A Healthier Twist on Apple Crisp

Just over a week before my son Silas was born, I ventured to my Aunt Martha’s farm in Katonah, New York to go apple picking with Wei and her daughter Rose.  It was one of the last balmy days of summer and we found ourselves dreaming of the crisp autumn days that have since arrived.

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A Healthier Twist on Rhubarb Crisp

Every summer when I was growing up, I would eagerly await the first bite of my mother’s delicious rhubarb crisp.  Within hours of picking the vibrant red stalks from my aunt’s garden, she would transform them into this slightly tart seasonal treat. We’d enjoy it for dessert alongside vanilla ice cream or even by itself as a special breakfast delight.

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Dense & Nutritious Banana Bread

I was at the grocery store the other day and noticed that they were selling dozens of very ripe bananas.  This sparked my desire to try and create a healthier yet dense version of banana bread.  After some experimenting, I was really satisfied with the following recipe and wanted to share it with you.  It uses a combination of nutritious barley and protein-rich almond flour.  Barley is is a low-glycemic grain that’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, as well as hearty amounts soluble and insoluble fiber.

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Blueberry Barley Muffins

I first fell in love with barley flour in 2005 when my mother and I visited Ladakh, a north Indian state nestled between the Kunlun mountain range and the main Great Himalayas.  During our week-long stay, we were fortunate to meet a very kind taxi driver named Dorje.  On our final day, Dorje brought us to the small village where he and his family lived.  It was late September, which meant it was time to prepare for the long, harsh winter ahead.  Dorje’s family was busy harvesting the region’s staple crop – an ancient form of domesticated barley which is used to make tsampa, or roasted barley flour. 

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