Healthy Apple Pie

Happy Holidays!  I hope all of you are enjoying what the season has to offer.  I am enjoying it a little too much and am currently "back on the wagon".  The food wagon that is... :)  With that in mind, food is a major part in most people's holiday plans.  From office parties, to main dinners and dessert, we are surrounded with yummy food!  We just have to remember to keep our portions in check and watch our calorie intake.  If we do go overboard, make up for it by working out a little harder the next time in the gym.  If you have to bring a little something to a party or to dinner, here is a recipe from a blog I follow called, Tone it Up.  It sounds good! 

Most traditional apple pie recipes are loaded with butter and refined sugars which tend to make this delicious treat a unnecessarily guilty pleasure. Try this healthy alternative apple pie recipe for a holiday favorite that everyone will love.
Tone It Up Apple Pie
Crust:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup almond or rice milk
Combine oil flour and salt together in a bowl and mix well. Gradually mix in almond milk. When all ingredients are thoroughly combined cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the fridge for 1 hour.  When chilled remove dough from bowl and roll flat. Press crust into pie pan  with your hands until it is spread evenly throughout. Place excess dough to the side to use for the top crust.
Filling:
3/4 cup all natural honey or natural maple syrup
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
7 cups granny smith apples (peeled, cored, thinly sliced)
Mix together honey or syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice in a small bowl. Place half of the sliced apples in the bottom of the pie crust. Pour half of the filling mixture over the apples. Place the remaining apples slices on top and add the rest of the filling mixture.
For the top crust roll out excess dough from earlier. Cut into thin strips (about 1 inch) and place them on top of the filling in a criss cross pattern (like the picture), pinching them together with the lower crust at the edges. Brush the top crust lightly with almond milk to achieve a glazing effect.
Preheat oven at 425 degrees. bake for 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Tips:
- Use granola or crushed walnuts instead of crust to top pie.
- If you are cooking for an open minded crowd you can bake the filling with a crumbly topping and skip the crust altogether ;)
- You can use this recipe for other types of pies as well. Just switch out the apples for berries or peaches!