Lunch: Apple Brown Betty

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon, Apples

Health benefits of Apple Brown Betty

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form. Apples will improve your body's sensitivity to insulin (Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.full)

Ingredients

6 cups cubed brioche or challah bread
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
Pinch of salt
4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 °. Spread the brioche on a baking sheet and toast until dry, about 8 minutes. Let cool, then pulse the bread into coarse crumbs in a food processor. Spread one-third of the crumbs in a buttered 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar with the nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest, orange zest and salt. Spread half of the apples over the crumbs in the baking dish and top with half of the sugar mixture. In another bowl, mix the cider with the lemon and orange juices; drizzle over the apples. Cover with another third of the crumbs and the remaining apples and sugar mixture. Cover with the remaining crumbs. Using a sharp knife, shave the butter as thinly as possible; dot it all over the top.
Bake the apple Betty in the center of the oven for about 1 hour, until the apples are tender and the juices are bubbling; cover the baking dish during the last 15 minutes to prevent the crumbs from getting too dark. Let cool for 30 minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.