Apple Fritters!

What you need:

2 cups All-purpose Flour

3/4 cup sugar (scant)

2-1/4 teaspoons Baking Powder

1-1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

2 whole Large Eggs

3/4 cups Whole Milk

2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Melted Butter

2 whole Granny Smith Apples, Peeled And Diced

Powdered Sugar (optional, for dusting)

Vegetable Oil (for frying)

What to do:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with a fork, then add milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
3. Gently fold dry and wet ingredients together until just combined (do not overmix.) Fold in apples. Add enough apples to make a very chunky batter.  You want a good amount of apple in the mix!
4. Heat a couple of inches of canola oil over medium-high heat. When it gets hot, drop a little drop of batter into the oil. If it sizzles immediately and rises to the top, the oil is ready; if it burns quickly, turn down the heat.
5. Drop teaspoons of batter into the hot oil, four to six at a time. Sometimes they'll flip over by themselves; sometimes you have to flip them. Just watch them and make sure they don't get too brown, but cook them long enough to make sure the batter's cooked through, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes total.
6. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Dust very generously with powdered sugar.
7. Enjoy!

I've come to the conclusion that anything I cook from The Pioneer Woman's website will be delicious!  I came across these the other night, and decided to make them.  Oh man...they were SO GOOD!  The cake part of the fritter isn't too sweet, which I like, and the little bites of apple that you get add a sweet but tart flavor.  What I'm trying to say is, you NEED to make these, and soon! You won't regret it!

Cinnamon Cookies!

What you need:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

cinnamon sugar

What to do:

1. In a mixer bowl, cream together sugar and butter.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
3. Add to the butter mixture.  Blend well.
4. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours, or until the dough is firm enough to roll into balls.
5. Shape the dough into small balls about 3/4 inch in diameter.
6. Roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.
7. Place the cookies on lightly greased cookie sheets, and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
8. Let the cookies cool on racks, and enjoy!

These cookies are really easy to make, and delicious!  I hope you like them!

Brownies!

What you need:

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1-1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa

1-1/3 cups flour

1/2 salt

What to do:

1. Cream butter and sugar together.
2. Add eggs and blend well
3. Add vanilla, salt, flour, cocoa and flour.  Don't over-beat.
4. Pour into a greased 9X13 pan.
5. Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes.

These brownies are delicious, and incredibly easy to make!  Give them a try!

Spiced Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

What you need:
FOR CAKE

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup pecans (optional), toasted, cooled, and chopped

FOR FROSTING

• 5 oz cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 
  

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter an 8- or 9-inch square cake pan.

MAKE CAKE:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
• Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in applesauce. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined, then stir in pecans (if using).
• Spread batter evenly in pan and bake until golden-brown and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a plate. Reinvert cake onto a rack to cool completely.

MAKE FROSTING:

• Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over cream cheese mixture, then beat at medium speed until incorporated.
• Spread frosting over top of cooled cake.
  
  This cake is SOOO GOOD!  The cake isn't too sweet, which I like, and the frosting makes it!  I don't even like frosting very much, and I wanted to eat it straight out of the bowl!  Give it a try! 

Skillet Granola-Apple Crisp

What you need:
3 Tbsp. Butter
1 1/2 cup Granola (I used Great Grains cereal)
2 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Sugar, plus 1/4 cup
5 Apples (Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith)
(peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces)
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice


What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Melt the butter in a medium nonreactive and oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add the granola, 1 tablespoon of the flour and 1 tablespoon sugar and toss until the sugar is dissolved and the granola is well-coated. Transfer to a bowl; set aside. (Reserve the skillet.)
3. Pour the apples into the skillet; toss with the pumpkin pie spice, lemon juice and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are juicy and slightly softened, 4-6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Scatter the reserved granola mixture evenly over the top and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the crisp is bubbling and the apples are tender, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm, with ice cream if desired.

This apple crisp is pretty easy to make, and DELICIOUS!  Give it a try!

Dessert Crepes!

