Individual Caramel Apple Pies

Today's post is for a virtual wedding shower.  Becca from It's Yummilicious is getting married this coming weekend so some of us have gotten together to have a virtual wedding shower for her.  Since she is having a beautiful fall wedding I couldn't help but bring some delicious Individual Apple Caramel Pies.

I love apples and apple picking.  I have actually gone twice this year.   The place I go has tons of apples, plus pumpkins, a kids play area, animals and a great little store that sells homemade goodies, soups and more.  I took the little one with me who at her age can't really pick apples of the tree but she helped me put them in the buckets and she had tons of fun in the play area.    I could barely get her off the slide.
Since we had so much fun the first time, I went back with a friend for more apples, more slide fun and I couldn't resist picking up two more homemade soups from the store.  The bonus is the soups come with flaky homemade cheese biscuits. YUM!

Apple/Pear Crumble Round Up

It is apple season!  I love apples, I pretty much have one every day.   I haven't gone picking yet because my favorite apple has not peaked.  I am a fan of the Jonagold apple and it is a late September apple.  It is a mix of Jonathan and Golden Delicious.  It was two years ago that I got hooked on them.   I personally think they are the best, so I am looking forward to getting a few large baskets. I am looking forward to making sauce, baking and eating.

Do you have a favorite apple?

To me an apple crumble is an apple must.  It is simple, crunchy, sweet and delicious.  It is just apples and crumbly goodness.  The crumble part can take on so many different forms which makes it even more fun.  I honestly probably make some form of apple crumble 2-3 times a year.  For me it never gets old.  Get me a big scoop of crumble with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and I am set.

Weight Loss Wednesday & Healthy Banana Bread

Believe it or not sometimes being a food blogger is not fun.  It is not fun on your waistline.  You become torn between two options.  1) Baking something to post for your followers which inevitably leads to testing and eating (possibly more than once), boom hit to the waistline.  2) Don't bake, don't post and then no one is happy.  Being a baking blogger is almost worse since 90% of what you bake involves the worst culprites in contributing to weight gain - butter, sugar, white flour.  UGH!  I  manage to try and find a decent balance with this, although I wish I did post more often.

Maple Cheddar Apple Crumble

 A few facts about me.


1. One year ago I did not like hot drinks, mostly coffee and tea. The taste of both were just so unappealing to me.  Even hot chocolate was hit or miss.  I actually drank that with a spoon.

2. Present day I now drink green tea on a daily basis and actually enjoy it.  Coffee is still on the no way list.  Weird?  During my last trimester of pregnancy my naturopath gave me this special tea that was supposed to help with uterine health etc.   Since I am a good patient I did what she said and drank it every day.   This tea slowly broke me down.  It was not the best tasting tea so I think when I have other teas now they are quite good.    The funny thing is for the last week, I get my water hot, pop in the tea bag, put my cup on the table near the couch and forget.   I have done this five days in a row.   I am seriously losing my ability to remember.

3. My new favorite sound is laughing baby.  I just can't get enough of it.

4. I make an apple crumble almost every major holiday.  I love to try different versions every now and then and decided to for Easter.  Since cheddar and apple are common combination I thought I would try and throw some in the mix.

Caramel Apple Crumble Cheesecake

So apparently I am so out of it.   I didn't even realize it has been over a week since I last posted.  Not that I have done nothing the last week,  I have almost been non stop.    My birthday was Friday, so I spent the day over the border shopping with my sister and her friend.  I managed to pick up some baby clothes, some clothes for me and a playpen.   I have yet to find Biscoff spread,  what aisle does that normally sit in?  Do they sell it at Target?

The rest of the weekend involved multiple family dinners for Thanksgiving, cleaning and finishing up the nursery.  I got all my decals and photos up on the walls so now I just need to add a few small accessories and buy some drapes.  It's all coming together...just a few more weeks until baby.

