CINNAMON CARAMEL APPLES

I had the pleasure of using my kitchen to taste test this recipe for baked apples. My house was filled with the mouth-watering smell of apples and cinnamon. It was so easy and delicious, I had to test this recipe again...and again! 

Bake apples  at 350 degrees for 20-45 minutes depending on the type and quantity of apples. 
The more apples you have packed in the dish, the longer it takes to bake.

This recipe is oh, so easy! The ingredients can be adjusted to feed a crowd of 50 or to make just enough for one or two to enjoy. 

Shiny, clean Gala apples.
Choose your favorite apple!

My superman used an apple corer slicer to make quick work!

Wash, core and slice 2 apples.
Toss the apples with the following mixture:

1 teaspoon cornstarch 

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a baking dish. Add the coated apples and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes (or until the apples are tender). Stir to cover the apples with that yummy cinnamon caramel sauce that will be in the bottom of the pan and serve! 

We used one stick of butter in a 9 X 13 casserole dish and 10 apples.

Tossed apples in the brown sugar and cinnamon coating.
We used a gallon-size plastic bag to mix four apples at a time to make sure the apples were evenly coated.

Left over apples should be stored in the refrigerator. This makes a delicious side dish whether it is served hot or cold. But on a day like today, you'll want to serve this warm from the oven!

 

RICE PUDDING

Do you find it challenging to cook in smaller quantities?  It seems I often make too much when I’m cooking for two. That can be a good thing if you like left overs. Fortunately, My Shadow and I are easy to please. Sometimes, I cook enough intentionally so we can have two meals. That freezer comes in handy.  But it can be challenging to put those accidental left overs to creative use. 

When I made rice for our dinner, I made extra rice with the thought in mind to make rice pudding.  

Yummy!

Even though I hate to see summer weather depart, the cooler weather puts me in the mood for things like that.  It’s warm, creamy, cinnamon, raisin-filled goodness! Plus, I can choose to eat it for dessert or breakfast.  My mom taught me that!

Here’s the recipe I use to make just enough for two or three servings...for me, myself and I! 

Delicious Microwave Rice Pudding

Use a 4 cup microwave safe bowl.

Mix together:

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk

Heat for 2 minutes.

Using a wire whip, mix in:

1/8 cup corn starch

1/3 cup sugar

Dash of salt

1 tablespoon butter

Cook at 8 power level for 3-4 minutes

Stir in:

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 to 1 cup cooked rice

1/3 cup raisins

Cook 1 minute more at 8 power level. 

Let me know what you think of this tasty treat!

Popcorn

I love a crunchy treat like popcorn. I eat popcorn three or four times a week. It really satisfies my snack craving! My hot air popper really gets a work out! Usually I eat it plain, but sometimes I need a sweet treat. That's when I make something like this.

First, pop up about four quarts of hot air popped popcorn.  Set aside. In a pan on the stove melt 1 stick of butter, I cup of brown sugar, and 1/4 cup Karo white syrup. Bring to a boil and stir until soft ball stage or 235 degrees. Then remove from heat and mix in 1/4 teaspoon soda and then 1 teaspoon cinnamon flavor and some red food color and then 1/8 teaspoon cream of tatar.  Pour this mixture over the popcorn and stir thoroughly. Transfer the coated popcorn onto a cookie sheet (or two) and bake at 200 degrees for an hour stirring occasionally. 

Eat when it's cool enough to handle or however long you can resist! This makes quite a bit but it stores well if you keep it tightly sealed.  It also makes a nice gift if you have some decorative tins.  

I've played with this recipe often enough that I don't use exact measurements any more.  I also just boil and cook ithe syrup until it looks about right. But if I were making it for you, I'd follow the step-by-step directions to insure it came out right!  And if you ask very nicely, I could be persuaded to make some for you!

Enjoy your snacking!

SPICED TEA

Oh, these chilly winter days make me wish for something to warm me up from the inside out. Today felt like the perfect day to mix up some Spiced Tea. It’s a simple recipe with just a few ingredients and it makes enough that I have plenty to share. And, I can mix it standing on one foot!

