If I haven’t mentioned this yet, I absolutely love school.
I love not only my program and the people that make it up – but I am absolutely over the moon about the fact that I get to sit in class all day and learn about food and nutrition. So much sometimes, I feel like I need to pinch myself.
My “lab” for food composition consists of getting to experiment with different recipes, bake them, eat them and analyze them. Not so bad huh?
That said, I can’t wait to start incorporating some of the information that I’m learning into these posts. It has seriously taken my baking and cooking to the next level just to understand the science of the different ingredients and what they add not only to the recipes, but to our bodies!
Today, let’s talk about carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are our body’s #1 choice for energy. It will burn fat and it will even burn protein (though it really doesn’t like to) for fuel, but if it had it’s choice, it would burn carbs all day every day.
Why?
Because it can burn them quickly, efficiently and there’s a WHOLE lot of them in our diet!
When there are too few carbohydrates in your body, it’s forced to turn to less efficient sources like fat and protein. If your body starts to use protein for energy, it can lead to loss of muscle mass. Therefore, carbohydrate intake helps to preserve lean muscle mass as well.
And last but not least, glucose from carbohydrates is the only form of fuel that our brains can use. So it’s crucial for all aspects of our cognitive ability including memory, learning and concentration.
So to make a long story even longer? Don’t avoid carbs. Your body needs them!!
And to celebrate glorious carbs as well as the official start of Fall (!!!), I created a Whole Grain Apple Pie Bread recipe.
Whole Grain Apple Pie Bread (based off this recipe)
Makes 1 loaf
Ingredients:
Bread:
- 1/2 cup earth balance, softened (but not melted)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup soymilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 medium apples, peeled and diced
- Apple pie spice to taste (I used about 1 – 1.5 tsp.)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Streusel-Nut Topping:
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons white whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons earth balance
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan; set aside
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer or stand mixer until smooth (about 30 seconds).
- Combine soymilk and vanilla together and add into the mixture.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt – stir well to combine.
- Add dry to wet and mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine diced apples with apple pie spice and mix thoroughly so that all the apple pieces are covered.
- Gently fold apple mixture and chopped nuts into the batter with a spatula.
- Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Bake for 60 – 65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely on a wire rack then wrap and store overnight.
I recommend serving warm and topping with some vanilla Greek yogurt for breakfast or ice cream for dessert!
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Courtney says
OH MY GOD I want to make this!!
Cait says
I thought of you the WHOLE time I made it! It’s SO delicious! I was thinking about how I could cut down on the sugar a little to make it better for you…
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
WOW! This looks and sounds amazing!
…I’d feel like I needed to pinch myself too if I were in your shoes- great to do something you love 🙂
Cait says
Thanks Julie 🙂
Molly @ RDexposed says
Resulting in…gluconeogenesis!
Tip: keep all of your food lab materials. You’ll need to know (possibly, if you get the question) recipe malfunctions for the RD exam. Example: your cake is gummy, what went wrong? too much sugar.
Cait says
Ah – thank you for letting me know!! 🙂
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Apple pie bread sounds fantastic!!!
Cait says
It was! 🙂
Grace says
I love FALL! Squash, yams, apples, pumpkin, spices, other red and orange things…!
& I love school too! Have a great semester!
Cait says
Thanks Grace! 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
this looks amazing!!! And I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying your classes – always makes the classwork so much more bearable when you enjoy it.
Cait says
Agreed!
Haley S says
Ah! What are you going to school for? I’m a Freshman at UGA and that sounds like a DREAM job! I just don’t know what to label it! (:
Cait says
I’m getting a Masters in Human Nutrition and completing DPD course work on the road to become a Registered Dietician. 🙂
Bek @ Crave says
I’d love to learn about the science of different ingredients and why they are used! Thanks for this post- it’s really informative. Keep them coming 🙂
Cait says
Oh good! I’m glad to hear it – I’ll definitely include more of the science behind each ingredient then!
Laura says
New commenter! I love that you incorporated (some of) what you learned in class into this recipe post! I love learning all things nutrition, so I’ll be coming back for more :). Oh… And might have to make this recipe today..!
Cait says
Oh good! I’m so happy to hear it! I’m definitely going to try to be incorporating more and more into my posts – so glad you like it! And let me know what you think of the bread!
Lauren says
This looks outstanding! Makes me crave fall. 🙂
Cait says
Luckily Fall is here!! 🙂
Alicia @ energEAT says
Another reason why I must go apple picking this week! Yum!
Cait says
Hahah totally!! I need to go myself!
Joanie says
I didn’t realize this recipe was only posted yesterday! My husband and I went apple picking yesterday, and I decided while he was at work today I would use the apples to bake something healthy. We are trying to eat a lot healthier and include whole grains, etc… So I was happy when I found your recipe on google! It is now in the oven baking and I can’t wait till tonight after dinner when we try it together. I’ll let you know how it comes out 🙂
Cait says
Oh yay! I’m so glad to hear that 🙂 I hope you enjoy it – definitely let me know what you think!
Life's a Bowl says
Oh YUM!!! I am loving any and all things apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin 🙂 Although, I did just bake a loaf of banana bread [my husband made me, haha]!
Cait says
Hahaha – ooooh boys 🙂
Katie says
I could have told you that my body needs carbs by just looking at a picture of this bread.
I kid, I kid. I’m so glad you are liking school!
Cait says
Hahaha – you’re a funny one friend 🙂
Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian says
I love that you are enjoying your classes! That is great to know that you are in the right field. 🙂
This looks fabulous, btw! Now that the weather is cooling down, I am wanting to make more breads. YUM!
