APPLE ZUCCHINI BREAD!

APPLE ZUCCHINI BREAD

Since apples and zucchini are so abundant this time of year, it's only natural that the two be used together in one recipe. Made this yesterday and it makes a nice moist bread. My family loved it!

INGREDIENTS:

 4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 eggs

1-1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

 2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini

 1 cup shredded peeled apples

1-1/2 cups chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

 In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs. Add oil, sugars and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in zucchini, apples and pecans (batter will be stiff).

Spoon into three greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until done.

Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely

APPLE SPICE CAKE, APPLE FRITTERS, APPLE COFFEE CAKE & APPLE PIE BARS!

Checked the apple orchard today and the apples are about ready to be harvested...So naturally I started thinking about making apple this & that...Here are a few old favorite ones and a new one...Enjoy

Apple Butter Spice Cake

This is a very good and moist cake recipe I received from my
mother years ago. It makes a nice addition to any dinner table

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup apple butter (found in the jam section of your grocery store)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup wheat germ or quick oats
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs, beaten

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease one 9x13 inch pan.

In small bowl, prepare the topping by mixing together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped pecans.

In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In bowl of standing mixer, blend together butter and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Add apple butter, vanilla, wheat germ or bran cereal. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream; mix well after each addition.

Pour 1/2 batter into pan, sprinkle 1/2 the topping over top. Pour remaining batter and top with remaining topping.

Bake for 40 minutes.

APPLE FRITTERS

This is an old Texas recipe. When we got home from a trip to Texas years ago, I found this recipe among some pamphlets I brought back. I've been making these fritters ever since.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups self rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs well beaten
1 cup milk
2 cups tart apples, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Sift together dry ingredients. Gradually add beaten eggs and milk combined. Refrigerate batter for about 2 hours. Stir in the apples. Drop by tablespoon into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Roll in powdered sugar or a sugar/cinnamon combination.

DUTCH APPLE COFFEE CAKE

Take a shortcut using refrigerated sweet rolls and convenient pie filling in a luscious streusel-topped coffee cake.


INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cans (13.9 oz each) refrigerated orange flavor sweet rolls with icing (8 rolls each)
1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling with more fruit
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 1/2 cups thawed whipped topping

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 375°F. Pour 1/4 cup of the melted butter into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Separate dough into 16 rolls; set icing aside. Cut each roll into 6 pieces; arrange pieces on butter in baking dish.
Pour pie filling into medium bowl. Cut apples into small pieces with clean kitchen scissors or knife; spoon filling over roll pieces.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar, 1 teaspoon of the orange peel and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in egg and sour cream until well blended. Spoon over apple layer; spread to cover.
In small bowl, mix remaining 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar, cheese and flour until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in almonds. Sprinkle mixture over cream cheese layer.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until set and topping is golden brown. Cool on cooling rack 20 minutes.
In small microwavable bowl, mix contents of 2 icing containers, remaining 1 teaspoon orange peel and marmalade. Microwave uncovered on High 40 seconds; stir.
For 12 servings, cut apple bake into 4 rows by 3 rows. Serve with sauce on the side. Garnish each serving with 2 tablespoons whipped topping.
Recipe from pillsburybaking

Apple Pie Bars

Easy and delicious. Great for a party or just as a snack. A wonderful way to use apples. I don’t know which bars my children & grandchildren like more, these or pumpkin bars…They all seem to go really fast!

INGREDIENTS:

5 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shortening
4 egg yolks, beaten
2/3 cup milk

FILLING:

1 cup crisp rice cereal
8 cups sliced peeled tart apples (about 9 medium)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in the shortening until crumbly.
Combine egg yolks and milk; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide in half.
On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 15-in. x 10-in. rectangle. Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with one rectangle; sprinkle with cereal.
Arrange apples over cereal. Combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Top with remaining pastry; cut slits in top. Brush with egg whites.
Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. In a bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve drizzling consistency. Drizzle over bars. Store in the refrigerator. Mine never last long enough to store!

DRIED APPLES & ORANGES!!!

DRIED APPLES & ORANGES

Orange and apple slices not only look beautiful -- they smell delicious as well! Be creative in how you use them. In addition to their most common role as tree ornaments, they can also be strung onto garlands, tossed into holiday potpourri, fastened onto Christmas wreaths, and arranged artfully on the holiday dining table.

Using dried fruits as Christmas ornaments is an old-timey tradition that's coming back into fashion. Why? They are simple to make, inexpensive, and naturally beautiful. As you hang them on the tree, think of your citrus slices as an antidote to the expensive and stressful shop-stravaganza that the holiday season has become. Enjoy!

Do you remember the last time you were in some one's home that had an
apple pie baking in the oven? Ahhh, the aromas of a fresh baked pie --
it is simply irresistible!...Well, now you can recreate this delicious scent in your own home!

