with cinnamon prior to chilling or freezing!

Go play with your food! Then, let me know how your bites turned out or how you changed up the recipe!

---"Sam"

My Day at Apple

Too slowly do I catch-on my hostess, Shirley, has set a course toward 1 Infinite Loop. Apple. Once realized I exclaim that I will be the envy of many at my church who are the Apple Loyal.

While waiting in the lobby of Building 6 for our personal tour guide (Pam a 14-year director who is making a difference in the recycling initiative for repurposing old products) the faint fragrance of Macintosh Apples wafting catches my attention. How clever! It seems the ventilation system of each building is infused with the scent. We sign in on the new computer which prints out my name badge permitting entry. I swallow down a shriek of delight. 

It's Monday New Hire Day with a line of hopefuls filing into the atrium of climate-change-variable trees where sets a diorama of the planned "Mothership" to land just down the road in Cupertino. I'm not embarrassed to snap a sacred photo with my outdated iPhone 4.

We walk through guarded double-glass portals to the center garden,hub to all six buildings on the campus of Infinite Loop. Long blades of drought-tolerant grass serve as seating to many idealistic young brains chomping on lunch and surely talking in whatever code idealistic, young brains converse. 

A soulful foodie, my heart leaps with joy over what greets me in the cafeteria, nay, nourishment center of this techie universe! Food stations with enough variety to feed Olympians. I opt for the Mediterranean Whole Bowl from the power foods bar with Baby Spinach, Roasted Chickpeas, Cashew Tzatziki, Toms & Cucs, Almond Hummus and Quinoa! Texture and flavor and happiness!

We settle for a small table shaded from the lovely California sun. Conversation is of answered prayers and of dreams coming to fruition by patience, sweat and hard work. 

Our final stop is to The Company Store. I purchase a couple of branded items side-by-side with Japanese high school students and other fellow loyals.

A couple of quick photos and a hug, later, we retrace our steps through scented facilities and back to the car.

...with my complimentary, crisp apple from lunch!