Apple Pie Flavored Apple Sauce.

There are few things better than the smell of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and the like filling the air in your house during fall.  I really love all seasons except winter, but I think I like I love fall the most.  It's cozy, comfy, and the start of comfort cooking!


With that, I bring you a super easy recipe for chunky apple sauce that freezes wonderfully so that you are able to enjoy "fresh" sauce year-round.


Apple Pie Flavored Apple Sauce.
(Recipe by Me)
8 cups apples (peeled, cored, and cut into slices)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
2 teaspoon vanilla


Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.  Heat under apples are tender - about 30 minutes.  Using a potato masher, mash apples under they are broken into bite size pieces.  Allow to cool and place in freezer containers.  Freeze for no longer than 1 year.  And, if you are like me and have an abundance of apples....you can easily double or triple this recipe and cook in a nesco.  


I seriously love this stuff.  Our most common methods of eating this chunky apple sauce include: ice cream topping (along with a little caramel syrup!), mixed into pancake batter, and baked with pork chops.  Head out to your local orchard and get yourself some apples!!  Make this!

Snicker Salad.

This is by far a family favorite - though not a favorite of mine.  I'm sure it would quickly become a favorite in your family as well and would be a hit at a pot luck.

I had a few granny smith apples laying around...I don't really eat apples and my husband was boycotting them because they were not of the MacIntosh variety.  I was tired of looking at them.  Luckily, I remembered how he loves my mom's snicker salad.  Perfect.  Attempting to get a decent picture: not so perfect.  You'll have to use your imagination on this one!

Snicker Salad.

(Recipe from My Mom)

3 Snicker Bars (regular sized)

3 Granny Smith Apples

1 Large Box of Instant Vanilla Pudding

1 1/3 cup milk

16 ounce Cool Whip

Chop Snickers and apples.  Whip pudding and milk together.  Fold in Cool Whip, Snickers, and apples.  Keep and serve cold.

Most people will enjoy this.  It's unlikely you'll have any leftovers.  Now go buy some granny smith apples!!

Apple Cinnamon Granola Bread.

Yes, the apple theme continues...

The first time reading though my new bread cookbooks, I bent the corner over on the page for Apple Cinnamon Granola Bread to indicate a bread I wanted to make sooner than later.  I was intrigued with using apples in a yeast bread as previously all apple breads I've seen were quick breads.  Plus I haven't made a loaf of cinnamon bread in a long time and I thought this might make up for it - especially since it would be coming out of the oven when my husband and father-in-law came in for lunch.  Really, what's not to love about a slice of warm homemade bread on a cold winter's day?

Apple Cinnamon Granola Bread.
Adapted from Prairie Home Breads

1 cup water (room temperature)
1/4 cup milk
1 cup chunky applesauce (I used the chunky applesauce we froze last fall)
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups whole flour
2 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon wheat gluten
3/4 cup granola
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine bowl in the order listed above.  When placing the yeast in the bowl form a small well in the flour to dump it in.  Set bread machine to dough setting and let the machine do the work!   Punch dough down and place in a greased bread pan.  Allow to rise for 1 hour (or until doubled in size) and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

That is just how easy homemade bread making can be.  Very little hands on time when using the bread machine with the results matching that of having played around with the dough all morning!

The end result is a slightly sweet bread with a touch of cinnamon and bit of crunch from the granola.  We ate it fresh from the oven (heaven) as well as a toasted for a couple days later (still delicious!).  This was a nice break from my stand-by honey oat bread.

Apple & Stuffing Pork Chops.

I've always liked the combination of pork and apple.  Breakfast sausage cooked with apples....pork chops served with apple sauce...and now this: pork chops cooked over a bed of apple-cinnamon pie filling topped with stuffing.  

The combination may alarm you, but I assure you there is no need to be alarmed.  Besides the great taste, the prep time for this dish is minimal and the oven time gives you the opportunity to get a few things done around the house.

Apple & Stuffing Pork Chops
(Adapted from Taste of Home 5-Ingredient Cookbook)

4-6 boneless pork chops
1 package stuffing mix (prepared according to package directions)
1 large can apple pie filling (if filling doesn't come with cinnamon, add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)

Grease the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Spread pie filling onto the bottom of the baking pan.  Place pork chops over the top of the pie filling.  Spoon stuffing over the top of each pork chop.  Cover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes (or until the pork reaches 160 degrees).

Yum!  I served this with garlic smashed potatoes and peas.

...and if you are sensing an apple theme...I did not plan for all of these apple dishes to pop up at the same time, but they have...and there is an least one more coming!

Apple Kuchen with Crumb Topping.

