09-28-2014

Fabulous Apple Cobbler

Apple Cobbler square

 

This Apple Cobbler is always a hit when I make it.  I found the recipe here.  I tend to alter it a little everytime I make it by adding some more cinnamon or flour as I see fit.  It is pretty easy to make and turns out delicious every time I make it.  It is often requested as well.  Definitely give it a try!

Apple Cobbler 1

 

Ingredients:

Peeled, cored and sliced apples- enough to fill a 9×9 baking dish half way.  (I like to cut them pretty thin as I think it tastes better that way :)

2 tsp. vanilla (divided)

1 1/2 c sugar (divided)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 cup melted butter

1 egg

1 c flour

1/4 tsp. baking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 c nutmeats (optional, I never put them in)

 

Directions:

Preheat the over to 35o degrees.  Butter the 9×9 baking dish.  Put enough apples into the baking dish so it is 1/2 full.  Sprinkle the apples with 1 tsp vanilla.  Then sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon over the apples evenly.

Combine the melted butter, egg, and the remaining vanilla.  Then add 1 c sugar, flour, baking powder and salt and mix together.  Pour batter evenly over the apple slices.  I tend to spread it out using a spatula as well.  Then bake for one hour in the oven.

Yum!  Serve it warm with some ice cream and everyone will be asking for seconds!

 

apple cobbler 3

08-29-2014

Amish Friendship Bread

amish bread bannerI absolutely love Amish Bread.  I am not sure if you have had this wonderful, cinnamony bread but if you haven’t you are missing out.  Yes, it is the bread that takes 10 days (10 days!!) to make as you have to mash around a “starter” for a week and a half but it is so worth it.  You don’t have to have a starter to have Amish bread, you can make your own.  This is what I did.  When you are done you end up with enough for two loaves of bread and then (3) different starters that you can give or keep to make bread again.  I store the starters in the freezer.  I know some people say not to do this but growing up we always put them in there and they were absolutely fine.  The recipe image at the bottom is to give with your starters.

Amish Bread Starter Recipe

*You do not want to use any metal products to make this. I don’t know why, that is just what they say.  So stick to glass and wood.*

  • 1 package (.25 oz) active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water (this is supposed to be at 110 degrees F. I put mine in a pot and use a thermometer until it is the right temperature)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (you will use 1 cup at a time)
  • 3 cups white sugar (you will use 1 cup at a time)
  • 3 cups milk (you will use 1 cup at a time).

1. Dissolve yeast in the water.  Let that stand for about 10 minutes stirring well.

2. In a glass container (you are supposed to use 2 quarts, just make sure it is 2 quart or bigger) combine one cup flour and one cup sugar.  Make sure it is mixed up.  Then slowly stir in one cup milk and dissolved yeast.

3. Loosely cover this (I used plastic loosely on my container) and let sit at room temperature.  This is Day 1 of your 10 Days.  The next 9 days are handled according to the Amish Bread Instructions.

Day 1: Receive Starter.

Days 2-4: Stir Starter with a spoon

Day 5: Stir in one cup flour, one cup sugar and one cup milk.

Day 6-9: Stir Starter with a spoon

Day 10: Stir in one cup flour, one cup sugar and one cup milk.  Then remove one cup to make your first bread, and then you have three additional cups of mixture.  You can put one cup each in plastic bags.  You can give each one to a friend (if they want to deal with a 10 day process :) or you can keep them for yourself and put them in the freezer.  You would then take them out to start the 10 day process again starting just on Day 1.  You are now ready to make your bread.

Amish Bread Recipe

  • 3 eggs
  • 2/3 cup oil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 1/2 tsp, cinnamon
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1. Start with your Starter or One Cup of Batter.  Mix in all of the above ingredients in a large bowl.  Make sure you are still using glass and wood.  Mix until well blended.

2. Grease two loaf pans and fill with the mixture.

3. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 min-1 hour.  Then let it cool and enjoy.

amish bread

 

 

Printable Recipe for once you already have a starter :)

 

Amish Bread Recipe

07-03-2014

Red, White ‘n’ Blue Salad

Red, White 'n' Blue Salad

 

This is probably, hands down, my favorite dessert.  My mom has made it for years for holidays (changing up the colors for Christmas etc.) and this is my first time attempting to make it myself.  I doubled the batch because 1. there will be a lot of people and 2. I absolutely love it and wanted to make sure I had some for me.  My major issue was the colors ran on two of the batches.  You can see some white in the red in the bowl.  I am going to cover it with cool whip and then you won’t be able to see that.  I do have another container I used and that one ran a little more… oops!  I did make sure that the layer underneath felt solid and cured, but I guess it even has to be cured more.  It says about an hour between layers but I would wait a little longer.

Red, White & Blue Salad

 

The recipe is here from Taste of Home.  It is a really simple recipe to follow and looks amazing.  You can do it without the blue berries/ raspberries if you want and you can do it with Strawberry jello instead of Raspberry.

Prep Time: 30+ Minutes + Chilling // Serves: 14-16

Supplies Needed: 

  • 3 oz Berry Blue Gelatin
  • 3 oz Raspberry Gelatin
  • 1 Envelope unflavored Gelatin
  • 2 Cups Boiling Water, divided
  • 2.5 Cups Cold Water, divided
  • 1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Cup Fresh Raspberries
  • 1 Cup heavy Whipping Cream
  • 6 Tbl Sugar
  • 2 Cups (16oz) Sour Cream
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Any additional Whipped Toppings or Berries

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, dissolve berry blue gelatin in 1 cup boiling water; stir in 1 cup cold water. Add blueberries. Pour into a 3-qt. serving bowl. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Add the cream and sugar; cook and stir over low heat until gelatin and sugar are completely dissolved. cool to room temperature. Whisk in sour cream and vanilla. Spoon over the blue layer. Refrigerate until firm.

3. In a large bowl, dissolve raspberry gelatin in remaining hot water; stir in remaining cold water. Add raspberries. Spoon over cream layer. Chill until set. Garnish with whipped topping and additional berries if desired.

 

 

 

06-21-2014

Easy Spinach Queso

spinach queso

I wanted to share this delicious, super easy queso that is always a hit but I was horrible at taking pictures of it.  So you just have to trust me that it is absolutely delicious and takes no time to make.

Ingredients/Supplies

  • 7oz Can of diced green chilies (we always get the mild but if everyone likes hot you could spice it up a bit)
  • 32 oz block of White American Cheese for Queso.  Super healthy I am sure :)
  • 2 boxes of frozen spinach. (I did not do very good photographing this as I had already used one when I decided I wanted to share this with everyone).
  • Crockpot

Thaw and drain the spinach before use.  Combine all the ingredients in the crockpot and stir.  Could it be any easier?  Nope! Then ENJOY!