In the kitchen with Kelley: Baked stuffed cinnamon apples

If there’s one thing Americans have in common with one another, it’s that we’re stressed.

We’re stressed about politics and the economy. We’re stressed about paying our bills, driving in traffic, taking care of our children and our elderly parents, and planning for retirement–or surviving retirement. Even children are stressed, wondering whether their classmates are talking bad about them on social media.

It stresses me out just to think about it all!

One thing we can all do to help alleviate stress is to eat foods that are good for us. What’s more, we can eat foods that are known to improve mood and relieve stress. Take walnuts for example. Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that the omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in check.  The phytonutrients in apples — the main ingredient in this recipe — help produce antidepressant neurotransmitters. Phytonutrients are also amazing for your heart.

But for me, the most stress-reducing thing about baked apples is the smell. Apples remind me of a simpler time and place and as the scent of them cooking fills my house, I’m taken back to a carefree time in my life. If only for a short while, it’s a much welcomed break from the stress of living in the now. Give it a try and see how it makes you feel.