For each apple craft, you will need

Juice of approximately 8-10 lemons
2 teaspoons salt
8 - 10 large firm apples
8 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons allspice
1 teaspoon cloves
8" - 10" sturdy, heavy gauge wire (for a wreath)
Jute (for garland or apple stacker)
1 to 1-1/2 yards of ribbon or fabric scraps

To prepare and dry your apples
Place lemon juice in a large bowl, and stir in salt.
Peel, core, and slice apples horizontally into 1/4" thick circles.
Soak slices in lemon juice bowl for approximately 6-10 minutes, making
sure each side of the slices has a chance to absorb some of the lemon
juice.
Meanwhile, mix spices in a bowl and blend well.
Remove the slices from the bowl and place them on paper towels.
Pat tops of apple slices with paper towels.
Dust apples slices with spice mixture.
Turn slices over and repeat on opposite side.
Place apples slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Bake at 150-200 degrees F for 6 hours or until completely dried or use a food dehydrator like I do..
Apple slices should be slightly pliable.

To Make An Apple Wreath:
Fold each apple slice in half, and then into quarters and thread the
apples slices onto the wire.
Continue to pack on the folded apples until the wire is completely
filled.
When the wire is completely covered, use pliers to bend ends into hooks
so that they can connect and close.
Carefully shape wire into desired shape.
I recommend either a circle or heart shape.
Using your ribbon or fabric scraps, create a hanger for your wreath.
Hang on your wall, or package as a gift for someone special.

To Create An Apple Garland
Cut off enough jute for your desired length of garland - remember, your
apple garland shouldn't be too long, but approximately 2-4 feet works
well.
Also, it is always better to have too much, than not enough.
Start stringing on apple slices.
Push one end of jute through the middle of each apple slice.
Consider alternating several apple slices and then a piece of tied on
fabric strip.
Hang on your wall!

To Create An Apple Stacker
Using an approximate 12" piece of jute, tie one end to about three
cinnamon sticks that are laid in a a bundle.
Begin to string on apple slices by pushing jute through the center of
each slice. Consider alternating several slices with a piece of fabric
tied on.
When apple stacker is the desired length, end with three more cinnamon
sticks in a bundle and tie a loop so that you can hang your apple
stacker proudly!

ORANGE SLICES:

You will need the following:
three or four large oranges
lemon juice to cover orange slices
a sharp carving knife
glitter and/or ground cinnamon (optional)
fishing line or ribbon
a needle or a pointy-tipped knife
Step 1) Slice the oranges crosswise in quarter-inch slices. I use an electric food slicer
Step 2) Soak in the lemon juice for about 10 minutes.


Step 3) Lay slices flat on your oven rack. Use paper towels to blot away excess juice.
Step 4) If you like, gently rub ground cinnamon into the slices. Cinnamon makes them smell amazing. On the other hand, they won't catch the light as well. I made some with and some without.
Step 5) Bake at 275 degrees for the first hour and then 250 degrees for two more hours or until dried. (I use a Food Dehraytor)

Step 6) If you like, decorate the slices with glitter once the slices have cooled. Then, thread each slice onto a length of fishing line or ribbon. Now they can be hung on the tree.

DRIED APPLE & ORANGE SLICE ORNAMENTS

Step 1: Decorate the Fruit
Dry the fruit. Glue -- use a glue gun if desired -- the dried berries and miniature accessories (acorns, twigs, greenery, etc.) to the dried fruit slices.
Step 2: Attach the Ornaments to the Tree
Take a short piece of twine, glue to the back of the dried sliced fruit and hang on the tree.

Peach Dump Cake....Easy & Ummm Good!!!

This is for Pam....She doesn't like apples and wanted something made with peaches....



PEACH DUMP CAKE:

1 box cake mix (yellow cake mix or white cake mix)
1 can of chunky yellow cling peaches, drained
1 can of crushed pineapple, drained
1 stick of butter
1 - 1 1/2 cup of crushed nuts of choice (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease (bottom only) of a cake pan (13x9).
Melt cubed butter in microwave and set aside.
Open canned peaches, drain and dump into cake pan. If desired cut peaches into smaller pieces, no need to do this prior just cut them while they are in the pan.
Sprinkle entire (dry) cake mix on top of peaches.

On top of cake mix add crushed drained pineapple
Sprinkle desired nuts on cake mix.
Pour butter evenly over nuts.
Sprinkle brown sugar over the top
Bake for 45 mins to 1 hour.
Cake will appear wet and uncooked but once cooked it is delicious, almost cobbler in nature. It is especially good served warm a la mode

An Apple A Day!

Here's a handful of ideas to make use of autumn's abundance of apples..

Sprinkle thin slices of apple lightly with sugar, then saute in butter for 5 minutes, until golden...Fold into mashed potatoes.

Cut small cubes of apples and celery, then combine with walnut pieces...Toss with mayonnaise and season with chopped parsley, salt & pepper...This is a great salsd.

Substitute chopped apples for chopped celery in tuna salad..

Instead of lettuce, thinly slice apples on a turkey or ham sandwich..Top with mayonnaise or honey mustard.

Tis The Season For Apple Pies!! Yes By Golly It Sure Is!!

Apple Pie!!
I do very little baking now days, but every once in a while I'll bake an Apple Pie…
I make a pretty good pie crust, but I'm usually making a crust for a savory dish. I had a whole bag of apples, so it seemed like a good time to bake an apple pie...


