Apples

by
No comments yet

Apple Recipes

My Apple Dumplings-Sunday

Apple DumplingsHere are a few apple recipes to tide you over until My Apple Dumplings Post.

Top L-R: Spinach Apple Banana Smoothie, Mother’s Day Muffins, Apple Empanadas
Bottom L-R: Pork Chops Recipe, Apple Dessert, Apple Pie

Did you know there are over 7000 apple cultivars? Just within the last weeks I was looking through the apples at my grocer’s. And up popped a new one … to me anyway. Do you get confused about which to use for what? I kinda stick with my favorites. But it’s interesting and recommended to mix cooking apples to get a little different taste and texture.

The crabapple is the only apple variety native to North America. It’s not used in cooking often because of its extremely sour taste. Apples are usually categorized by use; cider, cooking, eating. Below I’ve listed what I often find available and their recommended use. Yep, in my youth I baked an apple pie with Red Delicious. It took forever for the apples to ‘cook.’

Braeburn-sweet, tart; eating and tarts (can turn brown inside from long storage)
Empire-sweet, crunchy, juicy, tangy; eating (cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious)
Fuji-one of the sweetest, crisp; eating (brought to market in the 60’s-developed in a research station in Japan)
Gala-sweet, juicy, crisp, grainy; eating and sauces (one of the most popular apples)
Golden Delicious-very sweet; eating (found in West Virginia-not closely related to Red Delicious)
Granny Smith-crisp, juicy, very tart; cooking and eating (originated in Australia)
Gravenstein-crisp, sweet, tart; cider, cooking and eating (been around for 100’s of years)
Jonathan-tart; cooking and eating (Origin-Woodstock)
McIntosh-slightly tart and crisp; cooking and eating (very popular in eastern Canada and the Northeast US)
Red Delicious-sweet, very mild to little taste; eating (easy to recognize by the mounds circling the bottom)
Rome-crisp, juicy, mild; cooking (flavor develops in baking)
Winesap-sweet, tangy; cider and eating (Stayman apple)

 

Pumpkin Torte

by
No comments yet

Pumpkin Log Or Torte

Pumpkin Torte

Every recipe I create for my blog has a story. My file is overflowing with handwritten, typed or photocopied delicious recipes. Anything less wasn’t saved. Many are decades old not unlike this one.

For years I worked with patients with cancer and during the holidays we were flooded with wonderful cakes, cookies and candies. Pumpkin roll was one of the treats. It was so light yet rich … and who doesn’t like pumpkin! The recipe was shared too. As the years passed I stayed loyal to our traditional pumpkin pie during holidays and never made this recipe ‘though I visited it frequently.

Today I pulled out the recipe and did an internet search to make sure it was original. And then what did I do? I changed it just a bit … not because it needs it but to give it a new look.

Continue reading

Chocolate Chip Cookies Quick Mix

by
No comments yet

Short Cut Chocolate Chip Cookies-Quick Mix

No Short Cut In Taste!

Quick Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How can a Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe get any easier and faster! Take a look.

Continue reading

Breakfast Burrito

by
No comments yet

Not just for Breakfast-Breakfast Burrito

breakfast burrito

Serve it as a brunch on the patio or dinner in a pinch. Do it the simple way with mushroom soup and your favorite store bought salsa … Or for the purest make a béchamel and if you don’t make salsa try fresh chopped tomatoes and cilantro as the garnish.

Continue reading

Apple Dessert

by
No comments yet

Easy Apple Dessert

Apple Dessert

A thirty year old recipe that will convert pretty easily to Vegan if inclined. Tasty firm Granny Smith apples and walnuts create a lovely dessert for those surprise visitors, planned dinner guests or family of course. Make it fancy by adding a lemon curd drizzle, pumpkin butter, powdered sugar sprinkle, or whipped topping. Typically baked in an oblong baking dish or 9 inch square. Baking does take some time, about 45 minutes, and you will need a skewer or toothpick to check this one for doneness just to be sure. It’s packed with goodness!

