Apple Cider Sangria

I saw this recipe a few times, before it really clicked that it was something I really wanted to make.

While I enjoy white sangrias, I really prefer red. So, that probably accounts for my hesitation.

I decided it would be great for Thanksgiving. Mum usually serves wine, but I really don't like wine... well... unless it's in sangria form!

Anyway... I was perusing the interwebs and stumbled upon this recipe at how sweet it is... and I tweaked it a little.



Apple Cider Sangria
1 bottle (750ml) pinot grigio
2 1/2 C apple cider
1/2 C ginger liqueur (I used Domaine de Canton)
1 C ginger ale or ginger beer
3 honey crisp apples, cubed
3 pears, cubed

Combine all ingredients and stir. Refrigerate at least one hour, preferably several.

Enjoy!!

I made a single batch of this and instantly decided to add half a batch more, then decided to just double it. We didn't have any more pinot grigio or we would have doubled it again!

This is wicked good!!! Everyone totally LOVED it!



I only used the apples & pears for one recipe. I think if we'd quadrupled it, just 3 pears and 3 apples would have still been fine.

This can sit in the fridge for days (if it lasts that long!!) You don't get any bitterness like you do from citrus fruit in sangria. The apples and pears just keep adding more appley peary goodness!



From this day forward Apple Cider Sangria will forever be served on Thanksgiving!! And probably many of the other days that apple cider is available! I can't wait to make it again!

I really suggest you make this today.... don't dawdle like I did!!! And make it at least a double!!

Caramel Apple Enchiladas

The second I saw Caramel Apple Enchiladas on In the Kitchen with KP, I knew I had to make them!

Growing up, we used to always go apple picking in the fall so that's when my mom always started making apple desserts! Apple Crisp, Apple Dumplings, Apple Pies...

The weather was cool in Pittsburgh. It was definitely feeling like fall. And I was dying to get my apple on.

As soon as I saw the recipe for Caramel Apple Enchiladas, I couldn't stop thinking about them. Unfortunately, I was heading out of town to help my sister with her annual Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention.

Which, by the way, you can still make a donation to, if you're so inclined, by clicking this link... http://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/spryte

I was considering making them at her house... but we were so busy, there was just no time. So they had to wait... and I have to say, they were definitely worth the wait!!

After checking out LOTS of Apple Enchilada recipes, (most of which called for canned apple pie filling *shudder*) this is what I came up with.



Caramel Apple Enchiladas
5 flour tortillas (soft taco size)
5 apples (I used 3 MacIntosh & 2 Honey Crisp)
1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 - 3/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1/4 C butter
5 Caramel sheets (used for easy caramel apples)
1 TBLS butter, melted
1 TBLS cinnamon/sugar (for sprinkling)
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Caramel sauce (optional)

Preheat oven to 425F.
Peel, core and chop apples.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of butter.
Add chopped apples, sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg.
Cook apples for about 5 - 8 minutes, or until tender.
Place flour tortilla on work surface, then place caramel sheet in the center of the flour tortilla.
Put a scoop of cooked apples in the center.
Fold bottom of tortilla up over apples, fold sides in, then roll it up, being careful to keep the filling inside.
Place seam side down in 8x8 glass baking dish.
Repeat with remaining tortillas & caramel sheets.
Brush enchiladas with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar.
Bake at 425F for 10 - 15 minutes or until golden.
Serve warm with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel.

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So peel your apples.


I like to use a couple types of apples, when I bake.
One is almost always MacIntosh, today the other was Honey Crisp.

Cut out the cores and chop them up.


Melt 1/4 C butter in a large skillet.


Add the chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.


Cook 5 - 8 minutes, or until apples are tender.


Ok... those spicy apples smelled amazing!

Now you need soft taco sized flour tortillas & caramel sheets.

You can usually find caramel sheets in the produce department at the grocery store.


I had never used them before. They're pretty cool... just packed between sheets of parchment paper.


First lay out a tortilla.


