Fried Apples

My grandma used to cook simple meals.  Fried potatoes, hamburger patties, and fried apples were often seen at our dinner table. So was liver and onions with canned spinach. That was my least favorite meal.

Tonight while cooking dinner I was craving fried apples. I usually burn them when I try to cook them. Tonight I tried something different and was successful at cooking at them perfectly.

The Imaginative One refused to touch them but the Wee One loved them.

Fried Apples

Stars of the recipe:

• 2 apples cored and sliced into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices
• 2 tablespoons of butter  
• 2 tablespoons of Brown sugar 
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

Steps:

1. Heat skillet on medium heat. 
2. Melt butter in skillet.
3. Add remaining ingredients. 
4. Stir until apples are coated with melted butter,  brown sugar, and cinnamon. 
5. Cook for 3 minutes.
6. Turn heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. 
7. Take off of heat. 
8. Enjoy by itself, with whipped cream, or over ice cream.

Printable Version

Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

In August of 2010, I posted an entry for Instant Oatmeal Mix.  As we are experiencing another cold snap, oatmeal is a good way to warm up on a bitterly cold morning.

I was pursing Yummy Life's instant oatmeal packets' blog entry and found some good ideas for different types of instant oatmeal.  Making your own instant oatmeal mixes is  better than the Quaker or off brand instant oatmeal packets.  You control the ingredients.  Plus it doesn't have preservatives.

Using some of the ideas from Yummy Life and what I had around the house, I came up with an apple cinnamon instant oatmeal that is divine.

Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

Stars of the recipe:

• 2-1/4 c. Instant or Quick Oatmeal


• 1/3 c. powdered milk


• 1/2 c. packed brown sugar


• 2 to 3 tsp. cinnamon


• 1/3 c. dried apples


• 1/3 c. chopped nuts (I used cashews.)


• 2 -3 Tbsp Chia seeds


• 2 tsp. salt


• 2 Tbsp. vanilla powder (optional)

Steps:

1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.


2. Store in an airtight container.


3. When you are ready to make oatmeal, mix 1/2 c. of the oatmeal mix with 3/4 c. water.  (Make sure the bowl is big enough because the oatmeal with expand in the microwave.)


4. Heat in the microwave for 90 seconds.

Or:

1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.


2. Store in an airtight container.


3. Mix 1/3 c. oatmeal mix, 1/2 c. water, and 1/4 c. yogurt in a mason jar or a similar type jar.


4. Make sure the lid is on tightly and shake up the mixture.


5. Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.


6. Enjoy straight out of the fridge or allow it to warm up to room temperature before eating!

Pork and Sauerkraut (A Slow Cooker Recipe)

It's a family tradition to have pork and sauerkraut for our New Year's dinner.  My father-in-law would make a big pot of it and family members would eat the sauerkraut so that they would have good luck for the new year.  Since he died two weeks ago, I offered to make it this year.

I made some changes to how it was cooked.  First of all I made it in my slow cooker instead of in a big stock pot.  I also roasted potatoes instead of cooking the potatoes in the slow cooker with the meat and sauerkraut.  Hubby loved it and was impressed because it didn't have the bitter/sour taste you usually associate with sauerkraut.  He even took some to work with him to share with his co-workers.

The boys did taste the sauerkraut so they would have good luck but being kids didn't really like it.  At least they tried it which is better than on New Year's Eve.  I made fish for supper.  The fish was cooked with olive oil and a seasoning mix from one of my Foodie Pen Pals.  Hubby loved it but the boys wanted to give me excuses on why they could not eat it.  They still had to eat it but it was interesting on what excuses they came up with.  The best one is their brain was going to explode since I told them fish is brain food.

Now onto the recipe:

Pork and Sauerkraut in the Slow Cooker

Stars of the recipe:

• 1 -2 lbs. pork roast


• 16 - 32 oz. of sauerkraut (depending on how much pork you have)


• 1 big carrot or 2 small carrots, peeled and cut into small pieces


• 1 apple, peeled and cut into small pieces


• 1 - 2 Tbsp. brown sugar


• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Drain and rinse the sauerkraut several times to remove the brine.


2. Place the pork roast in the bottom of the slow cooker.  (Mine is 5 qt.)  Sprinkle salt and pepper on the pork roast.


3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the rinsed sauerkraut, apple pieces, carrot pieces, and brown sugar.


4. Place the sauerkraut mixture on the pork roast.


5. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.