Apple Dessert

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading

Lemonade Cake

by
No comments yet

Two Great Lemon Cake Recipes

Lemonade Cake

I had this idea about converting an old recipe, Lemon Glaze Cake, into something more homemade. And I’d add lemonade. Lemonade Cake … How clever and original! Until you do a Google search! Well, my recipe is original anyway.

Until I post my recipe for Lemonade Cake … you might enjoy reviewing an ancient poke cake recipe. Thank you Connie Swearingen for the Lemon Glaze Cake recipe … Your favorite cake over 50 years ago. I bet many are still making this version and loving it.

Lemon Glaze Cake1 Yellow cake mix (no extras added like pudding)
1 Small box lemon jello
3/4 Cup vegetable oil
3/4 Cup water
3 Eggs

Beat all ingredients together for about 4 minutes. Bake according to cake package directions using an oblong baking dish.
When done remove from oven. Let cool briefly. Use a cooking fork and poke holes down to the bottom of the dish all across the top of the cake about every inch or so. Then pour the following across the warm cake: 2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 cup lemon juice mixed thoroughly.

 

Continue reading

Gluten Free Portuguese Almond Tart

by
No comments yet

Portuguese Almond Tart Gluten Free

Portuguese Almond Tart

Sweet Rich Almond Tart … a sliver satiates. Serve with a dollop of unsweetened creme fraiche or whipping cream if you like. But this is a great company dessert that really does best without any additional topping. A sprinkle of powdered sugar for presentation and a great cup of strong coffee is all you need.

 

Yes, lots of fresh eggs. The girls have been busy!

Continue reading

Quick One Bowl Mix Banana Spice Cake

by
No comments yet

Easy Quick Dessert – Banana Spice Cake

Banana Spice Cake

Everyone is clamoring for dessert but you have none! Ten minutes to mix up and by thirty you’re eating it! Don’t get me wrong … I love fancy. And I don’t mind complicated. But sometimes simple and quick is needed and welcomed.

Banana cake in its simplest form is delicious. And it seems banana bread and muffins are plentiful wherever you go. So, I’m into changing up banana baked goods just because after years of somewhat the same taste I need a change up. Try my Hint of Orange Banana Nut Bread recipe too.

Why just one layer? This is a cake meant to be eaten up quickly. It will keep for a day or two and freezes well. But the idea is, oven fresh!

You have young chefs … This is a great learning experience and simple enough for a beginner to put together.

Continue reading

Peanut Butter Cookies

by
No comments yet

Making Your Own Peanut Butter –

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter CookiesMaking Peanut Butter Cookies is pretty easy. And this is one cookie most bakeries have figured out. But I’m still looking for the Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie! Most Peanut Butter Cookie connoisseurs have their idea of perfect. Mine is a cookie I remember from my childhood. It was slightly dense, very intense peanut taste, not too sweet, neither caky nor crispy, and slightly sandy in texture. And where did I taste this delicious cookie? Sierra Vista Elementary School! The school cafeteria had a full kitchen … And I believe all the food for the school was cooked in this kitchen at least initially. I have convinced myself the peanut butter was made there too.

I’ve always received compliments on my peanut butter cookie recipes.  (Thank you David for saying mine were better than your wife’s. Yikes.) Yes, I make the ones with the candy kiss too. I certainly appreciated the compliments but realized too, many of my friends didn’t bake. And let’s face it, there is something about a homemade cookie!

After I determined, whether fact or not, the answer to the Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie was adding homemade peanut butter to the recipe it was a done deal. I wasn’t sure how to go about this but…. My first attempt was with raw Spanish peanuts. If anyone tells you the skins pop off easily after roasting, hmm, nope. And it’s messy. Raw peanuts have very little taste and need lots of toasting to achieve what we would describe as a peanut taste. This attempt was a failure. I took a big leap and moved right to roasted salted peanuts. My mistake was adding too much peanut oil. I liked the idea of no honey or sweetener. I moved forward and made these cookies with the second batch of peanut butter and while all was delicious the Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie is still out there.

Continue reading