In college I lived in a house with nine other women. Sometimes I wonder if this was God preparing this sister to brothers only for a daughter only household. One thing I did find was what it is like to have sisters in a very communal living environment. We would all put money into groceriesContinue reading “Apple Crumb Tart (Grain & Dairy Free)”
Tag Archives: apple
Apple & Sunbutter Sandwich Donuts
We have three more days left in our Whole30 journey as a family, where we have forgone all grains, legumes, dairy & sugars for 30 days. And I can honestly say that I have felt so much more invigorated since the arrival of Caprice. She is still not anywhere close to sleeping through the night,Continue reading “Apple & Sunbutter Sandwich Donuts”
Paleo Shepherd’s Pie & Apple Sage Sausage Patties
A couple years back, as the cold fronts began emerging & the nights grew dark long before supper time, we sat to enjoy a meal with friends. Reflections of ourselves in the window, sitting around the table, as Melissa brought a piping hot casserole to the table. I was dismayed to see the casserole, becauseContinue reading “Paleo Shepherd’s Pie & Apple Sage Sausage Patties”
Paleo Week 2: Harvest Salad
I told myself that I would not have any obligation to post everyday during this 30 day challenge, and I’m glad about it. I went to a conference this past weekend (Friday & Saturday) in Seattle. I was pleasantly surprised, because my expectations were very low. I went prepared, while carrying around my little strawberry tote bag everywhere, which was loaded with Paleo supplies (celery sticks, nuts, apple slices, hazelnut butter, etc). I also discovered that club soda is not nearly as awful when your taste buds have been devoid of sugar. In fact, the soda water was AMAZING!
It also must be said that I still miss chocolate, red wine, and ice cream doesn’t sound too bad. However, despite those non-L&G foods, I think I could see making this as part of our lifestyle. Not necessarily 100%, but in the high percentages. I will let you know about next week, because I’m told that come third week–your body feels better than good. The downside to the challenge during this second week is how my performance at the gym has been low. When running–my legs feel like lead. When lifting–my arms feel like noodles. I’m hoping week three will be better than good.
This salad is probably my go to salad. My friend Jessica fell in love with it that she went out to get the ingredients that day. And you can easily make it Paleo by nixing the blue cheese (just make sure the cranberries don’t have sugar with them).
A Year Ago: Roasting Pumpkin
Harvest Salad (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
Head of lettuce (romaine, red leaf, green leaf), washed, dried, & torn into bite sized pieces
1 apple (Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, whatever you want–just not Red Delicious)
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, Roquefort
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tb mustard (regular or dijon)
1 tsp dried basil (crunch it in your hands to release the oils)
Directions: Pretty straightforward, put the washed/torn lettuce into a big bowl. Sprinkle the nuts, dried cranberries, & blue cheese on the lettuce.
In a bowl or glass measuring cup, add extra virgin olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Add the mustard and whisk together. It should start to combine. Add the basil. No need to pour all of it on the salad, but start small and mix to combine. If you need a bit more, then add it:)
Paleo Day 3: Hazelnut Butter & Apple Slices
I made a Greek salad tonight for dinner (without that salty addition known as feta) with leftover pistachio crusted salmon, but the food I enjoyed the most was a small amount of hazelnut butter with a couple of apple slices. No picture, just get some hazelnut butter & cut up some apples, not too difficult–right!
While we’re on the topic of food (yes I have been dreaming about it lately)…I began thinking today, just prior to putting my girls to bed, how I would be watching Top Chef: Just Desserts tonight. Sounds pretty horrible, considering everything they make on the show I cannot eat; however, what was worst for me was the reality that I couldn’t even have a little chocolate while watching. But really, what was worst for me was the reality of how often I associate food with good times. I don’t think that’s always a bad thing, because I mean–didn’t Jesus perform his first miracle at a feast making wine. There is something to be said about a time of feasting, but what I realized is how often I add in “little feasts” everyday in my life.
When the girls go down for a nap I have the option of making an Americano or even a latte. I’m going to a conference this weekend with two friends, which means no partaking in any sweet treats, or a mocha on the drive to Seattle. My life (and most of ours) revolves around communing with food. Then, what got me thinking about this whole Paleo lifestyle is all the cookbooks I own and recipes left untouched. I began wondering, “Wow, what do I live for?” So many moments in my life are about feasting, indulging or treating self, but what about restraint? That’s a harder one. Granted, I’m in the thick of it and I just might feel different in two weeks (remind me of that when I get there, because I will see this to completion). How do we use food to bring people together, to feast, to abstain & nourish? How do you do it?