What you need:
4 Eggs
2 cups Heavy Cream
1 cup Milk
3/4 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
Raspberry Puree (optional)


What to do:

1. Combine the eggs, cream, milk, and oil and beat just until blended.
2. Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt into a bowl.  
3. Add the wet ingredients and mix until smooth, scraping down the bowl as necessary.  Add the vanilla. Stir just until the ingredients are blended into a relatively smooth batter.
4. Ladle a small amount of batter into a preheated, buttered pan over medium heat.
5. When the crepe has set, turn it over and finish on the other side.  
6. Fold the crepe on a plate, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve with Raspberry Puree.

These Crepes are delicious, and very easy to make!  Give them a try!

Triple Nut Pie! (Coconut, Macadamia, Pecan)

What you need:
1/2 butter 
3/4 cup cream of coconut
2 eggs
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
2 tablespoons flour
pastry for single pie crust


What to do:

1. Whisk 1/2 stick melted butter, 3/4 cup cream of coconut, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  
2. Stir in 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts, 1 cup pecans, 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut, and 2 tablespoons flour.  
3. Unroll pie crust, place in pan, and flute the edges.
4. Pour mixture into crust, and bake at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is set.

We made this pie for Thanksgiving, and everyone LOVED it!  It's simple, fast, and delicious! Hope you like it!

Raspberry Puree!

What you need:

1 pint of raspberries

1/4 cup sugar

What to do:

1. Put both the raspberries and sugar in a pot, and stir them together.  
2. Heat the mixture.  When it begins to bubble, stir, and then mash the raspberries with a spoon.  
3. If you want to remove the seeds, then you will need to run the puree through a fine mesh sieve.  

This is a very easy raspberry puree that goes great with beignets, pancakes, and other desserts!  Give it a try!

Berry Cobbler!

What you need:
2 cups fresh strawberries, halved
2 cups raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
pastry for 1 double pie crust


What to do:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch.  Add the strawberries and raspberries, and gently toss until the berries are coated.
2. Line the pie plate with half of the pastry.  Stir the berry mixture, and then transfer it to the pie plate.  Top with the second crust, and seal and crimp the edges.  Cover the edge of the pie with foil.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil, and bake for another 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.  Allow the pie to cool.

This pie is SO easy to make, and really good!  Also, you can substitute the raspberries and strawberries for blueberries or blackberries.  Give it a try! :)

Crème Brûlée!

What you need:

3.8 cups heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup egg yolks

raspberries (optional)

What to do:

1. Combine the cream, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously.  Remove the pot from the burner, and add the teaspoon of vanilla extract.  Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes.
2. Return the pot to the heat and bring the cream to a boil (stirring the whole time!).
3. Combine the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar and temper the mixture into the hot cream.  Ladle  the custard into your Crème Brûlée ramekins, filling each about three-quarters full.  
4. Bake in a water bath (the water needs to be boiling hot) at 325 degrees until just set, 20-25 minutes.  
5. Remove the custards from the water bath and wipe the ramekins dry.  Refrigerate until fully chilled.  (allow them to refrigerate for at least an hour, but the longer they chill, the better they are!)
6. To finish, evenly coat each custard's surface with a thin layer of sugar.  Use a propane torch to melt and caramelize the sugar.  Add a handful of raspberries (or any other fruit you want) on top, and enjoy!

Crème Brûlée is one of my all time favorite desserts!  It may seem difficult to make, but after a couple times of making it, it's really simple.  A great thing about it is you can make it earlier in the day, and then refrigerate until you're ready to eat; Then, all you have to do is torch the sugar on top!  This makes it a great dessert to make for when people come over, because you don't have to worry about cooking while they're there!  I hope you enjoy this dessert as much as I do! 

Apple Cobbler!

What you need:

1/2 cup butter, cut into 8 pieces

1 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1.5 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

3 cups peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smith or Heirloom)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place butter in a 2-quart baking dish, and place dish in oven until butter has melted.
2. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add milk, stirring to combine.
3. In a large bowl, toss apples with cinnamon.  
4. Pour batter into prepared baking dish (DO NOT stir batter and butter together, just pour batter over butter), and scatter apples over batter (make sure the apples aren't pressing against the edges of the dish).
5. Bake until cobbler is light brown and bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes.   

• For extra sweetness, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, if desired!

This apple cobbler is delicious!  It's not too sweet, so it could be served as either a breakfast, or dessert!  It's extremely easy to make, and the ingredients are common items that most people have in their kitchens.  Try it out!