Skillet Baked Apple "Pie"

Skillet Baked Apple "Pie"

Ask anyone that knows me well, I die for pie. I see pie and my eyes get really big, maybe even my boobs rise into my collarbone and I get a little heated. Almost like that time I was in Italy and Tony the Bello of Sorrento walked up to me on the beach while I was eating a loaf of bread in my bathing suit - and then proceeded to ask me out. Pie can last at least a week, while time with a hot man can be fleeting. But, trust me, good pie and man memories both last a lifetime.

When it comes to pies and man, make your choices worth it. 

Pie. Ya'll know I'm a health coach who is all about balance. I eat pie. I love pie and so do my thighs. I can also be sorta lazy in the kitchen with the way I cut vegetables, hack them in half and roast them. I call it rustic. So, it's 7:20am, I'm still in the pizza pajamas I put on at 7pm last night and the thought of making a pie crust is ridiculous. Why would I do that when I'm going to see my family in a week and my mom, with her magic spatula, will make me whatever I want on command! 

For the sake of getting through this week of plans, breakfast and a need for a healthy sweet hit of sugar, I prepared a skillet baked apple pie. No crust, no fuss, full flavor and fun to make - this apple "pie" has less to do with health and more to do with function and, like I said, my laziness and not wanting to make a pie crust. I also figured this the best way to use up the 3 apples sitting in the bottom drawer of my fridge as I haven't been hankering for a cold piece of fruit in this chilly weather. 

A skillet baked apple pie is multipurpose and - you'll see - quite easy to make. It can make a wonderful breakfast solo, paired with oatmeal or topped with yogurt. It can make a lovely dessert, topped with fresh whip or vanilla ice cream and a shake of cinnamon. I'll save my real pie for mom and Christmas week sampling.

Do you love pie as much as I do? Now I'm having pie and Tony the Bello fantasies. Yummy.

Happy Sunday Morning! 

XO

Ingredients

• 3 apples, thinly sliced *I used Pink Lady apples, but any will really do
• 2 T. of butter cut into tiny squares
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 2-3 T. maple syrup *or you can sprinkle with cane, coconut or brown sugar between layers 
• Cinnamon
• Toppings of choice *I sprinkled with flax meal and unsweetened coconut 

Method

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Make 1 layer of apples in a small cast iron skillet, dab with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon, drizzle with maple syrup and repeat layer making until all apple slices are used
• Drizzle with all liquids: lemon juice, water and vanilla extract
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until apples turn golden brown and slightly bubbly
• Serve, smile and fantasize!

Notes + Swaps

• No cast iron skillet? Use a pyrex, it'll do the trick! From a pie round to a small square dish. You can even make this in individual ramekins for a holiday party or friends dinner! 
• Don't fancy apples? Maybe you have some lonely pears in the bottom drawer of your fridge, so go on and treat them the same!
• Try it for breakfast, snack or dessert! Mash this up on your oatmeal! Top with plain greek yogurt, a drizzle of maple, some raisins and nuts! Slice up for dessert with whip or vanilla ice cream, cinnamon and nuts!
• Vegan? Swap that butter for Earth Balance or coconut oil, which will only bring out that toasted coconut flavor should you use coconut as your additional topping before/after baking!