An Apple a Day... Baked Apples

Happy Monday food lovers!

The weather is finally starting to feel cool and with the sun outside it's been beautiful fall weather lately!

I did my rounds of apple picking this weekend and even got some pumpkins to prepare more recipes as Halloween approaches us next month!

For now, I have the second recipe for An Apple a Day!

An Apple a Day #2: Baked Apples

Baked Apple w/ Pie Crust

Baked Apples are classic! They are wonderful hot, the apple is tender and sweet with a filling and they compliment perfectly with a scoop of ice cream!

These were full of flavor and the warmth of the apple was great when the weather got cooler at night. 

Here is the recipe: 

Let's Get Cookin'

Ingredients: These are enough for 4 large apples. I used Honeycrisp.

- 1 Box of Pillsbury ready-made Pie Crust dough, (comes with 2), or any other brand you like

option: You can also create and use your own dough for this recipe

- 4 Large Apples

- 1 extra Apple peeled and diced (Used for filling)

- 1 Teaspoon cornstarch

- 1 Tablespoon warm water

- 1/2 Cup granulated sugar

- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 Teaspoon cinnamon

- 1 Egg and 1 Teaspoon of milk (Egg Wash)

- A Pizza cutter

- Any extra toppings like caramel for drizzling on top (optional)

Step 1

Prepare dough ahead of time, or take out your store bought pie crust dough and keep cold in the refrigerator. I use Pillsbury Pie Crusts to make it easy! 

Step 2

Create your apple filling!

First peel and dice 1 Apple, set aside.

In a medium saucepan without heat yet, combine the cornstarch and warm water. Mix until smooth and the cornstarch has been dissolved.

Next add heat to your saucepan and add your diced apples, sugar, and cinnamon.

On the stove!

Mix together for 5 minutes then drop to low heat and let simmer for 5 additional minutes. 

Remove from heat, and then stir in the vanilla. Set aside, allow to cool while you complete the remainder steps. 

Step 3

Remove the core from your apples! To keep from turning brown I also added some lemon juice to the insides. I kept my apples pretty thick, but you can carve to your liking! 

Honeycrisp!

Carved with some lemon juice!

Step 4

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Take out your dough and pizza cutter!

Create your pie strips to go on top of your apples! You want to lay your dough flat and then use the pizza cutter to create strips about 1/4 inch wide. (Mine came out a little thin, I would recommend a little thicker than what mine show)!

Once those are done, place apples in a baking dish. Fill each one with the apple filling!

Then start placing your crust on top.

Left shows a completed apple.
Right shows an apple waiting for the crust!

Step 5

Once all your apples have their crust, whisk together your egg and milk to create the egg wash.

Brush this onto the crusts on top. 

I also added some extra cinnamon to mine!

Before the Egg wash!

Egg wash with some sprinkled cinnamon!

Step 6

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes!

Check on them at the 25 minute mark. I found my apples to be tender but they could've used more time if I wanted them softer! 

My apples were large and thick, but if yours are smaller or thinner this time mark could be perfect!

Step 7

Remove from the oven and enjoy while hot! Scoop some ice cream and enjoy :)

Out of the oven!

Everything came out delicious! If any of you make this, please let me know :)

I hope you all enjoy your Monday!

Thanks for stopping by! xo

An Apple a Day... Twist on Tradition

Happy Thursday food lovers!

I'm sorry for the delay in my blog! I hope you all have been enjoying the breezy weather and are starting to get accustomed to any new schedules you acquire as summer ends. 

Now that Fall is approaching us, (officially on September 23rd), I wanted to bring something new to the blog!

One of my favorite things about September living in New England is apple picking!

It is a popular-loved activity by many people who are fortunate enough to live near an area that allows them to spend a day with friends or family and pick fresh apples for the season.

As a food lover, I wanted a way to pick out a recipe that would really reflect apples and give my readers something to do with any extra Macs laying around. 

So that's why I created...

An Apple a Day

For the next few blog posts I am going to be posting unique and fun recipes for you all to try with any of your leftover apples, or to bake simply for the enjoyment of Apple Season!

An Apple a Day #1: Twist on Tradition

Mini Apple Pies

Everyone probably has their great grandmother's cousin's sister twice removed secret Apple Pie recipe tucked away in their kitchen. I wanted to create something that was a twist on tradition, staying away from whole pies, or crisps, because most people usually have their own recipe for that. 

So here is my recipe for Mini Apple Pies!

Let's Get Cookin'

Ingredients: This will make 1 cupcake tray worth of mini pies (12)

- 1 Box of Pillsbury ready-made Pie Crust dough, (comes with 2), or any other brand you like

option: You can also create and use your own dough for this recipe

- 4 inch and 3 inch circle dough cutters (I used caps from Mason Jars)

- 3 Cups worth of diced apples (this is about 3 medium apples)

- 2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice

- 1/4 Cup of sugar

- 2 Tablespoons of packed Brown Sugar

- 1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon

- Pinch of Salt

- 1 Egg whisked with 1 Tablespoon of water or milk (Egg Wash)

(Used for top crust)

Step 1

Keep your dough cold in the refrigerator while you create your pie filling.

Dice your apples and place them in a bowl.

Next add your lemon juice, sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon to the bowl.

