Cooking and Baking Archives - Page 2 of 51

Dutch Apple Pie

November 14, 2017 jennifer Christmas, Desserts, Thanksgiving

One of the best things I did a dozen or so years ago was take a pie-making class. Not only did I walk away with some good recipes, but I also lost my fear of making pie and ditched the concept that a perfect looking pie equals a perfect tasting pie. Best of all, I learned how to make this Dutch apple pie, and over the years I’ve made this pie more often than any other. Some of my children request my Dutch apple pie instead of birthday cake.

The pictures I’m using in this post are representative of what happens when I make it. I was lucky to get a quick shot of the last slice!

Dutch Apple Pie Recipe Ingredients:
1 unbaked pie crust 6 medium Granny Smith apples 1 cup sugar 1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 3 Tablespoons Tapioca 1-1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice for Dutch crumb topping:
5-2/3 Tablespoons cold butter 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup flour Prepare the filling:
Fill a large bowl with a few ice cubes and 2-3 inches of cold water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to cold water. This salted ice water will keep your apple slices fresh. Peel and slice apples, placing apple slices into water.

Roll out pie crust into pie dish.

Note: my favorite pie dishes are Emile Henry ceramics .

They are made in France, and are high quality and beautiful. My pies always bake perfectly in these dishes! They also make great gifts.

Drain water from bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, Tapioca and lemon juice. Mix together gently to avoid breaking apple slices.
Arrange applies in pie shell.

To prepare the Dutch crumb topping:
In mixing bowl, combine flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Cut cold butter into slices and add to flour mixture. Combine with pastry cutter or using a hand mixer. Spoon topping over apples, spreading over entire top of pie to the edges of the pie crust.

Bake:
Line baking sheet with parchment paper and place in oven on rack BELOW the rack your pie will bake on. This will catch any drips as the fruit cooks.

Bake pie at 425 for 15 minutes. Turn oven temperature down to 350, cover lightly with foil and bake an additional 45-50 minutes.

Remove pie from oven and allow to sit at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

During the holidays I serve this pie along with these other favorites:

Chocolate Pecan Tart Coconut Cream Pie Check out my favorite tools for pie making here .

Happy baking!
Jennifer

Ham & Bell Pepper Sandwich

February 23, 2017 jennifer Sandwiches and Wraps

It’s the time of year when it feels like I’ve packed a million school lunches and we’re all sick of sandwiches. I have a few things I do to add variety, but I hadn’t made these bagel sandwiches in a long time. When I sent them to school with my kids last week, they all came home raving about them.

Ham and Bell Pepper Sandwiches Ingredients:
whole grain bagel cream cheese 3-4 slices Black Forest ham thinly sliced green bell peppers Soften cream cheese and spread on both sides of a bagel. Layer ham on one half of bagel, and cover with thinly sliced green peppers. Place other half of bagel on top and enjoy!

My 16 year old son loved his so much that he texted, begging me to bring three more identical sandwiches to him at school, and reported after school that everyone wanted him to share. My ten year old who declares any green food as gross actually ate his and has requested them ever since. The girls loved them too. They are simple, pack well, and taste great. With only four ingredients, they’re easy to plan and shop for, and for kids to prepare themselves.

Have a great day!

Cranberry Granola

February 16, 2017 jennifer Breakfast

Last month I spent a wonderful morning with a couple of dear friends making granola. As the snow fell outside we chatted and learned a new recipe. I liked it so much that I stopped at the store on my way home so I could make a couple more batches before my kids got home from school! I’ve made it several times since then, and it’s become a new favorite.

Cranberry Granola 6 cups old fashioned oats 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cup pecan pieces 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut 1 cup frozen cranberry concentrate (check labels to get 100% juice and find the one that has the most cranberry juice in it. I could only find blends but they’ve worked fine) 1 cup brown sugar (packed) 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1 cup dried cranberries In a large mixing bowl combine oats, almonds, pecans and coconut. Set aside. In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup cranberry concentrate, brown sugar and cinnamon. *Don’t mix the concentrate with water – just scoop it straight from the container into your pan. Heat to a simmer to fully dissolve sugar. Pour over oats mixture and stir until evenly coated with the juice mixture.

Cover 11×17 cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread granola evenly over pan and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in cranberries. Return to oven for 8-10 minutes or until granola begins to look golden brown.

{Your kitchen will smell heavenly while it bakes.}
Cool on cooling rack and transfer to airtight container.

My kids love to snack on it plain or eat it with milk. My favorite way to eat it is with a scoop of plain greek yogurt and fresh berries.

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