Apple Cakes

I spent the weekend gallivanting through Maine. My mom and I hit up a spin class then my dad took us to our favorite apple orchard in Alfred, Maine. Giles Orchard is a family orchard and their apples are delicious year round. The apples are stored with very little oxygen in a facility in Massachusetts. This actually turns the apples blue until they are returned to normal conditions. When the orchard needs more apples during the winter months the stored apples are shipped up. Therefore, the apples are crunchy and fresh year round. Our favorite type of apple is Cortland. This is multipurpose and great for pies, applesauce, or just to munch on. I also picked up some of their maple syrup and local clover honey.

Of course, I couldn't resist using all these local goodies immediately. First priority was apple pancakes. Lucky for me, Nick is also obsessed with anything apple. I made a whole wheat pancake batter for him with one egg and flax milk rather than cow's milk. I also shaved in one half of a peeled apple. He loved it!

I had difficulty finding a good low protein pancake recipe that did not have cake mix in it. For me, the cake mix does not add enough flavor to justify the added phe. The recipe below contains about 12 mg of phe for the entire recipe. I would guess the phe to be about 50 mg depending on the cake mix used, just for that ingredient. That is not how I prefer to use my phe allotment, especially when my daily goal it between 200 and 400 mg daily.

The cakes turned out light and fluffy, just as I hoped for. The grated apples added a nice texture.

Low Pro Apple Cakes

2/3 cup baking mix of your choice

2 tbs granulated sugar

1 tbs softened butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup flax milk or milk substitute of your choice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 grated, peeled apple

1 tbs oil to fy in

Mix dry ingredients with softened butter until mix is crumbly. I used my KitchenAid with the whisk attachment. Slowly add in flax milk and mix briefly as it will become too dense if you mix too long. Add one half of a grated apple and fold into mix. Pour into an oiled frying pan and cook over medium heat until bubbles start to form. Then, flip and cook briefly on the second side. Serve with desired toppings.

Also, good as a coating for french toast. Modify to add blueberries or chocolate chips.