This week also involved my yearly addiction to check out Cirque du Solieli.   This years show was called Amaluna.   This was the 6th Cirque show I have seen.  I find them hard to pass up when they are in town.  The shows are always so creative and unique and the performers are quite simply amazing.  I can't even imagine the training they must go through.   Just crazy.  Unfortunately this one was not my favorite or close to it. . Given my wide comparison range I just felt the acts in this one, although still impressive were not a big as I have seen at others.  The clowns were also more annoying than funny.   I think my favorite so far was either La Nouba, (Disney World) or Mystere (Las Vegas).   I highly recommend both if you are ever in either of these places, although Vegas as several others that I hear are quite cool.   Anyone have any favorite cirques they would recommend?

With all the family dinners that were going on this weekend I did manage to get some baking done.   One great one and one fail.  The great one would be this post, the fail would be a bubble bread loaf that rose beautifully and then somehow just died in the oven.  Frustrating!


Apple Crumble Caramel Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS:

Crust

• 2 cups vanilla wafer or graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Cheesecake

• 4 large apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2-3 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 - 8oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• Your favorite caramel sauce

Crumble

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 brown sugar
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/3 cup butter,  cool but slightly softened

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Preheat oven to 350F.   Combine crumbs and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Add melted butter and mix to combine and coat the crumbs.  Press into a 9 inch springform pan, lined with parchment.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.
2) Peel and core the apples. Chop into slices.  Toss with lemon juice.  In a medium saute pan, on medium heat at butter.  Once melted add apples, brown sugar and cinnamon and cook for about 5-8 minutes until apples sofften but are not mush.   Remove from heat and set aside.

3) Make the crumble :   In a large bowl combine all the crumble ingredients except the butter.  Mix together.  Then cut in the butter with your hands.  The mixture will darken and be slightly combined and clumped together in small pieces.

4) In a food processor, add cream cheese (in chunks) and granulated sugar.  Process until almost smooth, chunks are broken down.   Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla and process until well combined. Scraping down the sides as needed.
5) Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease the sides of the pan with butter, 3/4 of the way up.  Take 2/3 of the apples and put on top of the crust.   Drizzle with caramel sauce.  Top with 1/4 cup of crumble.
6) Cover the apples with the cheesecake mixture and smooth out.
7) Bake the cheesecake on the middle rack for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300F and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit for 20 minutes in the oven.  It is okay if the cheesecake cracks, it get completely covered.  Remove from oven to cool further.
8)  Preheat the oven to 400F. When the cheesecake has come back to room temperature.  Top with remaining apples in the center, drizzle with more caramel sauce and cover with the crumble.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until the crumble has started browning.
9) Let cool before slicing.  Drizzle with more caramel sauce when serving.

I honestly was a little worried about how this would turn out but I was so pleasantly surprised.   Even my Dad thought it was quite good and he is a hard dessert person to impress.   The process to get this done can be a little lengthy but well worth it.

MEG's RATING : D-EEEEE-LICIOUS.

Check out Sweet Bella Roos link up party for other "Pin" worthy recipes.

Bacon Apple Cheese Bread

If you eat meat chances are you love Bacon.   If you don't love it, you still may realize its power.  The power of Bacon?  I know it seems crazy.   I am not vegetarian but I don't eat a lot of meat and I don't eat a lot of bacon. I do know what it can do.  It's salt, fat and sometimes sweetness all in one.  Bacon in desserts has been on the rise lately and popping up everywhere, especially with chocolate.   Even just bacon dipped in chocolate is becoming popular.

I actually work at a company that produces bacon.  I know a lot of bacon lovers and knew this would get eaten up at work in no time. I also happen to get some free bacon now and then, and I am always looking for some new uses.   I have been eyeing this bread in one of my magazines for two years now.   Every time I open it I think... ooh I need to make that and then I don't know.   Well my wait is no longer, that extra bacon in my fridge is going to be put to use.


