Apple Caramel Pie

My family and I have really enjoyed this recipe. Now that it is fall, it is a great time to try this!

Ingredients:
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust deep dish pie
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
5 cups thinly sliced apples
2/3 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
20 caramels, halved
2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2) To Make Taffy: In a small bowl combine brown sugar, melted butter or margarine, and 1/3 cup flour. Mix well and set aside.
3) To Make Apple Filling: Place apples in a large bowl. Add white sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Toss until all ingredients are mixed well and apples are thoroughly coated.
4)Spoon half of apple filling into pastry-lined deep-dish pan. Top with half of caramels and half of taffy mixture. Repeat process with remaining apple filling, caramels and taffy mixture. Place top pastry over filling and seal well (this is very important--if edges are not sealed, caramel will leak out all over). Cut steam vents and brush top crust with milk or light cream.
5)Cover pie with foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil from pie and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until crust is golden. Serve warm.
~Amie~

Everyday fun, New Twists on Old Favorites

Grilled Cheese Supreme
Instead of your normal everyday grilled cheese try these additions for a switch up and gourmet feel to an old favorite.

-sauteed onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes
-Rotel
-Meat slices/ bits. Turkey ham is especially good.


Mac n' Cheese

-Take your finished mac and place in baking dish add small layer of cheese and a layer of bread crumbs drizzle with butter and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Mix in broccoli or other vegetables.
- Try new cheeses or combinations of cheese. My favorite mac is with Monterrey cheese and a little bit of pepper.

Breads
If you like to make homemade bread or rolls here are a couple of additions to take it from everyday to special occasions ( home made rolls and bread are always excellent whether spruced up or not).

-Fennel or a mix of the same spices you would put in your pizza sauce (fennel, parsley, basil)
-Rosemary and sage.
- Cheese :)

Well that was on my mind for tonight. Thinking about some of the things that Amie and I like to play around with :)

~ Sarah ~

Waldorf Astoria Cake

½ C. shortening

2 eggs

¼ C. red food coloring

1 C. buttermilk

1 tsp. soda

1 ½ C. Sugar minus 2 Tbsp.

2 tsp. cocoa

2 ¼ C. sifted cake flour +2 Tbsp.

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vinegar

Cream together shortening, sugar, and eggs. Add the cocoa, food coloring, and flour. Beat in the remaining ingredients. Bake in two round (9") cake pans at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan. Cool and split each layer. Frost and stack (frosting below)

 

Frosting:

1 C. milk

1 C. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 Tbsp. flour

1 C. sugar

Cook the milk and flour until very thick. Let cool (this step is important because if it isn't both thick and cooled your frosting will be glaze). Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together. Slowly add the milk mixture and beat until light and fluffy.

 

The frosting is really what makes this cake come alive. I think I could eat the frosting by itself. I will try and refrain J

Enjoy! ~Sarah~

Sour Cream Pancakes

4 eggs

½ C. flour

1 C. sour cream

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp. baking soda

Beat eggs well. Add sour cream, flour, salt, sugar, and soda. Blend until smooth. Cook on hot, lightly greased, griddle until bubbly on top. Turn and cook till brown.

Simple Pleasures, Garlic-y Beans and Marinated Mushrooms

Here are two recipes that I absolutely love! They are both so simple but dress up a dinner so nicely.  Both are adjusted as you like it :)

Garlic-y Beans

Green Beans
Butter
Garlic (minced)
Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Steam green beans first. Melt a couple of Tablespoons of butter in a pan. Add beans and garlic and saute for a few minutes. When hot sprinkle well with parmesan and serve.



Marinated Mushrooms

Mushrooms
Butter
Montreal Steak seasoning

Saute Mushrooms in butter till nice and brown. Sprinkle with Montreal and serve.



Wonderful flavor in both dishes. Adjust the ingredients as you like them. Delicious, quick, and yet still feels like a gourmet side!