Cait says
Thanks Kristen! 🙂 This is definitely a bread to make – it’s so so good!
Rachel says
This looks amazing! Glad you’re enjoying school, that’s always a nice feeling 🙂
Cait says
Agreed! Much better than hating it! Haha 🙂
Corrie Anne says
Ooo! I had seen a recipe for this I wanted to make — but this is a much healthier twist! I love it.
Cait says
Let me know how you like it if you try it!
Shannon ~ My Place In The Race says
YUMMMM! 😛
Cait says
🙂 That it was!
Lena says
Thanks for sharing this bit of info. I always believed in that carbs are the first thing we burn. And glad I can still believe and eat my carbs! (in moderation of course!!!) love that yummy looking loaf!!! Now I feel like a Victorian sponge cake for tea. (: lol
natalie @ will jog for food says
The bread looks delicious!
Sandrine says
I tried this recipe yesterday, with 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 cup of applesauce instead of EB, and it turned out REALLY great! Super moist! My boyfriend can’t stop eating it. Thank you for sharing this recipe Cait!
Cait says
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear that!! 🙂 Good to know about the apple sauce! Definitely have to try that!
Heidi kokborg says
It looks really good 🙂 I was wondering what excatly you study? I would love to study something that has to do with nutrition after high school, but there are so many opportunities that I find it rather difficult to know which school and course to take 🙂
Cait says
I’m currently getting my Masters in Human Nutrition + DPD certification to become a Registered Dietician 🙂 I would definitely suggest this route for you as it opens up the door for SO many opportunities in the nutrition field!
Cait says
PS – Here’s a super helpful link that will take you through all the steps and different avenues you can take! http://www.eatright.org/BecomeanRDorDTR/content.aspx?id=8092#.UGs_MPl25zk
Jessie says
Aren’t nutrition courses so much fun? Yay carbs! 🙂
Also, that apple pie bread is giving me serious cravings.
Cait says
They are! I love them! 🙂
R N says
Caiiiiitttttt! I miss your posts 🙁 Hope all is well in school!
Cait says
I miss posting!! Hope I can get in some more frequent ones soon! School is definitely going well – just crazy busy!
Suzanne says
Why are there no directions for the streusel topping?
Cait says
Oh my goodness, because I’m an idiot! Just added it in, thanks for letting me know 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Apple pie bread!?!? Oh my! It looks so moist and delish 🙂
Cait says
Thank you lady 🙂 It most certainly was!
CT Evans says
do you know any good recipes for fat-free pie crust? ideally I’d like one that calls for a main ingredient that’s more nutritious than white flower, but my main concern is making a reasonably-good crust with no butter, shortening, oil, etc. that would work for fruit pies and maybe potpie as well.
Cait says
That’s so funny because we just were talking about this in my Food Composition class! Pie crusts are notoriously difficult to make fat free because so much of their structure depends on a fat source. I don’t know of one but I’ll see if I can find one and I’ll let you know 🙂
Cait says
Here’s one: http://happyherbivore.com/2010/09/pie-crust/ It’s vegan so it might not be exactly the same in taste and texture but I bet it’s pretty good as a substitute!
CT Evans says
cool, thanks! I’ll give it a try. 🙂
Cait says
Welcome! Let me know how it turns out…if it’s not good I’ll try to create one 🙂
CT Evans says
OK, I made a fresh pumpkin pie yesterday and used that banana-based crust recipe. It worked surprisingly well as a dough. It was easy enough to roll, and had good cohesion, so it didn’t fall apart when I transferred it to the pan. I pre-baked it for a few minutes while pre-heating the oven, which was probably unnecessary.
I tasted my first slice of the pie and crust after dinner tonight. Although the sides, particularly the edges above the filling level, were tough like rawhide, the bottom of the crust was edible. Maybe adding an egg white or some baking powder would help make it a little less dense, or even brushing it with water before baking so it won’t dry out so fast might help. As it is, I’m still happy with it. It’s fat free and good enough that it’s better than no crust at all.
Cait says
Interesting! I may just have to experiment with that recipe to see if we can’t make it a little better…you do the same and we can compare notes! 🙂
Glad it worked out okay overall though…that’s good to know it’s an option!
CT Evans says
I baked a few pies for Thanksgiving and the texture of my pie crusts was much better this time, although the taste was only slightly better than wet cardboard. I think my big mistake last time was baking the crusts first, which made them come out rock hard around the edges. trimming the edges to make them even with the top of the pie pan may have helped as well. I also used a real rolling pin (rather than the glass I’d used before), so I was able to get them much thinner and I think I included an egg white in the mix this time, but I was too busy making 3.5 pies at once that I didn’t take the time to make a note on my recipe and I can’t remember for sure now.
banana was a good substitute for butter in the topping for my apple crumb pies too.
modifying another recipe I found online, I made second kind of fat-free (or at least “no fat added,” since even flower and oats contain small amounts of fat) pie crust that seemed to work well – Fat-Free Oatmeal Cookie Pie Crust…
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup apple sauce
Preheat oven to 375˚F. Lightly a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray (e.g., Pam).
Put the oats into a food processor or blender and process until finely ground. Add the remaining dry ingredients and blend well. Transfer to a bowl and add the apple sauce. Stir well until completely combined.
Put the mixture into the pie pan, and starting at the center, flatten and press it with moistened fingers until it evenly covers the bottom and extends up the sides of the pan as far as possible.
Put it in the oven and cook for 8-10 minutes, until it is crisp but not overdone. Set aside to cool before filling.
Cait says
Awesome! Thank you for letting me know! This sounds really delicious – I definitely want to give it a try…it would be good for Courtney who’s confined to whole grains 🙂