Fall is showing it’s true colors here in the Northern Hemisphere, treating us to a season like we have never experienced before. New Zealand’s ‘autumn’ cannot compare – I can only assume that’s due to the abundance of native evergreens there. For Jesse and I, this season is inspiring photo shoots amongst the fallen leaves (to follow), cardigans (for me) and thick socks (for him), and apples laced with aromatic spices.
I met coconut butter recently. I may be a little hooked.
Coconut Butter
Ingredients
1 (350g) bag dried, unsweetened shredded coconut (flaked or dessicated will work too)
Directions
Tip bag of coconut into bowl of food processor. Let whirr for about 8 minutes (or more!), until smooth and almost fluid, scraping down sides occasionally.
Store in a jar in the fridge. Spread on toast, pancakes and muffins.
Note: Don’t try to make small quantities of this. The coconut will stick to the sides of the processor and refuse to ‘butterise’. 300g or more is safe. My first attempt took about 20 minutes and never passed the stage of clumpy. A bit of a disappointment, albeit a tasty one.
Light and Spiced Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Makes 14
Recipe adapted from Cookie & Kate
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 each teaspoon cinnamon, cardamom, ginger
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup natural yoghurt (or just more applesauce)
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk and a dash of lemon juice or vinegar)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil (or vegetable/canola oil)
1/2 cup egg whites (or 1 large egg)
2 small apples, chopped
raw sugar and nutmeg, for sprinkling on top
Directions
- Preheat oven to 380˚F.
- Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin tin with baking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger.
- In a medium bowl combine applesauce, yoghurt, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in your applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist.
- Fold in the chopped apples. Fill muffin cups 2/3 to 3/4 full.
- Sprinkle raw sugar and a light dusting of nutmeg on top of the muffins.
- Bake for 16-18 minutes.
I’m obsessed with coconut butter! I’m glad you like the muffins, I had almost forgotten about those! Perfect for this time of year.
Well, thank you for the recipe and inspiration!
Apples and spice are so quintessentially fall, aren’t they? I totally glossed over the coconut butter the first time you mentioned it, but oh my gosh do I ever need to try it now!!
I totally glossed over the first time I heard it too – then I learnt about the nutritional benefits of coconut in the diet, AND tasted some really good stuff. Totally hooked now.
That’s gorgeous! I’m loving my apples at the moment – my one small tree produces so many! What cute little muffins 😀
So lucky to have an apple tree! I used to have access to one and loved having applesauce on hand. Some were cute little ones and some were giant, Texas muffin ones – even better!
Plant one! They mature really quickly!
I am yet to see a fruit tree – or any tree other than the spindly northern birchwood – survive up here!
Hey Christina, thanks for your comment on my blog – just got it now – so happy to see your lovely blog. Can’t wait to check it out! How neat that you live in the northwest territories – must be a change from New Zealand (I have been there – such a beautiful country). I’ve also been to Yellowknife – in the summer 😉 You must find the Canadian winter hard?! I do and Im from here lol.
It is indeed a change from New Zealand, which is exactly why we came – to experience something new! We have yet to experience a winter, and yes, we may find it hard but perhaps the novelty of it will alleviate any difficulties! I am looking forward to your raw peach pudding – will have to be canned peaches for now, but can’t wait to give it a go – peaches and coconut?!