This is my favorite pie crust....I use to make so many pies, (14 pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving) and this one was so fast, easy and turned out perfect every time...

OIL PIE CRUST:

1 c. flour, plus 2 tbsp.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. oil
2 tbsp. cold water

FOR TWO CRUST PIE:
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. oil
3 tbsp. cold water
Mix and roll between wax paper.


APPLE PIE RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS
7 tart apples, peeled and cored
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste
1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt to taste
2 recipes unbaked pie shells
1 tablespoon butter


DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.Cut the apples into 1/4 inch slices.
3.In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, flour, nutmeg (or apple pie spice), and salt; mix thoroughly. Pour the spice mix over the apples and stir until the apples are coated.
4.Line one crust in a 9 inch deep dish pie pan. Place the apples in the pie crust. Dot the apple filling evenly with butter. Fit the top crust over the apples. Press the crust down gently and cut 3 or 4 slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape while the pie bakes
5.Bake in the preheated oven 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Check the pie after the first 30 minutes of cooking: if the crust is already browned reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to allow the apples to cook without the crust burning.


Baking Apple Pies!!
Baking apple pies is a rather straightforward technique, but a few tips can help to make your pies come out looking and tasting perfect.

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature the recipe you are following recommends. Most apple pies bake at a temperature of between 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Some recipes call for baking the pie in a 450 degree F oven for the first part of baking, then turning down the oven to about 350 degrees F. This helps set the shape of the crust in recipes that contain a lot of fat; it can keep your crust from slouching.
2. To add a richer color to a double-crust or lattice-topped pie, brush the top crust with milk or lightly beaten egg before baking.
3. Baking a pie with a raw apple filling will take about an hour. Always bake pies on a baking sheet to prevent spillovers in the oven. Apple pies cook for approximately 45 minutes. When using a pre-cooked filling, pies can bake at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time, just enough to thoroughly bake the crust and heat the filling.
To check the doneness of the filling, insert a knife into the center of the pie. If it meets with little or no resistance, the pie is done. If the pie is not quite done but the top or edges are becoming too dark, loosely cover the top of the pie with aluminum foil to shield it from the heat. A glass pie dish is a great way to ensure the bottom crust is fully baked; using a baking stone or pizza stone is another trick. Baking on a stone ensures that the bottom crust on even the juiciest apple pie will be done when the top is brown.
4. For shine and sparkle, thin a quarter cup of light corn syrup with very hot water. When the pie is done, brush the thinned syrup over the top of the crust. You can add granulated sugar or decorative sugar at this time. Return the pie to the oven for two to three minutes to let the glaze dry and set. Once the pie is done baking, carefully remove it from the oven. Let the pie cool to room temperature before slicing to allow the filling to set

Butter, Butter, Butter; Apple Butter That Is!!!

When apples are plentiful in the fall it seems you can't find enough things to do with them! make a whole pile of apple pies for family get togethers, apple slices for the grandchildren, apple cake, apple cobbler, apple bread or jelly; but here is something old that is new again.....APPLE BUTTER!...What could be more fall-like than apples, sugar and spices slowly cooking all day long? So I made a big batch of apple butter! The aroma that this makes as it cooked away in the crock pot was amazing. It does’t take much to get lots of flavor, it is a mix of sweet, tart and spice all at once; I was also drying apples and my home smelled sooo good...All the neighbors came over to see what I was cooking;
This Apple Butter is so easy to make, using your crock pot!
Now if you don't have Apple trees in your yard or have an orchard nearby, check out your local farmer's market...This time of year they always have Apples & Pumpkins...I am lucky as we have about 4 orchards nearby..
This recipe makes a small batch, so you don't really need to give it a water bath...just store the jars in the fridge...or if you want to give as gifts, then you will need to give them the old water bath treatment for 15 minutes!
SLOW COOKED APPLE BUTTER!

10 t0 12 large cooking apples (14 cups)...I used Winesap apples
2 cups apple juice or cider
3 cups white sugar ( I am diabetic so I used Splenda in one batch)
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

INSTRUCTIONS:

Core and chop unpeeled apples (bite size)
Combine with the apple juice or cider
Mix sugar (splenda) with the cinnamon & ground cloves
Add to the apples in the crock pot
Cover; cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 4 hours (the 10 hour one was better)
Remove cover and drain the apples
Put into blender or food processor and blend on high speed until smooth
Return apples to slow cooker
DO NOT COVER and cook on low for 1 hour or till it is the desired consistency
Mine took 1-1/2 hours;

Storage of Apple Butter:

While the mixture is very hot ladle the cooked Apple Butter into sterilized half-pint jars, leaving a 1/2" head space.
Put the lids on and then tighten the rings but not to tight.
Process in boiling water canner for 15 minutes
Remove from water bath and set on a dry cup towel till cool and lids pop closed..
Store in a cool dark place
OR:
You can just put into the sterilized jars, cover with the lids and rings, let cool and store in fridge...If you like Apple Butter this will go fast!

I got this recipe from Home Cooking and made a few changes;

Next I will do the Slow Cooked Pumpkin Butter and is that good.

Just like having pumpkin pie on your toast!