Apple Cinnamon Cookies

My oldest daughter went apple picking three times! Yes, three times. She does love apples. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. When we planned to go, we had bad weather. I hadn't realized how fast the year had gone. When we finally made it to the farm, we had missed apple picking by a week so we picked up so pumpkins and a bag of apples. I have been adding apples to everything. These cookies are very good.

Apple Cinnamon Cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 medium apple, peeled and grated
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon 

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and oil.
2. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy.
3. Add one egg at a time. Mix well.
4. Add the milk, apple, and vanilla extract. Combine well. 
5. Add the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Mix until combined. 
6. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
9. Scoop about 2 inch balls of dough. 
10. Space the cookies about 3 inches apart.
11. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. The middle of the cookies should be soft but set.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...............................I made Apple Cinnamon Muffins.
Two years ago.............................I made Chili Mac.
Three years ago...........................I made Mars Alien Cupcakes.
Four years ago.............................I made Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes.

Did you already know......................
-The first apple trees planted in the United States were by the pilgrims.
-In an apple, the pockets that hold the seeds are called carpels.
-Apples are grown in all 50 states.

Blueberry Oatmeal

Recently, I went to Maine. Yes, there was snow still on the ground. Yes, I saw family. Yes, I ate way too much chocolate. So, I decided I needed to eat a little healthier and exercise just a little more. I decided to try this oatmeal recipe. I liked it. I didn't add any sugar to the oatmeal for sweetness. I figured I would rather have the sugar in my ice tea. However, my children added sugar to their oatmeal. They liked it and would eat it again but with sugar. With a serving of fruit, this recipe is a great way to start the day. I love the purple color.

Blueberry Oatmeal
2 cup water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 apple, chopped
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

Directions: 

1. In a medium saucepan, mix the water, vanilla, and cinnamon.
2. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
3. Stir in the oatmeal and allow to bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in the blueberries and allow to cook for 1 minute.
5. Turn off the heat and cover.
6. Allow the oatmeal to sit for 15 minutes. The mixture should be thick and creamy.

Recipe adapted from Dr. Fuhrman's site.

One year ago.......................I made Lemon Cream Cookies.
Two years ago.....................I made Baps Breakfast Sandwich.
Three years ago...................I made Sand dollar Cookie.

Did you already know..........
-Blueberries are native to North America. 
-Maine produces the most wild blueberries.
-During the Civil War, wild blueberries were canned and shipped to the Union troops.

Hot Apple Muffins

My hair tends to be greasy on top and dry at the ends. I wash it everyday and condition the ends very well. I know there are some lucky ladies which can skip a day or two but unfortunately I can't. Well, I was following my normal routine and my hair was looking bad. It was hard to comb and greasy on top.  I was even washing it longer than normal to make it look half way decent but it still looked awful. Recently, I had started using a new type of shampoo and conditioner but it had looked good for the first couple of days before this crazy look began. After several days of this happening, I figured I better take a look at the shampoo. When I looked at the shampoo bottle, I noticed the label had been placed onto the bottle a little strange. Then I realized what had happen. When my son took his shower, he must have been a little bored and took off the labels. Then he put then back onto the wrong bottles. He has done this several times in the past but the bottles are normally a different color. The new shampoo and conditioner bottles were the same color with a similar consistency of thickness in the liquid. So, I was conditioning the top of my head and really cleaning the ends of my hair. Since I was placing extra conditioner on top with little on my ends, I was achieving the look I was striding to avoid. The best part of my new look was my husband didn't say anything but he would tell me that he always thinks I look good. However, I've changed shampoos. Now, the bottle is a different color than the shampoo.

Well, I made these wonderful apple muffins. They have a great flavor and taste. My daughter ate three of them. She normally eats one muffin and calls it good. She ate three. What more can I say about these muffins besides make them today or maybe tomorrow or maybe today and tomorrow.

Hot Apple Muffins
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups apples, peeled, cored, and grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and allspice.
4. Stir in the eggs and milk until just incorporated.
5. Mix in the butter and apples. 
6. Evenly distribute the mixture into the cupcake liners.
7. Bake the muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Serve immediately. 