My husband loves apple desserts.  Loves them.  So when he suggested we make an apple dessert the other night I jumped at the opportunity to try a second recipe from my Better Homes & Garden One-Pan Recipe book.

Apple Kuchen with Crumb Topping.

(Recipe Slightly Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens One-Pan Recipe Publication)

Kuchen:

2 1/4 cup flour

2 1/2 teaspoon dry active yeast

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

2 eggs

4 medium apples (peeled, cored, and cut into slices)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup butter

Combine 1 cup flour and yeast in a mixing bowl; set aside.  In a small saucepan, heat and stir milk, sugar, butter, and salt just until warm.  Add milk mixture and eggs to the flour mixture.  Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  Beat in the remaining flour.  Spread batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish.  In a separate bowl combine apples, brown sugar, tapioca, lemon juice, and apple pie spice.  Spread apples mixture on top of the batter.  Top with crumb topping (made by combing ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs).  Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

We, of course, served ours with some Wisconsin ice cream.  Babcock Hall ice cream to be exact.  If you are lucky enough to live near and/or be driving through Madison.  Stop at Babcock Hall for some ice cream.

Apple Bean Bake

It seems as though whenever an exam or assignment is due I tend to shift my focus to baking and cooking instead. Therefore, with an exam this coming Monday, rather than studying I have spent the last hour sorting through and debating on which of the many recipes I want to post. (Holly - there are a few you may still want me to share!) After asking for my husbands input the conclusion was to share the infamous APPLE BEAN BAKE. This is a recipe from my Aunt Nina who has been one of many to help provide me with so many simple, quick and tasty recipes these last 2 years of nursing school in order to keep my husband and my tummy satisfied! I do apologize I have no picture to go with this, but am now craving it so if I bake it this week I will see if Holly can add a photo for me!!!

APPLE BEAN BAKE:

1 can Randall Beans (48oz) - DO NOT drain - can be found at Piggly Wiggly/Walmart

3 cups sliced Granny Smith apples

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon molasses

1 teaspoon salt

6 slices of bacon (or more if you LOVE bacon like I do!)

1. In skillet melt butter. Add apples and cook until tender

2. Add brown and white sugar, stirring until sugar is melted

3. Stir in cinnamon, salt, ketchup and molasses

4. Add beans and mix well, then set mixture aside

5. Cut bacon into small pieces and fry (or fry and then break into pieces - whichever you prefer)

6. Add bacon to apple mixture and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish - (If you'd like and the smell is too good to avoid, scoop a few teaspoonfuls out for tasting - but it may make you go crazy waiting for it to bake the next hour!)

7. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 1 hour - (I place a few pieces of foil under the dish incase the juices bubble over)

8. Scoop and enjoy! Tastes great the next day reheated or cold

Rustic Caramel Apple Tart.

This was the cutest little apple dessert ever! And when I say little, I really do mean it. I adapted a recipe from my Cooking for Two magazine. The end product - perfect for four! The best part? It tasted good! It was similar to an apple pie but without the top crust...and since I don't really like the crust this was perfect for me! Served with a little vanilla ice cream - this was the perfect end to my day!

Rustic Caramel Apple Tart

(Adapted from Taste of Home - Cooking for 2)

Crust:

2/3 cup flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold butter

6 teaspoons cold water

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extra

Filling:

2 cups chopped & peeled apples

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

cinnamon & sugar mixture

caramel ice cream topping

Combine flour, sugar, and salt for crust. Cut in butter until crumbly. Slowly add water and vanilla until dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll dough into a 10-inch circle. Transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheet. Combine filling ingredients and place on top of pastry - leaving about a 1.5 inch edge clear of filling. Fold up the edges of the pastry over the filling (the center will stay uncovered). Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly. Remove from oven, cool slightly, top with caramel sauce, and serve warm!

Seriously so good you may want to double the recipe and have extra servings!! Enjoy!

Cranberry Citrus Relish.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Did you forgot to get cranberry sauce? It's OK! Don't go making a special trip for it. You can do better than that...grab four simple ingredients you are sure to have on hand (and if you don't, try your neighbor!)

And the blog title, Mom Taught Us. SO appropriate here. I'm sure this was my first contribution to our family's Thanksgiving meal. When was that? Probably sometime before I was actually able to reach counter. That's right - it's that easy. And obviously that good that we are still making it!!

Cranberry Citrus Relish

(recipe from Mom)

1 pound fresh (or frozen) cranberries

2 medium oranges (rind and all)

1 medium apple (no need to peel, but you will want to take the seeds out)

2 cups sugar

Cut oranges and apple into chunks. Grind fruit, add sugar, mix, and enjoy! I like to top my turkey with this delicious relish.