Bacon Apple Cheese Bread
(Adapted from Holiday Baking)

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 strips of maple bacon, diced - only used 3/4 of the pieces in the bread.
• 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour or gluten free mix
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Vegetable oil - add to bacon fat to make 1/2 cup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Xylitol  (if you don't have Xylitol, omit honey and use 1/2 cup granulated sugar)
• 2 eggs
• 1 large apple (Mutsu or Crispin), peeled and shredded
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/4 cups shredded white old cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Saute bacon in a medium skillet on medium heat until crisp.  Use a slotted spoon to separate the bits from the liquid.   Transfer the bits to a paper towel and pour the liquid into a measuring cup.  Add enough oil in the cup to equal 1/2 a cup.   

2) Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray with non stick spray a large loaf pan.  In a small bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda and whisk together.  Set aside.

3) In a large bowl combine the oil, honey, xylitol and whisk together until well combined.  Add apple, applesauce and buttermilk. 

4) Fold in/Gently whisk dry mixture into wet until almost combined.   

5) Fold in cheese  (reserving a small handful for the top of the bread) and bacon.

6) Pour battered in prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes.  Sprinkle the top of the loaf with the remaining cheese and then bake another 10 minutes, a wooden skewer will come out clean.   Let loaf cool in pan for another 10-15 minutes, then remove from the dish and let cool completely before slicing.   Store in a sealed container or tightly in saran.

I am such an idiot!  How could I wait so long to bake this.  Even the fact that I accidentally under baked it, it was still amazing.   This is not a dessert bread, it is a nice brunch bread.  Serve it up with some soup and salad and you are good to go.


MEG's RATING : D-EEEE-LICIOUS!

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Apple Cakes with Toffee & Dried Cherries

I am a fan of positive background noise.  When I work in the kitchen, I can't have silence and the sound of my mixer doesn't cut it.   I just need to have some noise going on in the background and it has to be noise I enjoy.  This would be either the food network, music or a good TV show.  My latest noise is Arrested Development. I never watched the show when it was actually airing but I decided to go back and check it out. Season 1 started off slow but I kept on going.  Season 2 is much better. Some characters are still annoying, but getting a lot funnier.   How can you also not love Jason Bateman.   Any one else have any background noise preference?

My latest recipe is a revival of one of the first posts I ever did.  It's funny how you can totally forget some of the delicious treats you have baked in the past.   Luckily my friend Tracey happens to remember and make some of these recipes for her family.  I remember this recipe being a pretty great and figured why not make it again.  I also decided to make a few tweaks and turn them into little cakes,  everyone loves an individual dessert.

Individual Apple Cakes
(Adapted from Cooking light)


INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup sugar + 2 tbsp 
• 3/4 cup  (6 ounces) light cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 cups chopped,  peeled apples 
• 1/2 cup skor bits
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped.  

INSTRUCTIONS:

1)) Preheat oven to 350F. Mix together 2 tbsp of the granulated sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples and mix together.  

2)  In a large bowl or your mixer bowl, beat together the remaining sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla on medium speed until well blended.  Add eggs one at a time and set aside. 

3)  In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture on low speed.
4) Stir in apples, dried cherries and skor bits into the batter until just mixed.
5) Spray mini cheesecake pans with non stick spray. Pour 1/4 cup batter into each hole.   Bake for 20-25 minutes until at toothpick comes out clean.

Still as good as I remember.

MEG's RATING : D-EEEEE-LICIOUS!

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Top 5 of 2011 and a Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone.  Can you believe it?  You think the year starts off slow, (at least it does when you have to battle cold winters) and then snap summer is over and you are already getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 2011 was an interesting year for me, full of wins, challenges and fun. I started to find my blogging groove and got addicted to so many other blogs and "pinning".   I have a lot of hope for 2012 for all facets of my life.  My goal is to be more patient, open and happy.  Don't sweat the small stuff and be thankful for what I have.  My blogging goal is to get a bit healthier.  I know my focus is baking but their are healthy baking alternatives and I plan to explore them, without forgetting my true sweet tooth.

