apple pie

I had 2 weeks worth of delicious meal brought to our home while I was  We were so spoiled with great food, and these Amazing Apple Pie Bites were one of my favorite food items brought.

My friend Andrea brought a great meal for us.  She made us Rachel Rays Italian Sub Stoup.  The flavor of this stoup was SO good. It has been forever since I have had an Italian Sub, and this soup tasted just like one.  Andrea used ground beef instead of sausage, and did not use as much meat as Rachel does in the recipe.  She also skipped the garlic toast floaters and brought us some Beer Bread instead.  She brought the soup in a crockpot and cooked/kept the pasta separate until ready to serve.  She also brought us a simple cinnamon apple salad, which I will write about soon.  It was all so yummy.

On to the Apple Pie Bites!  They are so healthy, a nice protein snack, and really, really good.  I froze half of them and let another girlfriend of mine taste them when she came over.  She LOVED them and could not believe they were sugar free.  The dates make them a nice sweet treat, and the dried apple gives them a great texture and amazing REAL apple flavor.  There is just the perfect amount of cinnamon added.  They are truly the perfect treat.

I was sound asleep when Andrea delivered the meal, but my 3 girls couldn’t stop talking about this little cutie, Andrea’s little helper/delivery boy. How cute us he?  He melts me every time I see him, and the way my girls were gushing about him, I know he had that affect on them, too!

Amazing Apple Pie Bites {from Our Paleo Life}

1 cup pecans
1/2 cup almonds
1-1 1/2 medjool dates, pitted (about 10-12 dates)
3/4 cup dried apple slices (not apple chips) (no sugar added)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

1. Combine all ingredients in the order listed, in a food processor.

2. Process until mixture resembles coarse gravel.

3. While the processor is running, add a thin stream of water, about 1 tsp, maybe less depending on the moistness of your dates.

4. Stop the processor and check the consistency of the mixture.  If it sticks together when you smush it, then you’ve got the right consistency.  If it’s still crumbly, add more water.  You don’t want to add too much water because the bites will be too sticky.

5. When you’ve go the right consistency, roll mixture into tablespoon-size balls.

6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week or so.  Can also freeze them.