MY NEW ENDEAVOR - A LIFE CHANGER!

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I FINALLY DECIDED TO WATCH THE MOVIE "FOOD INC."  BEFORE GETTING MYSELF INTO IT, I HAD IDEAS ABOUT HOW OUR FOOD INDUSTRY WAS RAN - INHUMANE CONDITIONS FOR ANIMALS, HORMONE USE, PESTICIDES, ETC.  BUT I JUST CHOSE TO BE BLISSFULLY IGNORANT! UNTIL NOW!

AFTER BEING INFORMED BY THIS DOCUMENTARY I STARTED DIGGING, AND DIGGING AND DIGGING!  I DISCOVERED WHAT A "GMO" REALLY IS, AND I NOW USE THE NAME "MONSANTO" IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CORRUPTION OF OUR FOOD INDUSTRY. 

I STARTED JUST BUYING AS MUCH ORGANIC AS I CAN AND ONLY BUYING FREE RANGE, HORMONE FREE ANIMAL PRODUCTS.  THEN I JUST GOT SICK OF IT ALL.  I REALIZED THAT YES, I CAN LIVE WITHOUT MEAT.  EGGS, I CAN KISS YOU GOODBYE FOR SURE.  AND DIARY - WELL, MILK AND I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN GREAT FRIENDS.  I CHOSE ALMOND MILK INSTEAD.  

CHEESE WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.  I LOVE CHEESE.  THAT WAS THE LAST THING I GAVE UP.  AND I THINK I WILL SURVIVE.

SO, BASICALLY WHAT I AM SAYING HERE IS THAT I AM A VEGAN!  I AM A STRAIGHT UP PLANT-BASED DIET GIRL! AND LET ME TELL YOU - I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER! MY BODY FEELS CLEAN AND MY MIND FEELS LIBERATED.  

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH FOOD EVER SINCE. AND TODAY I MADE A WINNER!  I CALL IT MY VEGAN APPLE PEAR CRUMBLE.  IT WAS A COLD SNOWY DAY TODAY AND I WANTED SOMETHING WARM AND SWEET THIS AFTERNOON.  I HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF FRUIT RIGHT NOW FOR MY DAILY JUICING, SO I GRABBED SOME APPLES AND PEARS, STARTED CHOPPING AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED....

VEGAN APPLE PEAR CRUMBLE

FRUIT FILLING

2 SMALL APPLES ( I USED GALA)

2 BARTLETT PEARS

CINNAMON TO TASTE

NUTMEG TO TASTE

1 TABLESPOON AGAVE NECTAR

2 TABLESPOONS ORGANIC CANE SUGAR

 2 TABLESPOONS ORGANIC BROWN SUGAR

ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF WATER

2 TABLESPOONS OF CORN STARCH

CRUMBLE

3/4 CUP OF ORGANIC BAKING MIX

2 TABLESPOONS OF GROUND FLAX

1/4 CUP OF ORGANIC STEEL CUT OATS (OR QUICK OATS)

1 TABLESPOON OF ORGANIC BROWN SUGAR

A FEW SHAKES OF CINNAMON

1 TABLESPOON ORGANIC VEGETABLE OIL

ENOUGH UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK TO MOISTEN

IN A SAUCEPAN COMBINE FRUIT FILLING INGREDIENTS EXCEPT CORNSTARCH, BRING TO A GENTLE BOIL.  SIMMER FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES.

WHISK IN CORNSTARCH AND STIR UNTIL THICKENS.  I COOKED A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL FRUIT SEEMED TENDER.  REMOVE FROM HEAT.

POUR INTO BAKING DISH

IN A BOWL COMBINE CRUMBLE INGREDIENTS, STIR TILL MIXED.  SPOON ON TOP OF FRUIT FILLING.

BAKE AT 350 UNTIL CRUMBLE IS GOLDEN BROWN. ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES.  (I HONESTLY DIDN'T TIME IT.)

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I DIDN'T MEASURE ANYTHING EXCEPT THE CORNSTARCH.  THIS IS ALL JUST USING MY BEST JUDGEMENT!  I ALSO ADDED SOME VEGAN BLUEBERRY GRANOLA ON THE TOP OF THE CRUMBLE THAT I HAD IN MY CUPBOARD.  GET CREATIVE KIDS!!