I wish for all my readers a fantastic 2012, filled with happiness, adventure and excitement.

Happy New Year!

Here are the 5 most popular posts of 2011.

1) Chocolate Coconut Pie   - Such an easy pie to put together and so delicious! I am already thinking of variations.

 2) Craggy Chocolate Cake - Flourless and four ingredients.   Pretty, fudgy and rich chocolate heaven.

3) Banana Cupcakes with a Peanut Butter Lindt Filling and PB Chocolate Buttercream - This is one of my favorites of all time!  The secret peanut butter surprise inside was awesome.  I still crave these.

4) Apple Crumble Loaf - I baked my fair share of apple desserts this year, this loaf had layers of apple and crumble in between layers of loaf.

5) Oatmeal Turtle Jumbles - Part of my 12 days of Cookies these spiked up to the top 5 very quickly.

Although I love the above top 5, there were a few others that I particularly loved. 

1)  Red Velvet Blossoms

2)  Coffee Dark Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

3)  Cake Eggs in a Haystack Basket

4)  Carrot Cake 

5)  Pretzel M&M Chocolate dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

Free Form Apple Tarts

I promise this is the last apple recipe for a little while.  What can I say,  I had access to a lot of free apples so I took advantage of it.  I could bake even more with apples,  but I will stop.   Although I am very interested in making another apple loaf, but this one will be more savory.  I will save that recipe for a later date and put the apples away for a few weeks.

Today I am giving you a very easy sweet dough recipe.  This dough recipe is frankly never fail.   If you have difficulty making a pie dough come together, this is your fall back.  This dough is not put together in a traditional pie dough way.  The butter/shortening in this dough are soft and creamed with sugar like a cake or cookie instead of cut in cold.  It is not meant to be a overly flaky dough.   I know it may seem crazy but trust me this dough is delicious.   It holds together really well and you don't have to worry about breaking and cracking.

These tarts are really easy to put together and great as an individual dessert.  Top with a scoop of ice cream and you are set.

Apple Tarts – Makes 6 – 6 inch tarts

Dough (Yields enough for 12 tarts)

·         1 cup + 1 tbsp (250 grams) shortening, room temperature

·         1/4 cup (50 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

·         2/3 cup granulated sugar

·         1 teaspoon salt

·         1 teaspoon lemon extract

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         1 large egg

·         75 ml milk

·         1 2/3 cups pasty flour

·         1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

Apple Filling

·   4 Medium apples – cored, peeled and thinly sliced

·  1 1/2 tbsp all purpose flour

·  1/3 cup granulated sugar

·   Juice from half a lemon

· 3/ 4 teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Make the dough: Combine the first 6 ingredients of the dough in a large bowl/mixer bowl. Beat together until incorporated and smooth. Add egg, beat to combine.

2) Add the flour, beat on low. While beating slowly add the milk. Beat until mixture is starting to come together.
3) Turn out dough onto a flour surface and bring together with your hands to make two round discs. Cover with saran wrap and chill for minimum 1 ½ hours.

4) Make the filling: Combine apples and lemon juice. Sift flour, sugar and spices over the apples and toss together. Set aside while rolling out the dough.

5) Line a baking sheet with parchment/silpat. Preheat oven to 375F. 

6) Remove one disc of dough from the fridge. Lightly flour your table/counter top. Roll out the dough to 1/4 thick. Cut out 6 inch circles. (I used a 6 inch pan and a pizza cutter, doesn’t have to be exact)

7) Place one circle on the baking sheet, layer the apples slices in the center of the circle. Leave about a 1 inch around the apples and fold up the extra dough over the apples.

8) Repeat with remaining discs and apple slices. 