Recipe adapted from The Apple Cookbook by Nicola Hill.

One year ago...................................I made Jambalaya.
Three years ago...............................I made Butterscotch Fondue.

Did you already know.........................
-The word shampoo is derived from India.
-Straight hair needs to be washed more than curly hair. 
-Since not washing your hair will not cause you any harm, the washing of the hair is a social issue.

Apple Crisp

Sometimes it is hard to come up with a spooky names for my dishes. So, I take suggestions from the kids. This dish was named by my son. I thought it was pretty clever. I would never have thought of it. Grave dirt? Would you like some ice cream with that grave dirt? My husband said it was the best apple crisp (grave dirt) he has ever had.

Grave Dirt aka Apple Crisp 
6 apples, peeled and sliced thinly
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup uncooked rolled oats
1/3 cup all purpose flour
4 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly coat 3 small ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Spoon the apple mixture equally into the ramekins.
5. In the same bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, and flour. 
6. Blend the butter into the brown sugar mixture until well incorporated.
7. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the ramekins.
8. Bake the apple crisp for 30 minutes or until the apples are tender and the streusel is crispy. 
9. Allow the apple crisp to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted from Chow.

One year ago............................I made Mace Crumb Muffins.
Two years ago..........................I made Cheesy Basil Stuffed Chicken.

Did you already know..............
-Embalming meant to put on balm.
-Perfume and spices were once an ordinary ritual to use on decaying bodies. 
-In the U.S, funeral services industry make $11 billion in revenue every year. 

Stuffed Pork Chops

My husband will pick chicken over pork chops every time. I have never heard him ask for pork chops. He thinks they are going to be dry and lack flavor. Well, pork chops were on sale and they looked good. Since I still had some apples left on my counter, I decided to stuff them. Oh, these pork chops came out so good. My husband said this is the best pork chop recipe he ever ate. I know he doesn't eat pork chops a lot but it is still nice. He said the bacon gave the pork chops just the right enough of flavor and saltiness. I will definitely make these again.

Stuffed Pork Chops
4 bacon stripes
1 apple, chopped
1 Tbsp thyme
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 boneless pork chops
1 tsp butter
1/2 cup white wine

Directions:

1. In a skillet, cook the bacon until crispy over medium heat.
2. Remove the bacon and crumble the bacon onto a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
3. Drain the excess bacon grease from the skillet.
4. Add the butter to the skillet and evenly coat the bottom.
5. On another plate, mix the thyme, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Carefully, cut the pork chops in half to make a pocket.
8. Stuff the pocket with pieces of the chopped apple and crumbled bacon.
9. Press both sides of the pork chops into they thyme mixture.
10. Place the pork chops into the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes per a side.
11. Place the pork chops into an oven safe dish with the wine and cook in the oven for about 15 minutes and the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees F.
12. Allow the pork chops to rest for five minutes before serving. 

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.

One year ago...................I made Focaccia Bread.

Did you already know.......
-According to USDA, pork internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F for medium rare.
-Pork served today is leaner than past generations.
-Pork usually has less saturated fat than the ones served in past generations.

Mini Apple-Cinnamon Loaves with Glaze

I buy apples all year long. My oldest daughter loves them so much that her friends give them to her. She eats them all the time. So, I always have them in the house and I really should cook with them more. I tend to only bake with apples in the fall when we have an abundance of them. I guess that trend may just change especially since this recipe.

This week's pick on Project Pastry Queen was by Emily of A Gilt Nutmeg. My family loved them. My husband doesn't like nuts so some loaves were nut free. The original glaze is suppose to have Calvados in it but there were no nips available and I didn't want to have a large bottle when only 1 Tbsp was needed. My family liked the apple juice substitute. I purchased a can of frozen apple juice. I let it defrost in the refrigerator. After opening, I used 1 Tbsp of the concentrate for this recipe and then made a pitcher of apple juice for the kids.

