Slippery Elm Apple Sauce
Apple season is unfolding here in Colorado with a plethora of varieties available at the Boulder Farmers Market. I was recently inspired to make homemade apple sauce which is not only easy and quick to make, but tastes creamy and delicious, reminding me of apple pie filling. Warm apple sauce can be a sweet - whole foods treat after dinner, food for little ones, and can also serve as a medium for powdered herbs.
Any unsweetened apple sauce will work for this recipe. Ella Farms makes a delicious one available at the Boulder Farmers Market and the online Farmers Market all year round. It's also available at Lucky's Market in north Boulder.
Slippery elm is moistening and soothing to tissues anywhere in the body. It can be found in the bulk herb and spice section of Natural Grocers or Rebecca's Herbs. Often used to soothe acid reflux and support inflamed gastrointestinal tissue, it also serves as a prebiotic to feed the bacteria in the gut. The pectin in apples is also a prebiotic, so the two combine well to support the gut. Slippery Elm is also tremendously useful to help balance dryness especially in climates like Boulder, Colorado where dry skin, dry eyes, dry hair and thirst unquenched by water are common complaints. If made as a consistent daily ritual, slippery elm apple sauce will increase moisture throughout the body. I’ve noticed my skin is more smooth and supple and I feel less dry and irritated in my whole system.
Ingredients:
1/2 -1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 tablespoon slippery elm powder
Optional toppings to increase nutritional richness:
Pinch of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds or seed cycling combo
Splash of canned - full fat coconut milk
Instructions:
Warm up the apple sauce in a sauce pan. Remove from the heat and stir in the slippery elm powder. For a smoother consistency use an immersion blender to combine the slippery elm and the apple sauce.
Enjoy!
Dr. Jane Litsey