Puffed Rice Cake with Sliced Apples & Almond Butter

Hand-picked McIntosh Apples

It's apple season in case you don't already know! And here in Vermont, the apples are the best on earth. We have all varieties, tons of local farms and pick-your-own galore.

I recently purchased a deal on LivingSocial that was $20 for a half bushel of apples + a half gallon of apple cider. A great deal if I do say so myself! Not only is the orchard just outside of Burlington, but they're pick-your-own. This means Matt and I have a super fun Saturday ahead of us.

A fallen apple, patiently waiting to get eaten by a critter.

Picking my own apples is probably on my top 5 list of outdoor activities (Okay, maybe not that high, but I'm jazzed about all the apples, so for now it's up there).  It's relaxing, it's yummy and it's fun.

Almost nothing beats strolling through an orchard with the warm Fall sun beating down on your face, holding your boyfriend's hand and smiling because all you feel is happiness. And of course, munching on a fresh, crisp apple.

A perfect Fall day.

Now of course, being out all day picking apples, the moment you get home you need to have a snack. Your pie isn't ready yet, you haven't peeled the fruit to make the crisp and you don't have enough burners to start the applesauce. But you just have to have one of those deliciously crispy apples you just picked!

Happy Fall! Now get out there and pick your own apples.

Well, snack time it is. This is a healthy, crunchy, crispy, sweet and protein filled snack with your name on it!

Puffed Rice Cake with Sliced Apple & Almond Butter

Puffed Wild Rice Cake with Sliced Apple and Almond Butter

Ingredients:

• 1 puffed rice cake
• 1 medium sized apple (any variety - my favorites are McIntosh, Cortland & Empire)
• 1 - 2 tbsp creamy organic almond butter

Spread your almond butter onto the rice cake and set aside. Core your apple by slicing the fruit into four sections. Your end result should be a square core. Slice those sections of apple into thinner slices, placing four even slices on top of the almond butter. If you want more on your rice cake, feel free to arrange however you like it! Serve the extra slices of apple on the side.

Quick, easy, and delicious. The taste of Fall is at your fingertips. Sit back, relax and enjoy your hard work for a few minutes. You deserve it.

Sliced McIntosh Apple served on the side with Almond Butter