Apples Diced

Apples with all the filling ingredients

 

Step 2

Take out your dough and place it on the counter.

This is the brand of crust I used! To make it easy.

Rolled out and ready to go!

Step 3

Take your cupcake tray and use a cooking or pastry brush to rub a small amount of olive oil in each tin and around the top of the tray.

After your tray is prepped, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. 

Then by using your 4 inch circle cutters, start making the bottoms of your crust.

4 inch circles for the bottoms

Step 4

Once you have some made, start placing them in each tin. 

Pinch along the sides so they reach the top.

Any extra dough scraps can be combined and rolled out for more.

Continue until each tin is done!

Ready for the filling!

Step 5

Place your filling in each pie.

Step 6

Cut out 3 inch circles with your dough to create the top crust.

Once those are done, place the top crust on each tin, and fork the edges.

Each pie has a top crust

Step 7

Create your egg wash by place an egg in a bowl and whisking it with a Tablespoon of water or milk. Brush this mixture on your top crust.

Put 4 little slits on your crust and add any extra cinnamon or sugar on top before placing it in the oven. 

Bake for about 20 minutes, making sure the crust becomes golden brown.

Fresh out of the oven

Step 8

Let them sit briefly and then pop them out!

Note: This can be a little difficult, use a knife and be patient otherwise they might fall apart...but they are still delicious :) 

Ta da!!!! All finished! 

Everything came out delicious! These are amazing warm, especially with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream :)


What are some of your favorite recipes in the fall?
Let me know if any of you make this and how it comes out :)

Thank you for stopping by, enjoy your upcoming weekend! xo

Quick n' Easy "Lazy" Pasta

Hello hello food lovers!

Happy first day of September, I can't believe it. With Summer coming to an end, I have found myself becoming more busier than ever!

Today was a day off from going into work, however I still had plenty of errands and work to do around my house. It was around 5pm today that I realized it was almost dinner time and I had no cooking plans. I honestly had no desire to move from my couch where I was sitting during this realization, run into a crowded grocery store, come home and cook a full dinner. 

So that's how this was created:

Lazy Pasta

Stick to what you have at home! I made this recipe quick, easy to make, and also ingredient-friendly so there shouldn't be any reason to pick up anything extra from the grocery store!

TIP: Use Whole Grain pasta if possible, better for you than white pasta!

Let's Get Cookin'

Ingredients: 

These are the ingredients I had in my kitchen but get creative and add other things if you have them! Use fresh or frozen vegetables! The point is to use what you have at home but it can be a variety of things.

- 3 Cups of Vegetable Broth (I used 2 and then added 1 more after)

- 3 Cups of Water

- Choice of Pasta, I used a box of whole grain penne

- 1 Large 28oz can of diced tomatoes

- 1 Cup of Spinach, chopped (Fresh or Frozen)

- 1 Onion

- 1 Broccoli stalk, chopped

- Diced mushrooms

- Chopped Green Onion

- 4 Cloves of Garlic (I used 2 garlic cloves and also 3 Tablespoons of minced garlic)

- 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

- Dried or Fresh Basil

- Dried or Fresh Oregano

- Black pepper, a little red pepper, some salt (Broth already has a lot of sodium so be careful)! 

Step 1

Take a large cooking pot and set it on stove. (Do NOT add any heat yet).

Add 2 Cups of Vegetable Broth and also 2 Cups of Water to the pot.

Add your pasta to the pot (If using long pasta such as spaghetti, angel hair, etc. I would break pasta in half).

Next add your can of diced tomatoes, undrained.

Add 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil.

Add your cup of chopped spinach.

Here is our pot with:
Broth, Water, Pasta, Tomatoes, Olive Oil and Spinach

Next:

Add your onion to the pot, thinly sliced.

Add in your garlic, basil, oregano, black pepper, red pepper, a little salt.

Now here is our pot added with:
Onion, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Black/Red Pepper, and some Salt.

 The next thing I did was add my chopped broccoli stalk, green onion, and mushrooms. 

Everything mixed and ready!

Step 2

Mix together all your ingredients. You want the broth liquid to cover your ingredients before cooking.

Mine did not do this, so I added an additional Cup of broth and also an additional Cup of water. 

Step 3

Turn on your heat!

Start off on high and place a cover on your pot. Wait for your pot to come to a boil. 

This took about 8-10 minutes for me.

Brought my pot to a boil

Step 4

Once your pasta is at a boil, remove the lid and bring the heat down to medium.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and let your pot boil on medium heat without a lid. 

(Stir your pot every few minutes during this process). 

Step 5

Once the pasta is close to being finished, test it! Add in any more seasoning!

I added more basil, garlic, black pepper, and oregano.

Step 6

Observe your results! If there is a lot of extra broth/water in your pot then drain it with a colander. This is what I did to keep my pasta from becoming too mushy. Even when drained, you will still have some broth and liquid leftover, trust me!

Added some red pepper flakes on top :)
Enjoy!!

Everything came out amazing, the flavors were combinations and perfect compliments to what I added!

Since there is no "correct" way to make lazy pasta, what everyday kind of ingredients do you think could be added?

If any of you make this, please let me know how it comes out and what you added to your pot!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your week! xo