Baked Apple Tomato Basil Tower | Goodie Goodie Gluten-Free

Hello Lovelies!

Happy weekend, happy sunshine if you are here in the Big Apple! It’s gorgeous out! The sun is warm, and the farmer’s markets are buzzing with New Yorker’s itching to catch some rays. I found myself at my happy places yesterday, both the Farmer’s Market and Barnes and Noble in Union Square. I bought Daikon Radishes, Sunchokes, Tomatoes, fresh Basil and Empire Apples. And I only spent $18!! I wasn’t even planning on buying the tomatoes, but I hadn’t had lunch yet, and those juicy red ones were just calling out my name! It was strange, I suddenly needed to have a tomato. So of course fresh basil would naturally go with. I left thinking lunch would be a Caprese Salad minus the dairy. But when I got home I was thinking Baked Apples. So I decided to combine the two. It sounds odd to pair a sweet and tart baked apple with tomatoes and Basil, but my instincts kept telling me this would be delicious. Something about the sweet and the savory…

So I popped a sliced apple in the oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes on a greased baking tray (give or take), and when that came out of the oven smelling like apple pie, I knew this was going to be a delight. I sprinkled a little Nutmeg on the apples and prepared the apple tomato tower. I washed and sliced the juiciest tomato out of the three I had bought into 1/4-3/8 inch thick slices. I added some olive oil and Organic balsamic vinegar to the base of the plate, followed by a few pieces of fresh Basil. I let that soak for a bit. Then I added two tomato slices sandwiched by more Basil. And topped with more Basil one 3/8 thick slice of juicy baked apple. I used my Empire apples because they are the most tart and perfect for baking. You know those apples, the ones that don’t loose their sweetness in any way, just one bite actually tastes like apple pie minus the calories. Once that was done I opened my pantry to see what superfoods I had hanging around. I sprinkled chia and raw sprouted pumpkin seeds, sea salt and pepper on top along with some extra olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I was pleased. I was even more pleased when I tasted it! It was perfection.

Come on, despite the fact that you think this combo is off beat, You know you wanna try it!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Fresh Basil

1 Tomato

1 Dessert Apple

Extra Light Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Sea Salt

Pepper

Nutmeg (or Cinnamon)

Pumpkin Seeds-Superfood

Chia Seeds-Superfood

DIRECTIONS:

Baked Apples:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Grease a baking sheet covered with tin foil

Wash apples and slice 3/8 inch thick

Place apples on baking tray and bake for approximately 15 minutes (give or take)

Remove from heat

Sprinkle a little Nutmeg on top of the apples

Let cool

Tomato Tower:

Wash tomatoes and slice 1/4-3/8 inch thick

Add a drizzle of Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar to the base of your plate

Add washed fresh Basil to plate

Place tomato slice on top of Basil

Add more fresh Basil

Place another slice of tomato on top

Add more Basil

Place baked hot apple on top of Basil

Drizzle more Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar to dish

Add a pinch or two of chia seeds

Add a pinch or two of pumpkin seeds

Sea Salt/Black Pepper to taste

Serves 1. (with leftovers)

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

I use Organic Balsamic Vinegar because I like the taste.

I also use Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds. Raw seeds are dehydrated at a lower temperature keeping the nutrients and vitamins intact and very much alive.

I use Empire Apples because they are super tart, and the tart and sweetness is not removed when baking. Any dessert apple will do.

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