Recipe: A Dialysis-Friendly Holiday Dessert

Holiday decadence is no fun if everyone can't enjoy the desserts and other goodies, but those with kidney disease and other chronic illnesses often have major dietary restrictions that prohibit them from eating holiday fare.

Seeing this need, the folks at Fresenius Medical Care, a dialysis clinic in Meriden, paired up with Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., of the Food Network to come up with a tasty and dialysis-friendly recipe for a new holiday treat that they've shared with Patch.

Apple-Stuffed Cinnamon Bundles

Ingredients

Apple Mixture

• 4 apples or 3-1/2 cups (of peeled medium diced Granny Smith, Washington Gala, and Honey Crisp apples mixed)
• ¼ cup light brown sugar*
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, firm
• ¼ cup melted unsalted butter (for buttering phyllo pastry sheets)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon corn starch
• 1 package (6 sheets) phyllo dough

Combine in a small bowl:

• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Garnish:

• Powdered Sugar
• Fresh mint
• Whipped cream or Low fat whipped topping

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare apple mixture:

In large sauté pan on medium high heat, sauté apples in butter for 6-8 minutes. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. In a small cup, mix cornstarch and vanilla extract until dissolved, stir into apple mixture and cook for additional two minutes on medium high heat. Turn off heat and set aside.

Prepare phyllo dough bundles:

• Lightly grease a large six muffin tin pan. 
• Starting with the first sheet of phyllo dough, brush each side with melted butter then dust with the powdered sugar and cinnamon mix. Continue until all 6 sheets have been buttered and dusted with sugar and cinnamon mix, stacking one sheet on top of the other as you go.
• Cut each stack into 6 squares. Line the bottom and sides of each muffin cup using one stack of squares.  Leave an over-hang.
• Fill each phyllo lined muffin cup ½ - ¾ full with the apple mixture (this will depend on how big the apples are cut), making sure each phyllo lined muffin cup has equal amounts of apple mixture.
• Fold excess phyllo dough over the apples in each muffin cup and pinch top closed to create the bundles. 
• Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. 
• Garnish with powdered sugar, whipped cream and sprig of fresh mint.

*1/4 cup Agave Nectar may be substituted as a sweetener for those with diabetes

Note:

• These are a few types of year round apples that are available are in most supermarkets and fruit stands across the country. Select one sour and two sweet apple varieties for your recipe:

        Empire
        Fuji
        Golden Delicious
        Red Delicious
        Granny Smith

Nutrient Analysis:
Serves: 6
1 Serving: 1 bundle

Calories                   249 calories             Trans Fat      0 grams
Protein                    2 grams                  Cholesterol     31 milligrams
Carbohydrate           29 grams                 Potassium      102 milligrams
Total Fat                 14 grams                 Phosphorus    26 milligrams
Saturated Fat           9 grams                  Sodium          99 milligrams

For more information, please visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.

Fresenius Medical Care Central Connecticut is located at 377 Research Parkway in Meriden.