9) Bake for 45-50 minutes. Dough with be golden brown. Remove from oven. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Desserts like this are just so warm and comforting.  I am going to take my tart and ice cream and cozy up to the fire.

Thank you to Believing Boldy for also posting these tarts on her site as part of her 30 days of desserts.   She has a lot of wonderful recipes from herself and other bloggers.  Take a look!

MEG's RATING : D-EEEE-LICIOUS!

Cranberry Apple Crumble Squares

I don't bake too often with cranberries.  At least not too often with fresh cranberries, dried I have used many times.    I don't usually notice them in the grocery store when I am walking through.   The other day though they caught my eye and I bought them.   I didn't really know what I would do with them when I got home, I had not thoought that far in the process.  I just knew I wanted them.    So to be honest they did sit in my fridge for over a week.  Every time I opened the drawer they secretly whispered "bake with me."

In my efforts to get all my food magazines re-organized I started to go through them, trying to figure out why I saved them and tearing out the recipes I wanted to keep.   In this process I came across the above mentioned Cranberry Apple Crumble Squares.  The picture of these squares was so just bright and colourful.  This recipe will be my first attempt with fresh cranberries.   Tuesday night I was all set to bake and realized the recipe called for leftover whole cranberry sauce. I didn't have that so I improvised and made my own version.

(Adapted from Food and Drink)
INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large apple
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1/2 lemon - juiced
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unbleached all purpose
• 3/4 cup quick oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter

Sauce

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp water
• 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Make the sauce : Combine 1 cup fresh cranberries, granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of water in a small saucepan.  Heat on medium until cranberries begin to pop and become more liquid.  In a tiny bowl whisk together cornstarch and water and add to the cranberry mixture.   Whisk together and stir until mixture begins to thicken.  Reduce heat to low and cook a few more minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

2) Spray with non stick spray or grease a 8 inch square pan.  Preheat oven to 350F
3) Peel, core and slice the apple.  Combine with cranberries, sauce, granulated sugar and lemon in a medium bowl.  Toss together.

4) Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, mix together.  Blend in the butter with your fingers until crumbly. Mixture will appear darker.

5)  Press half the mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Cover the base with apple/cranberry mixture.

6) Add the remaining crumble over the top of the fruit, pressing down gently. It will not cover the fruit completely.

7) Bake until top is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting.  Store in the refrigerator.

My first fresh cranberry attempt was a success.   I was really happy with the sauce as well.  It was tart and sweet, just like the bars.   I am definitely going to experiment with making sauce again for the holidays.  

I still have a cup of cranberries left though.   What do I bake with them? Any suggestions?

MEG's RATING : D-EEEEE-LICIOUS!

Apple Chips

I have gotten to the point where I need a small break from all the apple baking. Not to say I am done with fall apple baking I just wanted a small break.   I did, however need to come up with something that would use up a significant amount of apples as they were starting to pile up.  Jeff was bringing me tons of apples and I couldn't use them fast enough.   No time and tired =apple slices  I do have a food dehydrator and have made apple slices using that in the past but I wanted to give a nice roasted flavour to them.  Putting the apples in the oven will also make my house smell absolutely divine.   

INGREDIENTS:

• Apples - as many as you like really.
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Core the apples.   Slice the apples using a mandolin.  I used 1.5mm thick. 

2) Preheat the oven to 300F.  Cover several baking sheets with silpat or parchment.  Place the slices on the baking sheets. 

3) Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle the apple slices very lightly with the cinnamon sugar. 

4)  Bake the slices, rotating half through for 30-35 min, depending on how crunchy you like them.  Watch carefully as they can burn quickly but the crunchy ones are quite nice. Apple slices will curl and feel dry when done. 

I ended up making two large batches of these because co-workers were addicted to them. They were devoured pretty quickly.    Some were crunchy, some were soft but all were delicious.   I think I will also make another big batch at the end of season and save them for the winter.

MEG's  RATING: D-EEEEE-LICIOUS!