Friday, September 18, 2015

An Apple A Day......

I know that now is the time that it seems everyone is talking about pumpkin!   Pumpkin latte, donuts, pancakes, bread.....................  All I can say is ICK, YUCK, BLAH, POO!!!!  Is it obvious that I don't care one thing about pumpkin?  Not even the traditional pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.  It's just not my thing.

Now give me apples this time of the year and I am in heaven!!!  I like apple everything.  Apples are extremely frugal in the fall.  Most stores and orchards have them for a good price, home trees are loaded, and hopefully you just may see an abandoned or lonely tree some where, that you glean from. **Remember if the tree is in someone's yard - PLEASE ASK PERMISSION.

I absolutely love apple cider, even though it is pretty expensive around here even at the orchard.  I do manage to get a gallon or two during the season.   I love eating fresh apples, and one of my other favorites, is what I call fried apples.   Mmmmmm fried apples and pork chops - a fall fave!!
I love fresh sliced apples dipped into peanut butter.  It's a very healthy snack!

When making fried apples, I simply peel and core, then slice into a pan with about 3 tablespoons of butter.  Sprinkle with sugar or sweetener and a little cinnamon and 'fry' till tender.  Great with dinner, as a dessert, or a snack.

EASY HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
1/2 C water
7 - 8 C apples, cored, peeled and quartered
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
Bring water to a boil in a heavy saucepan; add apples and return to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining ingredients; stir well.  Serve warm or cold.
On the spices added, that is up to your desired taste.  I sometimes like to add red hot's instead of cinnamon.  I also use a potato masher to smash into smaller pieces - that is a matter of choice.
These can be made and frozen as well.

CARAMEL APPLE DIP
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
1/2 C butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine all ingredients, mix well.  Refrigerate for 2 hours.  Makes 2 cups.  Dip fresh cut apple slices in this.  YUM
Cost probably around $2.

SLOW-COOKER CARAMEL APPLES
4 tart apples, cored
1/2 C apple juice
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
12 red hot's
4 Tbsp. butter, divided
8 caramels, unwrapped
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. sugar

Cut 1/2" slice off the top of each cored apple.  Arrange apples in crock pot.  Pour apple juice over the apples.  Spoon 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, 3 candies, 1 Tbsp. butter and 2 caramels into each apple center; sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Cover and heat on low until apples are tender - about 4-6 hours.
YUM - top with whip cream if desired.
WHAT A TREAT

I hope you get to take advantage of this wonderful and healthy fall fruit while prices are relatively cheap.  I will list more apple recipes throughout the month (and maybe even a couple pumpkin)!
ENJOY

4 comments:

  1. Hey Cheryl! thank you for the recipes...my daughter and sister want me to make applesauce with them in October when I visit...they each want a few of the 8 oz jars. I have the jars and lids and time and am very happy to show them how to do it. I will have my own to make at home soon, too. But I will use pint jars for that. This is the time of year that storing all the stocked up goods gets challenging. We repurposed a cupboard that had some books in it, not sure where The Good Man put those books, but now those two shelves hold our condiments we got on sale. And likely the applesauce too.

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    1. Cool on the applesauce. It's always nice to share your knowledge with others.
      Good going on re-purposing a shelf for stockpile!

      Oh, and I am not much of a sweet potato person either. I can take a tiny bit, but just not my thing.

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  2. Sorry that you are not a pumpkin fan! Does this extend to sweet potato pie also? I like pumpkin and often just make the custard part without the crust. The Good Man likes it too. This year I'd like to do a sponge cake roll with the white frosting in the middle. Some years ago Martha Stewart showed how to do a Buche de Noel with some egg white mushrooms. My sister in law did it for a family dinner. And I think some leaves and those 'mushrooms' might be a nice decoration for my birthday dinner coming up!

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  3. I meant to say I would make edible leaves!

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