Caramel Apple Crisp

Caramel Apple Crisp
The Cooler Weather Brings Out The Baker In Me!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 35-440 minutes

Ingredients
2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled & sliced thin
1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup dry quick cook oatmeal
1 1/4 stick butter, diced
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of nutmeg
3/4 cup Dulce De Leche
whip cream or ice cream (optional)

Cooking Tools
10 baking paper cups
Sheet tray
Large mixing bowl
Small mixing bowl
Mandolin
Pastry cutter

         Perfect for the Holidays!

          Surrounding yourself with friends 
          and family around the dinner feast,
          then comes dessert & coffee and
          beautiful conversation!

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  In a large mixing bowl; combine, flour, oats, sugar & butter.  Using a pastry cuter to cut in butter to create small pebbles then use your hand to create crumbles by squeezing the flour and butter together. In a small bowl use a mandolin to slice apples thin. Add in nutmeg and vanilla extract and toss to coat apples. Place cups on sheet pan and place some of the flour mixture to the bottom of each baking cup, add some apple slices up half way.  Place 2 tsp of Dulce De Leche on top of apples. Top off each cup with the rest of the flour mixture. ( you can go above the baking cup, as the apples cook, it will sink down. Place in oven and cook for 30-40 minutes.  Let cool before serving, can be removed from cup or eat it right from the baking cup.  Can be served with whip cream or ice cream.
Serves 10

Mini Blueberry Pop Tarts

Mini Blueberry Pop Tarts
Your Kids, Even Big Kids Will Love Them!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Refrigerated Pillsbury Pie Rolls

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp water

Cooking Tools

Parchment paper

Sheet pan

Cookie cutouts

Pastry brush 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Roll out pie dough and cut 2 squares ( whatever shape you desire) per pop tart. Place some blueberries in center, sprinkle with a tsp. of sugar making sure to leave an edge to seal and press the top piece. Whisk together egg and water to create a egg wash.  Use a pastry brush and brush egg wash around the entire edge and place the second crust on top and seal with fork prongs. Brush each Pop Tart with some additional egg wash to create a golden crust. Place on parchment lined sheet pan and bake in oven for 30 minutes.  Let cool before serving.
Yields 12+

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffin

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffin
Healthier Version, With No Oils Or Butter!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients

2 large ripe bananas, smashed

1 cup plain yogurt

2 eggs

3/4 cup maple syrup 

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 cup milk

3 cups quick cook oatmeal + topping

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup blueberries

Cooking Tools

Muffin tin

Muffin liners

Medium mixing bowl 

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together; bananas,yogurt, eggs, maple syrup, cinnamon, baking powder, vanilla extract, milk, salt & oatmeal. Place muffin liners in muffin tin.  Pour batter into each muffin liner 3/4 full. Place 4-5 blueberries on top and sprinkle some dry oatmeal on top of each muffin and bake in oven for 35-40 minutes.
Yields 6 large or 8 medium or 12 small

Orecchiette Pasta With Sweet Potato & Swiss Chard

Orecchiette Pasta With Sweet Potato & Swiss Chard
Drizzle Of Fragrant Parsley Oil!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients
1 box Orecchiette pasta
1 sweet potato, peeled & cubed
1 bunch Swiss Chard, chopped, no thick stems
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 stick butter
pinch of red pepper flakes
2 clove garlic, pressed paste
Parmesan Cheese shavings
salt
pepper

Cooking Tools

Large stock pot

Nonstick skillet/frying pan

Directions
Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to box directions, drain & set aside.  Cook cubed sweet potatoes with some olive oil, salt & pepper until tender but not mushy.Do the same with the Swiss Chard & garlic and set aside in a warm location until pasta is done. Once pasta is drained, place in frying pan with olive oil, butter, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper, Toss in cooked sweet potato and Swiss Chard, toss lightly. Place pasta on serving plate and sprinkle with some pumpkin seeds, Parmesan cheese shavings an drizzle with Parsley oil (recipe below) and Balsamic vinegar.
Serves 4

Parsley Oil

Ingredients

1 tbsp minced parsley

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 grilled lemon juice (optional)

pinch salt

pinch of sugar

1 tbsp white wine vinegar

Balsamic vinegar 

Cooking Tools

Mixing Bowl 

Directions

Whisk all ingredients except Balsamic in a mixing bowl, let set for and hour in room temperature, drizzle on pasta and dollop with some Balsamic vinegar. 

Chicken & Noodles

Chicken & Noodles
This Is A Cross Between A Stew And A Soup!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients
4 cups Rotisserie chicken, pulled
1 bag Kluski egg noodles https://www.mrsweiss.com/en-us/products/3466/KluskiEggNoodles.aspx
6-7 cups chicken broth
3 carrots, cubed
2 celery stalks, diced
1 onion, diced
1 cup frozen yellow corn
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp green onions, chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
minced parsley for garnish
1 heaping tbsp corn starch
salt
pepper

Cooking Tools

Stock pot 

Directions
Heat chicken stock in pot, add; carrots, celery, onions and cook on a simmer until slightly tender. Add in chicken, noodles and cook until noodles are almost done ( approx. 20 minutes). Add in corn, garlic, thyme, green onions, salt and pepper. Cook until noodles are done. The last five minutes, create a slurry with the cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water, then add to the Chicken & Noodles to thicken. Garnish with minced parsley.
Serves 6 

Chocolate Pear Cake

Chocolate Pear Cake
A Box Cake Mix Can Be Elevated To Something Elegant!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 50-60 minutes

Ingredients

Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Cake Mix

3-4 whole pears, peeled, stem on

1 cup milk

3/4 cup softened butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil + greasing

2 tsp almond extract

3 eggs

confectioners sugar for dusting

Cooking Tools

Nonstick loaf pan

Parchment paper

Medium mixing bowl 

Directions
Preheat oven 350 Degrees F.  Whisk together dry and liquid ingredients until well blended. Grease loaf pan and line the long side of pan with parchment paper allowing for some overhang (this allows for easier lifting of the cake out of the pan). Pour some batter to line bottom of pan.  Place 3-4 pears in the center of the bake pan allowing for space in between. Pour the batter slowly and evenly around the pears. Bake in oven for 50-60 minutes, insert toothpick to see if it comes out clean. Remove from oven and let rest in pan for 15 minutes before removing.
Yields 1 loaf