6. Shred the pork and combine with the sauerkraut.


7. Enjoy with boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes (just serving suggestions)!

Homemade Applesauce

I'm so proud of myself.  Today we were given a chance to go apple picking at one of our fellow church member's houses.  We could take as much as we wanted which is totally cool.  The Imaginative One is a fussy eater but loves his apples and applesauce.  So I jumped at the chance.  

We picked a lot of apples and made memories with the boys.  The Imaginative One ended up getting stung by a bee but was happy because the apples were absolutely delicious.  That made up for his finger being stung.  

Once we got home, I washed some of the less attractive ones.  Then I peeled and cut them into smaller pieces.  I placed into one of my bigger pots, covered the apples with water, and cooked them for half and hour.  The boys then helped me puree the apples in the blender for a smoother applesauce.  The end result was a delicious applesauce.

So why am I proud of myself.  I made homemade applesauce that I know the boys will eat.  I made memories with the boys.  We picked the apples and within 2.5 hours I had applesauce.  That is why I'm proud of myself.

Homemade Smooth Applesauce

Stars of the recipe:

• 3 to 4 pounds of apples, peeled and quartered (or cut smaller)


• cinnamon to taste or cinnamon sticks


• water


• sugar to taste (1/4 to 3/4 c.)

Steps:

1. Wash, peel, and cut apples.


2. Place in a big pot and then cover with water.  Sprinkle with cinnamon or put in the cinnamon sticks.


3. Put the pot on the stove and turn the heat on to high.


4. Allow the water to boil and then turn to medium low.


5. Cook until apples are tender.


6. Either use a food mill or a blender to puree the apples.  (We used the blender.  When we did, we used the apples and some of the cooking water.)


7. Place in a bowl.  Sprinkle with more cinnamon and sugar to taste.


8. Enjoy warm or cooled down.

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Individual Five Spice Apple Crisp

Last November my foodie pen pal introduced me to Chinese five spice and suggested I use it in some of my fall time recipes instead of pumpkin pie spice blend.  The five spice really does take it up a notch.  If you didn't know, Chinese five spice is a spice blend of cinnamon, star anise, white pepper, cloves, and fennel.  It's primarily used in Chinese cooking but is found in other cuisines.  

With fall around the corner and the pumpkin spice latte already at Starbucks, it's time to start my favorite flavor season.  I love fall flavors!  Apples, cranberries, and pumpkins, oh my goodness deliciousness.  Cinnamon is my favorite spice.  So if asked, my favorite seasons are the transition seasons - fall for it's bold flavors and spring for it's beauty.

I got some apples from one of our local produce stands so I decided to make myself an apple crisp.  Since the boys do not eat apple crisp, I decided to make myself my own individual apple crisp.  Instead of using cinnamon, I used the Chinese Five Spice.

Individual Five Spice Apple Crisp

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Stars of the recipe:

• 2 c. glass dish


• 1 med. apple seeded and diced (peeled if you want to)


• 2 tsp. Chinese Five Spice (1 tsp. and 1 tsp.)


• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar


• 1/4 c. quick cooking oats


• 1/2 Tbsp. butter, cut into fourths or halves


• Optional:  2 Tbsp. pecan or walnuts for topping

Steps:

1. Spray your glass dish with cooking spray.


2. Add the apples to the dish.  Sprinkle the apples with 1 tsp. of  Chinese five spice.


3. In another dish, mix the oats, brown sugar, and the other tsp. of Chinese five spice.


4. Evenly distribute the oat mixture over the apples.


5. If you are using nuts on the top, sprinkle those on top of the oat mixture.


6. Place the pats of butter over the oat mixture.


7. Microwave for 2.5 to 3 minutes.  Careful it will be hot.


8. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.


9. Enjoy!

Smoothies are quick and delicious. They can be healthy depending on the ingredients in the smoothie.

This smoothie reminds you of Apple Jack cereal without all the sugar.

Apple Jack Smoothie

Happy Herbivore

Stars of the recipe:

• 1 c. Unsweetened almond milk


• 1 c. Banana, frozen (Mine was not frozen. The smoothie was just more liquidity.)


• 1 c. Fresh spinach


• 1/2 Apple, diced


• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon


• 1 date (for sweetness - I left it out of mine and it was okay.)

Steps:

1. Place in blender.


2. Blend it until smooth.


3. Drink and enjoy!