Green, golden or red - pick your favorite apple and yes, eating one a day is a healthy plan. One medium apple supplies about 15 percent of a day's worth of vitamin C and is only 80 calories. It’s also a good idea to eat apples with their skin. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases the fiber content.

Apples are plentiful now in farmer's markets and produce departments. You can store them at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for up to six weeks. There is an apple to suit almost everyone's taste, so why not have an apple today!

 

Sweet Potato, Apple

and Walnut Muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole wheat or all purpose flour
1 ½  teaspoons baking powder
1 ½  teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons canola oil
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg white
1(15-ounce can) sweet potatoes (yams), drained and mashed
½ cup fat-free milk
1 ½ cups baking apples, chopped
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

 

            Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, egg, egg white, sweet potatoes, and milk until well mixed.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the sweet potato mixture, stirring just until moist. Do not overmix. Fold in the apples and walnuts.

 Spoon batter into paper-lined or nonstick muffin tins, filling about three-fourths full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in the center. Exchanges: 1 ½ Starch; ½ Fat

 

   Recipe courtesy of the American Diabetes Association.

 

For more information, contact Texas Cooperative Extension-Travis County at 512/854-9600.

 

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