Apple Series: Apple Crisp

I love the smell of apple crisp baking in the oven.  The smell creates so many memories for our family.  This time of year is so much fun...especially all of the baking I get to do!  Tonight I decided to use up some more of the apples we got from the orchard.  I made this to-die-for apple crisp.  I wish I had some vanilla ice cream to put on top!  Maybe Anya and I will make a mad dash to Wal-mart tomorrow:-)

4 cups sliced, cored apples
2/3-3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup soft butter
dash salt
1/4 cup of water or less

1.) Pour sliced apples into a 8x8 baking dish.  Pour 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of the dish.
2.)  In a small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and butter.
3.)  Sprinkle on top of the apples.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel!

Apple Series: Apple Bread

Ever gone apple picking and you have so many apples you don't know what to do with them?  That's the boat we're in!  This Apple Bread recipe is the perfect breakfast on-the-go and can work for dessert too, warmed up with a scoop of ice cream on the top and a drizzle of caramel.  Drooling yet?

3c Flour
2tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Baking Soda
1/2tsp Baking Powder
1/2tsp Salt
1/2c Vegetable oil
2c Sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2tsp Vanilla
2c apples, peeled, cored, chopped
1c walnuts, chopped

1.)  Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
2.)  Combine oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, apples, in a mixing bowl.  Stir into flour mixture.  Add nuts.
3.)  Pour into two greased 8 x 4 bread pans
350 degrees for 40-45 minutes

Enjoy!!

Pasta Sauce from Old Italy

Put on your apron and let the fun begin!
This pasta sauce is A-Mazing and perfect for kids to help make, especially around this time of year when gardens are producing so many tomatoes you dream of them every night!

6 whole cloves of garlic
4 tomatoes (torn up with hands...no knifes involved here!)
1 cup of basil (rip with fingers)
1 teaspoon of oregano
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
salt
1/2 cup olive oil
Cover and leave on counter all day!
Tastes great on bread to make bruschetta, pizza with melted mozzerella on top, over pasta, fish, or chicken!

A visit from Grandma!

Yesterday morning my mom came out to be with Anya and I for the morning!  Usually she works but she was able to trade with someone and take on a Saturday shift.  We were able to get so much accomplished while she was here!

We cleaned up the front porch and garden.  No more weeds:-)

We made some "Counter-top Pasta Sauce"  and french bread with our aprons on.  

We loved on Anya! Boy is she loveable and talkative! She loves to say "who, who, who". 

All in all, it was a very productive and wonderful day spent with my mom and baby girl! 

Thanks Mom for trading in your shift and picking up a weekend shift for us!  We had a blast!

A Family Recipe... No "shhh" Involved

Don't you just love a great family recipe?  There's nothing better than knowing generations before you baked that same recipe.  I think of how far we've come since the days of kneading the dough by hand, while the sheets are on the line drying , and taking time to put on an apron before sprinkling flour on the counter.  Today I'm in one of those moods.  It's time to bake me some Tea Ring!!!  I'm fortunate enough to have had a Great Grandmother who was a fabulous baker and owned her own bakery!  And guess what?  I have one of her famous recipes to share with you! 

Add 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 packets of yeast, and 2 tsp of salt.  Mix well.

Heat 1 cup of water, 1 cup of milk (or water), and 1/4 cup of butter.  Heat to 120-130 degrees.  Butter does not need to melt.  Add to flour mixture.

Add two eggs (egg beaters are fine).

Mix until moistened, then beat of medium speed for 3 minutes. 

Add 3 1/2-4 cups of flour and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (5-8 minutes).  I used my dough hook on my mixer and mixed for about 3 minutes on low-med speed. 

I kneaded the dough for a few minutes on a floured surface to make sure that the dough was well mixed in.  The dough should be "smooth like a baby's bottom" like my Great Grandma used to say.

Place the dough in a buttered bowl and flip the dough ball over so it gets greased on the top.

Cover bowl with a towel and place in a warm place (I use my oven... not turned on obviously).  Let it stand for an hour.  Dough will double in size.