I remember a dreary winter day at BPS when so many of us there had the sniffles. I brought in some spiced tea mix and as we sipped this tea, it seemed to soothe those scratchy throats and bolster us just enough so we could get through another day with a smile for those little kiddos!

I use Tang in my Spice Tea mix because it has Vitamin C included. That might be why a cup of this tea makes me feel so much better!

SPICED TEA
3/4 cup instant powdered tea
1 1/2 cup Tang
1 2-quart package of lemonade mix
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered cloves
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger

I gather all the ingredients, measure them into a big bowl and stir. I increased the cinnamon to two teaspoons because I like that flavor. You can adjust the spices to suit your tastes too.  Be sure to store the mixture sealed tightly in a couple of glass canning jars.

Gather ingredients, measure, mix and enjoy!

To serve, stir two teaspoons of the mixture into a cup of steaming hot water and then sip and relax! Voila! Warmed from the inside out!

I can be persuaded to make this and ship it to you...for a small shipping and handling fee of course.  Or if you are in the neighborhood, drop by and we'll visit over a couple of cups of tea!

Stay warm!

Pinwheel Biscuits

Sunday morning breakfasts are usually more than just a quick bowl of cereal. These pinwheel biscuits are one of JoPapa's frequent requests.  I've gotten a bit lazy so I use Bisquick instead of making my biscuit dough from scratch. I usually only make a half batch because these are best fresh from the oven.  But I have been known to make extra pinwheels just so we can have a few to nibble on for snacks later in the day too. To make biscuits, follow the mixing directions on the box. Once the dough is kneaded and rolled out, spread some melted butter over the top.

A little butter makes everything better!

Then generously sprinkle cinnamon sugar all over.  I have a sweet tooth and I sprinkle a lot of sugar! There isn't a correct proportion here, you get to make them to taste.  I keep my cinnamon and sugar mixed and ready to go at all times too.  It's handy to have to sprinkle on toast too!

Covered with cinnamon sugar and the melted butter.

Then roll up the dough.  Slice into rolls and place on a cookie sheet to bake.  I use a spatula to carry the rolls to the cookie sheet so my cinnamon sugar won't fall out.  I forgot when I moved the fist one over, so I had some clean up to do!

Rolled up dough.

Here they are ready to bake in a preheated oven according to the directions on the Bisquick box.

Ready for the oven.

It took 10 minutes at 450 and they cooked up beautifully.  Using Bisquick feels like "cheating" but the biscuits are always fluffy and delicious!

Sunday breakfast!

Can't you smell them? These are quick and easy to make so I won't even tease you about mailing them your way.  If you want to come eat breakfast some time, or just have a chat with me, a cup of tea and some pinwheel biscuits let me know! I'd love to see you! Or, I bake lots of things by request so if you aren't hungry for biscuits, I'll cook up something else!

Here's looking forward to 2013. May you have healthy, blessed, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Chunky Cranberry Applesauce

One thing I love about this time of year is that we can purchase fresh cranberries! They are so tasty and good for us to eat. I was craving some fresh cranberry applesauce and by the time you finish reading this, maybe you'll be hungry for some too!





Naturally red from the apples and cranberries!

First I wash my apples and cranberries, then core and cut up the apples. I don't peel my apples, because I don't want to waste any of their natural goodness. In a 2-quart sauce pan (or larger), put one bag of cranberries, six apples, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of cloves. Stir and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. I've found that it takes a varied amount of time to cook depending on the type of apples I use and how strong the simmer is going. But you will know it is cooked, when the apples are soft and mushy. I have a wonderful old sieve that I inherited from my grandmother that I usually use for applesauce. If I knew in which box I packed it, I would put all this in the sieve and make it a smooth sauce. But since I can't locate that (or the keys to our old house) I am eating a chunky sauce. I was surprised that I liked this texture. More surprising is that JoPapa likes this and asked for some at supper. That's a big compliment coming from a 'meat-n-taters' kind of guy!
Let me know what you think of this recipe.  I could can it and ship it, but it's best if you cook this one yourself.  An added benefit, is the lovely smell of apples and cinnamon.  It makes a great air freshener! Enjoy!