And don't worry - as a child my mom would take care of the cutting for me!

Partridge In A Pear Tree

First of all, thanks Holly and Heidi for letting me share a recipe on your cooking blog. I feel so famous now. :)

No, my recipe does not have anything to do with a partridge, but you will need a pear off a tree for this wonderful Winter Salad!

This dish is a great salad to make in the Winter or for the holidays. I usually make it for my family Christmas get together but have decided to try it for Thanksgiving this year, as if for either holiday we need more food. But it's salad, so it's healthy right, there's always extra room for healthy?!

No picture yet, but I will try and get some shots when I make this Thursday. But, believe me it's delicious. Make it and you will not disagree.

Winter Salad

* 1 large bag of romaine lettuce (chop into bite size if needed)
* 4 oz shredded Swiss cheese
* 1/4 cup Craisins (but I like to sprinkle extra in)
* 1 cup chopped cashews
* 1 apple cubed
* 1 pear cubed

You should mix all these ingredients together and refrigerate.

Dressing:

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup lemon juice
* 2 tsp finely chopped onion (optional)
* 1 tsp Dijon honey mustard
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 2/3 cup oil (canola of veg.)
1 Tbsp poppy seed

Mix and add the dressing just before you serve the salad.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

This pie is the second pie I have ever made, and my first one with a homemade crust! We haven't tried it yet but it smells absolutely delicious and looks pretty darn good also. We're getting together tomorrow to have apple pie a la mode - so I'll update you with the results! :)

I started off by searching for a pie crust recipe and adapted my recipe from one listed on SimplyRecipes.com.

Perfect Pie Crust

2 1/2 cup flour, plus additional flour for rolling out dough
2 sticks butter, frozen and cubed
1 teaspoon sugar
4-8 Tablespoons ice water

Combine flour and sugar in food processor; process to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture forms pea-sized pieces of butter. Add 1 Tablespoon of water at at a time (not exceeding 8 Tablespoons), until it begins to clump together. If you can pinch a small amount of mixture together and it holds, it is ready. It should resemble the image below.


Separate the mixture into two equal mounds on a clean service. Gently knead the mixture into two formed discs - do not over-knead. You should see small chunks of butter, these chunks of butter are what helps the crust flake. Sprinkle these disks with a little flour and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator for at least one hour (can sit for up to two days). Remove one disc from fridge and allow to get to room temperature - 5-10 minutes to make rolling easier. Sprinkle surface with flour and roll out pie crust. Carefully place into 9 inch pie plate. After adding filling, repeat with the second disc.

Apple Pie Filling

3-5 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/4 cup apple pie liquor
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour in crust and sprinkle with additional brown sugar, if desired. Cover pie with top crust; press crusts together, trim the edges and press fork around the outside edge. Cut 3-4 slices or designs on top crust to allow the steam out while baking. Bake 45 minutes. After removing from oven, cover with glaze.

Apple Pie Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 Tablespoons water
pinch of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients, mix well and place on top crust. Enjoy!

Apple Pancakes & Chunky Apple Sauce.

My favorite thing to do with pancake mix is add things to it. Now that fall (maybe even winter) is upon us I have been adding in apple. And in this case - apple and cinnamon chips. But not just any apple or cinnamon chips - homemade apple sauce and amish store mini cinnamon chips. No real recipe for the pancakes - add as much or as little as you'd like!

Chunky Apple Sauce

(adapted from Taste of Home)

8 cups apple (peeled and cut into apple-pie like slices)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a roaster over, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on medium heat - stirring occasionally for 35 minutes (or until apples are tender). Remove from heat, mash the apples using a potato masher until desired consistency. (We like ours on the chunky side.) Separate into containers and freeze for long-term storage.

Ok, so we make a HUGE roaster full of this. If you make the recipe above you may not have to freeze much, if any.

Suggestions for eating:

Plain - warm or cold

On ice cream - warmed up and with caramel

In pancakes

And any other way you can think of!!

Caramel Apple Bars.

This delishous recipe comes straight from my mom's kitchen! Perfect for the upcoming season and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Caramel Apple Bars.

(from mom)

1 egg yolk

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

2 cups flour (I used one all purpose and one whole wheat)

Combine all ingredients. Reserve 1/3 cup. Press the rest into a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

4 apples (peeled, cored, sliced thin)

2 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Toss apples with the flour/sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place on top of cooled crust.

20 caramels

1 tablespoon water

Melt caramel with water. Drizzle over apples. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

If not eating it warm from the over, heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds and serve with ice cream. Your taste buds will thank you!