Baked Apples: A Tribute to Steve Jobs

I was very sad yesterday when my mom texted me to tell me Steve Jobs, one of the cofounders of Apple Inc., passed away from pancreatic cancer. I looked at the text on my iPhone, a device his company developed that revolutionized mass communications, and my heart sank. Coming from a big techie family, his life and accomplishments were well-known in my home growing up. Whether you're a Mac or PC person, you cannot deny that he helped change the world. You might not be able to read this very post right now if it wasn't for his vision (and because I am typing this on a Macbook). I like what my brother posted as his Facebook status, "Steve, I was hoping you would stick around for "One More thing..." "  

In honor of Steve, I decided to make baked apples. Many factors can trigger cancer, and diet is one of them. This is one of the main reasons I became a vegan. There are so many unknowns in this world and I want to give myself the best fighting chance of living a long, healthy life and proper nutrition is a good way to do so. Keeping that in mind, I made my apples a little bit differently. I did not use any butter. If you use nice ripe apples, their own natural juices will be enough to help it brown. I also did not use white or brown sugar. Most white sugars are processed using animal bones to remove the color so they are not vegan anyways. Not to mention it lacks any nutrients. Brown sugar is just white sugar with regular molasses added, so it isn't any better. What I did use is black strap molasses. Yes, it is a processed sugar byproduct, but it does have some important minerals like iron, manganese, copper, calcium and vitamin B6. If you are going to eat sugar, it might as well have something beneficial in it. But, just like any processed food, it should be eaten in moderation. You cannot control the future, but you can control your actions now in order to have a better future. Steve is proof that all the money in the world cannot buy you health. Do all you can to prevent cancer. 

Baked Apples

4 Granny Smith apples

1/2  cup rasins

1/2  cup dry oatmeal 

1/4 cup black strap molasses 

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger 

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Core the apples, but make sure you leave the bottom intact. If you have an apple corer, I really suggest using it. It can be done with a pairing knife but it's a little tricky. 

In a small bowl, combine together the remaining ingredients. 

Fill the apples with the mixture. I stuffed mine pretty well. 

Place the filled apples in a baking pan. Fill the pan with about 1/4 of an inch water. 

Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The apples should be tender, and the filling golden and caramelized. Let them cool a bit before eating. You can also cover the pan with foil before baking if you don't want your filling that crunchy. 

Thank You Mr. Jobs. You changed the world and taught a whole generation to "think different."