Add a caramel sheet.


Add a scoop of apples.


Fold the bottom of the tortilla up over the apples.


Fold in the sides.


Then roll it up and place it seam side down in an 8x8 glass baking dish.

Repeat with remaining tortillas & caramel sheets.


I had a little bit of apple left over... it was so good reheated on pancakes the next day! But it would have also been great stirred into oatmeal.


Now brush the enchiladas with melted butter.


Sprinkle them with cinnamon/sugar.


And bake for 10 - 15 minutes at 425F, or until golden.


Some of the caramel oozes out, but that's ok. It totally scoops right up with the enchiladas.

Serve with some vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of caramel!


These were SO good!! And they went together really fast! No baking for an hour or making dough like a pie. Just sweet, spicy, apply deliciousness!

Microwave Apple Crisp for One

Tawny went off to college a few months ago. One thing I've noticed, is that she hates to hear when I'm making her favorite foods when she's not home.

She is learning to use her little dorm-sized microwave for more than just heating stuff up. Which is pretty much all we use it for at the house. But she still misses some of her favorite foods.

I was recently making an Apple Crisp and thought that Tawny would be bummed she'd be missing out.

Then I wondered if it could be made in the microwave, so she wouldn't have to miss out!

So I consulted my friend the internet. There were a lot of recipes... I decided the closest recipe to what I was looking for was this one from food.com, formerly know as RecipeZaar. I did change it a little, because I can't imagine apple crisp that doesn't have spiced apples in it!



Microwave Apple Crisp for One
1 apple, peeled and thinly sliced
2 TBLS brown sugar
2 TBLS quick-cooking oats
1 TBLS flour
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 TBLS butter, melted
1 TBLS cinnamon/sugar mix (like you'd use for cinnamon toast)

Place thinly sliced apple in a 1.5 - 2 cup sized ramekin. Toss with cinnamon/sugar mix. My mix usually has a little nutmeg in it too. Combine remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl, until well mix. Stir in melted butter and pour over spiced apples.
Cook in microwave on high 2 - 3 minutes, or until apples are tender. Let it rest for a few minutes and the topping will get crispy.

My pics have double apples, because I like a mix of apples in my baked apple desserts and I was also trying another microwave single serve apple crisp recipe at the same time. The other was a dismal failure that I won't waste your time with.

MacIntosh & JonaGold Apples
I think it's a JonaGold. I always use MacIntosh, but I always change up it's companion/s.


Peel, cut & toss with cinnamon/sugar


Mix remaining dry ingredients.


Stir melted butter into topping mix.




Pour over apples in ramekin.


Microwave on high for 2 - 3 minutes, or until apples are tender.




This was so good!!! Not quite as good as Mum's Apple Crisp, but definitely a worthy substitute.

You don't have to be a college student, longing for home cooking to enjoy this! It's perfect if you just want a little something. It's made from stuff I think most people would usually have on hand and it only takes about 5 minutes to make!

Want to make it a little extra special? Add some whipped cream or ice cream!

It's just not fall without Apple Crisp!

Dulce de Leche Apple Pie

I have to say, it had never occurred to me to make any apple pie other than my mom's apple pie.

I mean why would I, right? Mum's pie rocks!

But as previously teased, I took one look at the title, Dulce de Leche Apple Pie and started drool!

Laura at The Cooking Photographer had me hooked and I wouldn't be able to bake anything, until I tried her pie!

I kept thinking, I'd just add Dulce de Leche to my mom's pie, then decided that it was time to branch out a bit!

I'll still be making Mum's pie... but this pie totally rocks too!



This is very slightly adapted from Laura's recipe.

Dulce de Leche Apple Pie
Double crust for 9” pie (I purchased mine too)
Egg white mixed with a teaspoon of water (I kinda omitted this)
5 C peeled and sliced mixed apples
1/4 C Dulce de Leche
2 TBLS apple cider
1/2 C brown sugar
1/3 C granulated sugar
1/3 C cornstarch
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon (I used 1/2 tsp)
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 TBLS of butter for dotting pie (oops totally forgot this)

Preheat oven to 375F.

