Apples, apples everywhere! They are in the grocery stores, at the farmer’s market, and if you’re driving through a rural area, there’s a good chance you’ll see them hanging from the trees. When it comes to ways to incorporate apples into your cooking the possibilities are endless!
Although the best and most nutritious way to enjoy an apple is to simply take a bite of one, it is fun (and tasty) to explore all the different creations you can make with this delicious fruit. That’s why we’re having an adventure into the world of Sweet Apple Treats this month. We’ll look at several popular apple recipes. Whether you’re craving caramel apples, apple pie, apple dumplings, or even applesauce, we’ve got the recipes!
We’ll start things off with an easy, fun recipe that the entire family will enjoy making and eating. So gather the kids in your life and spend the afternoon making Homemade Caramel Apples. When you’re finished, you’ll not only have a yummy treat, but you’ll have created a memory!
Caramel Apples
1. Start by washing and completely drying red delicious apples.
2. Next, remove the stem and place a craft stick in the top of the apple.
3. For this recipe, you can use 1 pound of store bought caramels. After you unwrap the caramels, add 2 Tablespoons of milk. Then place them in a microwave to melt. Stir periodically.
4. After the caramels are melted, roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until it is coated.
5. If you like, you can dip the top of the apples in peanuts, M&M’s or chocolate chips; however, this isn’t necessary.
6. Finally, place the apples on a baking sheet prepared with butter or cooking spray.
7. Place the caramel coated apples in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until the caramel has hardened.
What a fun way to spend an afternoon! Think what a hit these treats would be at a children’s party or a fall festival. If you wrap them individually, you could create your own gourmet gifts. (Not a bad idea with the holidays sneaking up so quickly.) No matter how you choose to distribute these delightful treats, one thing is for sure: they will be enjoyed!
Here’s another apple recipe your whole family will enjoy: Apple Pie. Why, it’s an American icon! Here’s a secret: it’s really easy to make. For too long women have been buying pies at the bakery because we’ve thought it was too hard to make a pie. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Making pies can be simple and fun. In fact, I think it’s easier to make a pie than it is to make either cookies or a cake. So let’s get adventurous and throw off the myth that pie making is too hard. Together, let’s explore the wonderful world of making our own apple pies! Here’s the recipe:
Apple Pie
Start with the Crust:
1. Mix together 2 cups of flour and ½ teaspoon salt.
2. Cut in 2/3 cups of Crisco.
3. Add ½ cup warm water. Mix with a fork until totally blended. Then use your hands to form the dough into a ball.
4. Take half of the dough and shape into a flattened round on a lightly floured board. Roll dough with a rolling pin until it about 1/4 inches thick.
5. Place the dough in an ungreased pie plate.
6. Roll the other half of the dough on a lightly floured board. Let it sit on the board while you put the pie together. This will be the pie’s top.
Next, let’s fill the pie:
1. Core and slice 5-7 tart apples.
2. Mix 3/4 cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons of flour, and a dash of salt.
3. Put half of the sugar mixture on the pie shell that is already in the pie plate.
4. Heap apples slices into the pie shell.
5. Sprinkle remaining sugar mixture over the apples
6. Dot with margarine–about 2 Tablespoons
Then Cover the Pie:
1. Place the top of the pie crust that you let sit on the floured board and place it over the pie.
2. Pinch the bottom and top of the crust together.
3. Cut off any excess dough from the top and bottom crust. Use your thumbs to shape the edges so they look like a pie crust.
4. Brush the top of the crust with milk and sprinkle sugar on the top.
5. Cut little slits with a knife in the pie lid before baking.
6. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then turn the heat down to 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool. Then enjoy your homemade apple pie!
Maybe you’re looking for more than an apple dessert. Perhaps, you’re looking for a way to incorporate apples into a meal. One of my favorite ways to do this is to make Apple Fritters.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get bored with the same old side dishes. Some weeks it seems like an endless parade of potatoes, pasta and rice. That’s why every now and then I throw apple fritters into the mix. They are absolutely delicious and they add a sweet, fruity taste to any meal. Personally, I like to serve them on evenings when I’m grilling steaks; however, you could use them as a side dish to any meal. The instructions are simple, and they don’t take much time to prepare.
Apple Fritters
1. Combine :
1 cup of milk 1 egg
1/3 cup of sugar dash of salt
2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
Beat with an electric mixer
2. Heat ¼ inch of canola oil in a frying pan.
3. Peel and wash 2 red delicious apples. Cut into cubes and stir into the batter.
4. When the oil is hot, spoon batter into the frying pan using a tablespoon. You should be able to get 8-12 fritters in a pan.
5. Sprinkle sugar on the top of 1 side of the fritter while frying.