Punch the dough down and divide in half.  Roll each ball of dough out in a 12x9 shape.  Melt 1/4 cup of butter and brush onto dough.  In a small bowl mix 1 cup of brown sugar, 2 TBSP cinnamon, walnuts, raisins (I didn't have any so I used Craisins).  I also added a few tsps of pumpkin pie seasoning and a splash of vanilla.  Stir the mixture and sprinkle on top of the dough.  Roll the dough lengthwise and seal dough shut.  Curve the rolled dough into a ring shape.  Brush top of dough with melted butter and place on a cookie sheet or pizza pan.  Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. 

***Sorry I forgot to take pictures!!!!****

Once Tea Ring is finished baking and is cooled you can brush the icing on top of it. 

2 cups of powdered sugar

4 TBSP hot brewed coffee

2 TBSP melted butter

splash of vanilla

Mix the coffee and butter slowly into the powdered sugar to avoid the icing being to runny... I didn't measure the coffee and butter and my icing turned out way too runny:-(  With my baby brain, I should've known to use measuring spoons for this! 

Slice & ENJOY!!! 

Healthy & Yummy Enchiladas

So my hubby LOVES enchiladas. I was never too impressed with the canned enchilada sauce...too salty and not enough flavor. Last week I went to a fiesta with some girlfriends and one of the girls made yummy enchiladas. And guess what? I loved them! So fresh and healthy...just what I like:o)

So here's the "recipe":
-Brown ground turkey, drain fat
-add paprika, cumin, cheyenne pepper, chili powder (I add a TON of this!)
-slice large carrots with a peeler into the ground turkey (one was enough for me)
-drain and rinse one can of black beans (or kidney if you have that one hand) then add to turkey
-add spinach to turkey (I sliced up fresh, you could also use spinach... as much as you'd like)
-add white or red onion
-stir over low heat
-fill soft tacos with about 1/2 cup of turkey mixture, roll up and place in 9 x11 dish (I used multi-grain tacos)
-spread a thin layer of salsa on each enchilada and sprinkle cheese on top
-squeeze lime on top for fresh zest

bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes
Serve with Spanish rice, sour cream on top, and fresh salsa (diced tomatoes, cilantro, onion, lime juice)


After eating these, I can now say that I love enchiladas!
I hope you enjoy too!

What are your favorite Mexican recipes?

Easy recipes, Fall Decorations, Baby Update

I just love being a wife! One of my favorite things to do for Josh is cook and bake for him!! I was invited to a Fiesta Potluck and thought I'd try out my recipe before I go in a few weeks. This recipe is from my mom, she made it all the time when I was a kid. It is SO easy and yummy!!

*Dorito Taco Salad*

-Salad (I used a bag of romaine salad mix)
-Taco Seasoned Ground beef or turkey (I make my own seasoning: cumin, paprika, garlic powder, red pepper, and chilli powder)

-Crunched up doritos

-Sweet & Sour Dressing

-You can add onions, olives, sour cream, tomatoes or anything else that you prefer on a mexican salad!

The hardest part is not eating the bag of doritos...

*Apple Cider*

I was shocked the other day when I went to Wal-mart and saw that there "fancy" apple cider was $4.00/gallon!! I decided to spoof up my generic apple "cider" and make it rich with flavor!

This is another "recipe" from my mom. She always makes it on Christmas and it makes the house smell amazing!!!

-One container of generic apple cider

-whole cloves

- cinnamon (or cinnamon sticks if you have one)

-pumpkin pie seasoning

-nutmeg

-caramel syrup

-Bring to a boil... not only does it taste good but makes the whole house smell festive! Sorry but I rarely use measurements. I just eye-ball it and taste test & add more if needed! If I were to guess at the amounts I'd say maybe 2 tsp of each ingredient.

When you come to our home, you can always tell what season it is. I LOVE Decorating...

*Our foyer ledge*

As most of you know, I LOVE a good deal! This sign was a few dollars ($7) from Burlington Coat Factory. The leaf garland was from Deals ($1).

Apparently, Charlie thought I was taking a picture of him he quickly ran over to the fireplace to get in the picture...:-)

-Mirror from Goodwill ($3)

-Bat tag from a gift bag from a student.. great way to dress it up!

Lil Pumpkin Update:

I am 10w 4d! I still feel great... although I am tired. Baby is growing and is now the size of a Kumquiat. Whatever that is! That is the size in the book, but in other words Pumpkin is 1 3/4 inch big.