Fall has arrived in the Piedmont of North
Carolina. That’s what we call the part
of the state between the beach and the mountains. Rolling hills,
trees, and universities. Basketball is king in NC but football
season is still game on.
We are a two
generation North Carolina State University Family. Three, if you count my Daddy
working there for a couple of years. Man
O and I met there. Our kids went there by choice, not because we forced them. Now the
grandkidlets are being trained in all things Wolfpack.
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| Our son built a shrine of NC State items around the TV every game. It was bigger than this by the time he left for college. |
The weather's been perfect for football this week. The apples are coming in. I can make soup and not sweat into the pot. I should be in heaven. But there's a problem. I need to back down my coffee consumption again.
Well, caffeine really. Did you know caffeine
withdrawal is classified as a mental disorder? I believe it. If I didn’t have to cut my morning cup, um
cups, and iced teas for health reasons,
there’s no way I would be reducing my drug of choice. Yep, caffeine is a
drug. Sigh.
Caffeine is in everything now. Don’t get me started on the new Cracker Jack’d. Yep, the new
version of that wonderful concoction of peanuts and caramel corn now has a
cousin with caffeine. There’s also potato chips with caffeine and, get this,
caffeinated Stay Puft MARSHMALLOWS. Can you imagine the Stay Puft Marshmallow man on
caffeine? I don't want to either. But then I did:
There’s reasons a plenty to drink coffee, so the experts say. Alertness,
diabetes prevention and cancer reduction. But there are reasons you shouldn’t over do.
Heart palpitations, stomach problems, the need to find a Starbucks and breaking
down if one isn’t near by. It’s addictive. Sigh.
Watching football this week wasn't going to take my mind off the withdrawal symptoms. We State fans love to say we live to be disappointed.
Drinking lots of water, dealing with a constant headache and fuzzy headiness is no fun. It’s important to recognize your body is going
through a shock to its system and needs some TLC.
After reading way too many articles on living through
caffeine withdrawal, I decided to use some of the ingredients I found in detox
drink recipes to make a side dish for dinner this week. All the benefits and more of
the fiber!
Who knew pineapple reduces
inflammation, a withdrawal symptom, and apples are a miracle fruit when it comes to reflux issues?
Ginger is known for reducing nausea, another side effect. Cinnamon controls blood sugar. Vanilla enhances the sweetness without too much sugar. Plus working on a recipe would take my mind off missing my cup of joy, um, I mean joe.
How about them apples? Roasted Pineapple and Apple Bake
2 apples, Rome, Granny or other good cooking apples, diced
1 cored pineapple, diced, reserving juice
¼ cup, butter melted
2 Tablespoons sugar or more to taste
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
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| Mix all the ingredients until well coated. |
Preheat oven to 425.
Dice the fruits and place in a large bowl.
Pour pineapple juice and stir to coat apples so they won't brown.
Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
Melt butter and add vanilla to the butter. Stir until blended then pour over fruit.
Stir fruit, spices and butter/vanilla mixture until fruit is
well coated.
Place in a 9 X 13 glass dish.
Back for 30-45 minutes, stirring frequently.
Serve warm or cold.
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| A bowl of yummy goodness. Bonus: it makes your kitchen smell divine! |
So what's your obsession? Fall food, football or coffee? Have you had to give up coffee or sugar or sports? How did you cope?