Mix sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.


Whisk together, Dulce de Leche, apple cider and vanilla.


Toss sliced apples with Dulce de Leche mixture. (I used MacIntosh & Honey Crisp)


Toss the Dulce de Leche coated apples in the sugar mixture.


Then into your prepared pie crust.


Top with remaining pie crust, crimp and vent.


I usually just moisten my hands with water, slightly dampen the top crust with my hands and sprinkle with my standard cinnamon/sugar/nutmeg mix that I keep on hand for apple crisp or cinnamon toast. That's what I did instead of the egg whites.

Cover the crust with foil, so it doesn't get over done.


And into the oven for about an hour.

Remove the foil half way through.

Let the pie rest for several hours, so the filling can set.


Everyone really loved this pie!


When I make baked apple desserts, I always use MacIntosh apples and usually mix them with some other kind. I mixed them with Honey Crisp this time and was VERY pleased with the results. The Honey Crisp slices stayed much firmer than the MacIntosh and the texture of the pie was great!



Laura this recipe ROCKS!

This is for you!


I'll definitely be making this again!

(Don't worry mum... I'll definitely still make yours too!)

It's fall... I know you all are out apple picking! You should make Laura's pie!

Mum's Apple Crisp

My mom made this often while I was growing up. I make it a lot too. It's probably the most requested dessert at my house.

A few years ago, I lost my copy of her recipe and started to have to call her every time I wanted to make it. I'd call her and scribble it on a scrap of paper and lose the paper. Every time I'd promise to write it down properly and keep it with my recipes and every time I'd lose it again.

I called her again over the weekend and scribbled it on a piece of paper. Now, I'm finally going to make good on my promise and I'm writing it down properly. Well.. I'm typing it and sharing it with all of you!! Don't be surprised if one day, if my internet is out, I give you a call to ask for the recipe!!



Mum's Apple Crisp
6 - 9 baking apples (I use mostly MacIntosh)
1 C cinnamon/sugar mix (like you'd use for cinnamon toast)
1 C flour
3/4 C sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 C melted butter

Preheat oven to 350F
Peel, core and slice apples.
Toss apples with cinnamon/sugar mix.
Pour apples into a baking dish.
Using the bowl you used to toss apples with cinnamon/sugar whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. (you get bonus flavor of a little bit of cinnamon sugar left from the apples in the bowl)
Stir in lightly beaten egg, until well combined and crumbly.
Pour flour mixture over apples and cover evenly.
Evenly pour melted butter over the top of flour mixture.
Bake at 350F for 30 - 40 minutes.
Cool 20 - 30 minutes.
Serve warm topped with whipped cream or vanilla or caramel ice cream.
Enjoy!

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Peel, core and slice the apples. I used 1/2 MacIntosh, 1/4 Rome, 1/4 Cortland.










When I was a kid, I'd always try to peel the apples in one long strip. Ok... I still do that. But back then, I LOVED feeding the peels to my rabbit Nick. I named Nick after Nicky Palmerino. I wonder if he ever knew I had a crush on him in elementary school?

Sorry... back to the apple crisp.

I don't have a recipe for cinnamon sugar. I just keep it in a mason jar in my kitchen. It's sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. I just mix it until I like the smell and it looks like it's the right color. So just mix them according to your taste. =)

Put all the sliced apples into a large bowl and toss with cinnamon/sugar.






Pour them into a baking dish.


I use the cinnamony bowl to mix the topping.


Mix dry ingredients, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.








Add a beaten egg.


Mix until crumbly.




Evenly pour topping over apples.


Pour 1/4 cup melted butter over the top of the topping.






You can cover the top with butter more evenly if you're not trying to take a picture while you do it!


Bake for 30 - 40 minutes.


Cool for 20 - 30 minutes and serve with whipped cream or vanilla or caramel ice cream!