Will Run For Cinnamon Date Apples and Dumplings

breakfast or dessert?

1/2 marathon slacking training for Sudbury Rocks has officially begun.  In order to reduce the chances of getting run over by a bus or a snow machine (our sidewalks have been replaced with mountains of snow and apparently snow machine trails) PB and I decided to run inside instead.  I got to experience extreme treadmill running when Hank decided that he wanted to join me on the treadmill (twice) as I was rocking out to Beyonce videos (don't judge.  It wasn't like I was watching American Idol.  PB.).

Who?  Me?  I couldn't possibly have launched myself at the treadmill.

Hank & I both survived the treadmill.  We decided to celebrate with apples and dumplings (or just apples in Hank's case).

Apples and Dumplings

Apples

6 C of Macintosh apples (peeled, cored & sliced)

1/4 C diced dates

1/3 C apple juice

1 T cornstarch

1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cardamom

 seeds from 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp of vanilla extract

Dumplings

1/2 C wholewheat pastry flour

1/4 C all purpose flour

1 T sugar 

1/2 tsp baking power

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/3 C + 1 T soy milk soured with 1/2 tsp lemon jice

1 T melted coconut Earth Balance (or butter or margarine)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.  Combine apples, dates, apple juice, cornstarch, vanilla seeds, and grated ginger in a casserole dish.  Bake for 15 minutes uncovered.

you could just stop here and eat the apples

2.  While waiting impatiently for the apples to cook in a small bowl combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and soda.  Stir in soy milk and melted Earth Balance.  Dough should be sticky.

dumplings ready for the oven

3.  Remove casserole dish from oven.  Spoon heaping tablespoons of dough over apples. Cover with lid, foil or a silicone baking mat and cook for approximately 15 minutes. 

4.  Serve with apple cinnamon dip, greek yogurt or ice-cream.

5.  Enjoy having your furry running partner lay on your feet as you sit at the computer.