Butternut-Apple Soup

We've all heard that old saying that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", but eating an apple by itself is just so blah. Apples by themselves just don't do it for me. But recently I came across a recipe for butternut-apple soup and I thought, apples in soup?! Well that's just crazy! But what an interesting twist on a fall classic. I LOVE butternut squash soup (and anything with butternut squash really) but have never tried to make it myself before. So I thought what better way to start than with this extra-special apple version? I couldn't wait to see (or taste, rather) how the apples would affect it, now after having tried it I think that all butternut squash soup should include apples!

Adapted from this recipe, my soup consists of...
- butternut squash
- granny smith apples
- light cream (you could also try a non-dairy cream substitute if you are so inclined)
- water
- curry powder
- chipotle powder
- ginger
- salt
- pepper
- cinnamon
- chives

How to make it:
1. Cut up your butternut squash and apples into small chunks.
2. In a big pot, bring about 2 1/2 cups butternut squash, 1 3/4 cups apple chunks and about 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Then turn heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Put squash and apple mixture into a blender and puree.
4. Add in 1/2 tablespoon of curry, a pinch of chipotle, 1 teaspoon of ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and 3/4 cup of cream and blend together.
5. Finish it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon and some chives.

A variation:
Instead of chives, try topping off your soup with a sprinkle of goat cheese!

1 tablespoon of mild sweet curry powder
¼ teaspoon of ground chipotle powder (optional)
2-3 teaspoons pureed organic ginger in a jar (or fresh finely zested with a microplane)
Pinch of ground clove
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1½ cups (350 ML) unsweetened almond and cashew MimicCreme  (see their website for stores or buy online at this link)
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives (optional garnish) - See more at: http://afoodcentriclife.com/healthy-butternut-apple-soup/#sthash.H97GHnbJ.dpuf

Pesto and Arugula-Apple Salad Pizza

This is a bit of a different spin on what we would traditionally think of as pizza but it is equally (if not even more) delicious! Not being a fan of anything tomato, I definitely prefer the pesto to traditional tomato sauce, and covering it in a fresh, healthy salad rather than smothering it with cheese is a sweet and refreshing change. It makes the perfect light meal and can be ready in 15 minutes or less. I wish I had thought of this sooner!

Inspired by this recipe, my own version consists of...
- pita bread (I used whole wheat) or any other form of pizza crust
- pesto sauce
- goat cheese
- baby arugula
- red onion
- pecans
- apple slices
- balsamic vinaigrette dressing

How to make it:
1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and place your crust on a baking sheet (I used a pita but you could also use naan bread or traditional pizza crust).
2. Cover your crust with pesto sauce leaving however much crust you want. Use as much or as little as you like, trying to distribute it evenly.
3. Sprinkle pizza with a little bit of goat cheese and baby arugula.
4. Slice up your apple and red onion, and add to your pizza with some pecan bits.
5. Finish with another light sprinkling of goat cheese and bake in the oven for about 8 minutes.
6. Remove your pizza from the oven and drizzle with a little balsamic vinaigrette.

Apple and Brie Sammies

If you're anything like me, sometimes your brain confuses boredom with hunger, which can lead to mindless eating. Sometimes you pick up a bag of chips, sit down on the couch in front of the TV, and before you know it the bag is empty, leaving you wondering how you ate so much without even realizing, and leaving you feeling guilty. And then you think to yourself, maybe I should have picked a healthier snack. So here is a healthy and tasty snack idea for you all, inspired by a recipe that I found on (yes, you guessed it) Pinterest- which can be viewed here.

Brie is not only one of my favourite cheeses, but it is also so versatile! It seems to complement so many other foods and can be deliciously incorporated into so many different dishes. And these little bite-sized sammies are no exception! Eat as a snack or serve as an appetizer! They consist of...
- an apple (I find it tastes best with granny smiths)
- brie cheese
- pecans
- honey

How to make it:
1. Slice up your apple, and then cut each slice in half so that you have 2 (almost) symmetrical pieces.
2. Cut up some tiny brie slices, and sandwich them between 2 halves of the apple slices- I like to put the brie in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds, just to get it warm and a little melty to make the sammies stick together better.
3. Top each sammie with a pecan, and a little drizzle of honey.

A Variation:
Try using peanut butter instead of brie for more protein!