Easy Living
What a lovely day I’ve had! It’s 8 PM on a Monday evening and I’m relaxed! I don’t remember the last time this happened!?
My afternoon snack held me over pretty well, so I kept dinner light with an “everything-but-the” salad.
In the mix:
- Romaine
- Tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Red pepper
- Artichoke hearts
- Roasted turnip
- Pomegranate arils
- Leftover Nasoya noodles
Dessert
I had some free time tonight, so I got busy in the kitchen! 
A few weeks ago, I received an email from Challenge Dairy, a dairy company in California, asking if I would be interested in participating in a holiday recipe showdown.
The deal was that Challenge Dairy would send me some free goodies, and then I would use those goodies to create a recipe using Challenge Butter in a category they would choose for me. They picked DESSERT for me. Perfect!
Here’s what I came up with…
Cherry-Coconut Baked Apples
Recipe inspired by Martin Breslin
Ingredients:
- 4 large apples (I used Macoun, but just about any would work)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp Challenge Butter
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 2-3 tsp agave nectar
- 1 egg
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove core from each apple.
- Combine all ingredients (minus apples) in a mixing bowl. Blend well.
- Place apples in a lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish.
- Fill center of each apple with mixture.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until apples are tender.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream (optional).
Before:
After:
Amazing baked apples! 
Carrots ‘N’ Cake on FitSugar
A reader emailed to let me know that she saw an article for Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins on FitSugar– and she was happy to see that Carrots ‘N’ Cake was referenced as the inspiration! So cool! I love FitSugar!
Campbell’s Giveaway Winner
Thanks to everyone who entered the Campbell’s Giveaway! There was a crazy number of entries!
Stay tuned for more giveaways this week. There are at least a couple on the agenda!
Here’s your random winner: 265
Congrats to #265! Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name and mailing address.
Melissa (Melissa Likes To Eat) — October 26, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Those baked apples look amazing!! Isn’t a nice feeling to be RELAXED? Enjoy it!
Julie @savvyeats — October 26, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
Ahhh, these apples look so good!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — October 26, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
Baked apples are one of the best things about winter
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — October 26, 2009 @ 8:30 pm
Such a creative recipe, Tina!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries — October 26, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
Mmm I have had WHOLE baked apples in forever–only the half-assed micro chopped ones haha. Baked apples were the first dessert I ever cooked on my own when I was like 10; I was so proud! Yours look more sophisticated than my 10 year old version, of course haha
sian-girlgetstrong — October 26, 2009 @ 8:46 pm
Yummy! that salad looks soooo good..where do you get your seeds from?? so hard to peel those darn pomogranates (or however you spell it) apples look very tasty too! love your site!
Britt — October 26, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Yum baked apples rock! Glad to hear you are relaxed.
Estela @ Weekly Bite — October 26, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
What a great recipe! I love baked apples!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — October 26, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Your muffin recipe looks good, as do those baked apples..my mom used to make those all the time in winter.
Jessie (Vegan-minded) — October 26, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
That salad looks so good. I like the idea of using baked apples for dessert, that way you can indulge in dessert while still being healthy.
Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) — October 26, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
oooh, coconut and apples? some of my favorites!
ellen eats beets — October 26, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
coconut and apple together sounds amzinggggggggggggg
Laura @ Finding A Healthy Balance...after a 100+ POUND weight loss! — October 26, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
Those Baked Apples look amazing, I have never them before! I want to go out and buy some now so I can make them, they will have to wait until the weekend however……..=(
Glad your 1st Day went good! =)
Marissa — October 26, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
I’m very happy that you are so pleased with your new schedule/life. I think so many people are overworked and constantly stressed, and for those of us who like to live healthy lifestyles, that way of life is not healthy at all. I switched careers a couple years ago because I was miserable behind a desk for long hours. Now, I’m a first grade teacher and I’m off by 3:30 everyday. I enjoy my afternoons by working out & cooking healthy dinners. I’m a much happier person now! Congrats to you for making it happen.
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — October 26, 2009 @ 9:35 pm
question – are you using sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
Lizzy — October 26, 2009 @ 9:45 pm
wow i’ve forgotten about baked apples, and yours look awesome!
wonderful!
Jenna — October 26, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
what a great recipe tina! those baked apples look great!!
jenna
Rebecca — October 26, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Your baked apples look amazing!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans — October 26, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
what a way to end a great day! those apples look delicious!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) — October 26, 2009 @ 11:00 pm
Sounds like an awesome dessert, and what a gorgeous presentation!
Mastering Public Health — October 26, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
What a nice and healthy holiday dessert idea. Looking forward to the upcoming giveaways.
Emily Eats and Exercises — October 26, 2009 @ 11:56 pm
Apples look delicious. Do you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
(Actually I was wondering the same thing about your coconut oats…)
Molly @thevegandorm — October 26, 2009 @ 11:56 pm
I love FitSugar too!
Also, after watching your oatmeal tutorial video, I made them your way in the rice cooker. Adding the bananas in before cooking is seriously magical! Thanks Kath!
BroccoliHut — October 27, 2009 @ 12:02 am
Ooh! I am intrigued by the pom/artichoke combo!
Kara — October 27, 2009 @ 12:07 am
I hope those apples taste as good as they look!
Diana — October 27, 2009 @ 3:56 am
That dessert sounds amazing!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) — October 27, 2009 @ 6:54 am
Holy Cow. That dessert looks amazing, and not too bad as far as fat, sugar, and caloric content is concerned.
Artichoke hearts are always an incredible addition to a salad. I feel like they can make an ordinary salad gourmet, any day.
christie @ honoring health — October 27, 2009 @ 7:12 am
I am so happy that you enjoyed your first day of your new job!
That everything but salad looks pretty darn tasty!
Erica — October 27, 2009 @ 7:30 am
So glad you’re enjoying the new job and life! The baked apples look out of this wold! I have been wanting to make up some apples over the last couple weeks and just have not gotten there!
Shannon — October 27, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Baked apples are a favorite of mind. A perfect end to what looks like a pretty perfect day. So glad your first day was so exciting!
Leah — October 27, 2009 @ 7:54 am
I’ve stolen your idea of having a big tasty salad as a meal at least once a day, and it’s really helping me to lose weight and stay full! I’ll talk about it more on my FGW post at the end of the week.
Ashley — October 27, 2009 @ 8:26 am
That baked apple looks delicious! I have to make one tonight. How do you core an apple?
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? — October 27, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Love Fitsugar too! In fact it was the first healthy living blog I ever read
.
brandi — October 27, 2009 @ 8:50 am
those baked apples look so good! I wouldn’t have put coconut with baked apples, but it sounds fabulous!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — October 27, 2009 @ 8:54 am
yay for a great first day! your apples look A-MAZING!
Sarah — October 27, 2009 @ 9:12 am
Woo hoo for a relaxed evening
The salad and apples look great too!
Carolyn — October 27, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Those apples look yummy! P.S. I’m giving away a breast cancer awareness Ipod Nano armband case on my blog: http://lovinlosing.com/
Kati — October 27, 2009 @ 10:18 am
You always come up with the best “healther” desserts! I usually have the ingred on hand which is nice
I’ve never made baked apples but now I so want to!
Kati — October 27, 2009 @ 10:19 am
*healthier :>
ahappyhippymom — November 5, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Wow those apples look so yummy! Thanks for sharing!