Mini Apple-Cinnamon Loaves with Apple Juice Glaze
Bread:
1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups apples, peeled, cored, and diced
Glaze (recipe below)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Arrange the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast for about 7 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Grease 5 (6"x4"x2") mini loaf pans with cooking spray.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
6. Stir the flour mixture into the oil mixture until incorporated.
7. Fold in the apples and pecans.
8. Fill the loaf pans with batter about three quarters of the way to the top.
9. Bake the bread for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean.
10. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes before moving them onto a cooling rack. 
11. Spoon the glaze over each bread.

Glaze:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 Tbsp agave syrup
1 Tbsp apple juice concentrate

Directions:

1. Melt the butter, brown sugar, syrup, and apple juice over medium heat.
2. Simmer the mixture for 2 minutes or until it thickens slightly.
3. Spoon the warm glaze over the loaves of bread.
4. Allow the glaze to cool for at least 1 hour.

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen.

Did you already know...
-Calvados is an apple brandy.
-It is traditionally drank after dinner.
-There are many different Calvados brands available and they are ranked like cognac.

Chicken Salad Roll Up

When I was growing up, I hated leftovers. I hated them. (I just wanted to make sure you knew how I really felt.) So, I think it is very strange I live in a household that like leftovers. If I make a nice meal, my husband will call on his way home to ask me if there is any left. 

The problem comes when I am trying to make two meals from one. I made this roast chicken which is popular in our household. I also planned to make chicken salad roll ups with the leftover chicken. I had to stress to everyone not to touch the leftover chicken. My husband later told me that he was glad he waited. It was hard but he was glad.

Chicken Salad Roll Up
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup light Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp mustard
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp tarragon
3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 cup slivered blanched almonds
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup minced onion
salt and pepper
4 tortilla

Directions:

1. Arrange the almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer.
2. Toast the almonds for 7 or until golden brown. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, lemon juice, tarragon.
4. Add the chicken, almonds, apple, celery, and onion to the  mayonnaise mixture.
5. Mix the ingredients until incorporated.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
7. Place 1/4 of the filling in the center of the tortilla and roll. 

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen.

Did you already know...
-As a celebration to the Duke Duc de Richelieu's military victory over the English, the Duke's French chef created a feast in 1756.
-For the feast, the chef was making a sauce with eggs and cream but he didn't have any cream.
-The chef substituted olive oil for the cream and named it mahonnaise.
-The word mahonnaise was misprinted in a 1841 cookbook and the name has been known since as Mayonnaise.

Apple Strudel

I am going to continue with my Oktoberfest recipes.......but today is about dessert! My youngest daughter's only reason she eats supper. My sister, however, will just eat dessert and forget about the meal.

Apple Strudel! My sister would like this dessert (or meal). My daughter really liked this dessert. It is a really simple recipe and it's so good! I recently went to a medieval dinner and at the end of the meal we were served apple strudel.

                                                     Believe me this strudel taste a lot better!

As you can see, I did not add any raisins. My family are afraid of raisins but I like them. Since majority rules, I did not add any raisins. You could add raisins or cranberries.

Apple Strudel


2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 apples, I used Gala apples but any good baking apple would work.
1 sheet of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets
powder sugar


Directions:
1. Thaw the puff pastry sheet on counter for 40 minutes.
2. Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
3. In a bowl, mix the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Add apples to the bowl and toss until evenly coated with the sugar mixture. Set bowl aside.
5. Sprinkle clean working surface with flour.
6. Carefully, unfold the puff pastry sheet on work surface and carefully roll into a rectangle.
7. Spoon the apple sugar mixture down the middle of the pastry lengthwise but stop about 1 inch from edge.
8. Fold the edges over the mixture and pinch seams together.
9. Cut several slits on the top of the puff pastry.
10. Bake strudel for 35 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Let pastry cool on a wire rack about 20 minutes.
12. Once cooled, sprinkle with powder sugar.


Adapted from http://www.puffpastry.com/recipedetail.aspx?recipeID=23990&rc=-1

My oldest daughter loves apples but you could use pears or a mixture of fruit. When I was in Germany, I purchased gingerbread cookies but I didn't order any strudel. I did order a German pancake which came topped with cranberries. I was surprised to learn that there is a European wild cranberry.

Did you already know..................


An apple is 25% air so that is why applies float in water.(Lets bob for some apples.)
Cranberries float because they have four air pockets inside them.