Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

We are gearing up for our 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event on November 17! Chefs from our favorite local spots are bringing their amazing gingerbread creations to The Wellness Community. Last year, folks had a blast taking in each unique and awe-inspiring house. This is also a fun event for kids, who will get to make their own gingerbread houses to take home (reservation required; call 805.379.4777). And be sure to enter the Opportunity Drawing to take home a chef-built house.

In anticipation of the Gingerbread House Event we bring you a healthy and scrumptious recipe from the Wellness Kitchen at the California Health and Longevity Institute, Four Seasons Westlake Village. (Their gingerbread house from last year is pictured.) Bon Appetit, and we'll see you on November 15!

Apple Cranberry Crisp


2 pounds (about 6) of Granny Smith or Pippin apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

½ cup dried cranberries

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. flour

1¼ tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. orange zest

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. Toss apple slices with remaining ingredients in baking dish.

3. Sprinkle oat topping over apples (recipe below).

4. Bake for 30 minutes, until topping is brown and crisp.

5. Serve warm with lite whipped topping or lite ice cream.

TOPPING

1 cup of rolled oats

½ cup of brown sugar

½ cup of flour (can use ¼ cup of whole wheat plus ¼ cup of white flour)

½ cup no trans fat margarine.

1 tsp. of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with fingers until crumbly.

Serves: 8

Calories per serving: 250

Calorie equivalent: 1 carbohydrate, 1 fruit, 1.5 fats