Guest Post: Apples with Goat Cheese & Cranberry Chutney

Today we are doing something new and fun! We are thrilled to have our friend Gina, from Food Highs, here to share a recipe with us. Gina strives to prepare healthy recipes that are beautiful, flavorful, and nutritious. We asked her to share something fun for the Holiday’s with us, so without further ado, her she is with her recipe for Fresh Apples with Goat Cheese & Cranberry Chutney:

Having a child with an autoimmune disease has been a challenge and an inspiration. It has also been a series of “can’t”… can’t have cheese, can’t have gluten, can’t have beans, can’t have anything that tastes good! We decided pretty early on that this would not do. We chose to live in a world of “can have”! Can have flavor, can have sweetness, can have all the bells and whistles, and can have days without pain and suffering!

Motivated by both need and desire, my culinary point of view became all about optimizing everything. Getting the absolute most nutrition out of every bite, but also the most flavor and best texture. The result is a health and contentment, which allows one to get the most out of life!

This extends beyond my little family. Everyone should have this! Food Highs is all about providing options, and support. My recipes are simple and easy to modify. Often, they are more ideas and methods, than recipes. This allows everyone to create their own personal food highs.

Cranberry Chutney

This is a simple gluten-free, refined sugar-free, flavor synergistic method for indulging in all the goodness (and nutrition) of cranberries. ‘Tis the season to make the most of our beautiful, fresh cranberries!
Apples are used as the vessel, and how perfect as they pair so beautifully with cranberries. Add a slathering of goat cheese in the middle, and you have creamy indulgence that elevates the simple fruit to a new level. Plus, this will not have you slaving in the kitchen all day. In fact, the chutney can be prepared well in advance.

Method

Combine all ingredients except apple scraps together in a sauce pot. Gently heat on low-med to med. You want to allow enough time for the flavors of the star anise and cinnamon to infuse. Cranberries will begin to pop, and mixture will thicken. If it thickens too much, add liquid (orange juice). Add the apples after the cranberries have thickened up.

Taste your chutney and play with the flavors as desired. At this stage, it should be a little sour. To me, this is delicious on a sweet apple. You can certainly add more sweetness if you like. If you desire a bit of an edge, add grated ginger. Yum!

Remove star anise and cinnamon stick before serving. Nobody wants to bite into these. To assemble onto apple boats: quarter apples, core and discard seeds and stems, then core out inside of each quarter to make a serving vessel.

Place apple pieces in acidulated water so they do not brown. This is water with lemon juice, or vitamin C. When you are ready to serve, dry apple boats, slather each one with creamy soft goat cheese, and then top with chutney.

Enjoy!

Thank you so much, Gina!! These look beautiful and delicious. Check out more of Gina’s recipes by clicking HERE to visit her website. You can also find her on Facebook by clicking HERE. Happy Holidays!