A Year Ago: Community Meals
Sour Cream Apple Crumble Bars
I will continue to love Autumn more than any season, and I don’t think it will ever leave, to which I’m grateful. The vibrant colors alone rap my heartstrings (doesn’t take much). And nothing says Fall quite like the wafting aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger & cloves. Puddle jumping never seemed so invigorating. Then, there’s the visit to the pumpkin patch or apple orchards, while bundled up in “sweater weather” with the crisp air and crunch of the leaves with each step. Oh Autumn, can you stay like this well into late November? Autumn seems to call out, “come inside, bundle up, sip some cider by the fire, and be.”
How they smile for the picture
With the busyness of summer feeling a bit nomadic, Autumn let’s us know that it’s okay to be sedentary, to regroup and develop a game plan (fitting that football is in the Fall) of where you’re going next. I’m reminded of traditions being rekindled or brand new ones beginning. I know our family has been like running one 800 meter to the next without a time to catch our breath, much less time to ‘know’ one another. This season reminds me of how I can make room for the new college student who has moved to town as well; but, it reminds me that if my family is on a constant chase without any reprieve, then it’s pointless.
I rarely make dessert specifically to be eaten after dinner, but sometimes having dessert planned with dinner when you’re not having guests over can be…well, special. And I think making a dessert for my family, unannounced communicates that I think they’re pretty darn special. These Sour Cream Apple Crumble Bars are perfect for that. Plus, they taste better the next day. So, you don’t have to be in the kitchen making dinner & dessert all for the same meal. They’re wonderful, and these little gems are sure to procure you praise for at least a couple of days (reason enough to make them). I would love to hear what you do to usher in Autumn!
A Year Ago: Rarely for the Planned
Sour Cream Apple Crumble Bars (printable recipe)
This recipe is adapted from The Good Cookie cookbook. It reminds me of an apple pie baked from Dutch Mothers in Lynden, WA, but without having to deal with the rolling & chilling that comes from making a pie crust. The key is to let it cool to get the best overall taste.
Crust:
1 1/3 cups unbleached flour
1/3 cup unrefined evaporated cane juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp cold water
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
Apple Filling:
1 pound Jonamac apples; peeled, cored, & sliced into 1/2 inch slices
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tb apple juice or cider
2 tsp cornstarch
2 Tb brandy
4 Tb unsalted butter
1/2 cup rapadura sugar
Topping:
1 cup unbleached flour
1/4 cup unrefined sugar (evaporated cane juice)
1/3 cup rapadura sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Sour Cream Mixture:
1 large egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
Make the crust: In a food processor, add the flour, sugar, & salt, combine 30 seconds. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, pulse 6-8 times. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk, cold water & vanilla. Then, with the food processor running, add the liquid and combine for 15-20 seconds. Dump the dough into a 9-inch square pan and pat it down evenly with your hands. Bake in preheated oven of 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Make Apple Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the peeled/cored/sliced apples, lemon juice, cornstarch, brandy, & apple juice. Toss it around and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar to cook. Stirring constantly until there are no more lumps. Add the apple mixture and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes, or till the apples are soft on the outside but still slightly crunchy inside. Empty contents into a bowl and allow to cool completely.
Make the topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, cinnamon & salt. Add the melted butter and mix with a fork, stirring until the dry ingredients are all moistened. Set aside.
Make the Sour Cream Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk the egg until well blended. Add the sour cream, cinnamon & salt to the whisked egg and whisk till combined.
Assembling the bars: Take the sour cream mixture and combine it with the apple filling. Stir well and spread evenly on the baked crust. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sour cream apple mixture. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and set. Cool the bars completely before serving. You can dive right in if you’d like; however, they taste so much better when they’re completely cooled.
P.A.C. Crisp (pear, apple, cranberry)
Crisp ala mode, what could be better?
Yesterday we had an Autumn Family gathering with the other families from our playgroup we go to Thursday mornings. I made this delicious crisp, along with the help of my trusty 2.75 year old assistant. I have to say that this crisp is exceptionally tasty. No, let’s not kid ourselves…it’s a complete foreshadow of everything Autumn (which is a GOOD thing indeed).
I was looking for something rustic, simple, and a ‘knock your socks off type of good,’ to make for dessert. I actually had never made it before, but I knew my Ina Garten hadn’t let me down so far, and her Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook would for sure have a crisp recipe. I made a few adjustments from the original recipe, by using rapadura sugar, whole wheat pastry flour, using cranberries instead of dried, and adding cardamom (since there was orange in the recipe, cardamom screamed to be used). All of these made it taste great, especially the addition of cardamom.
The pears, apples, & cranberries sitting in sugary, spicy goodness.
Since my two year old helped make the crisp, she couldn’t stop talking about it the rest of the afternoon. The party was at 4:00 and she still needed to take a nap. She had a bit of a meltdown when I informed her that we weren’t going to the party quite yet, because she needed to take a nap. Her eyes quickly filled up with tears and some speaking in tongues began, to which effect something about not being able to eat the crisp was murmured. Poor girl, she even got a bit anxious as we were walking up to our friend’s door, where she looked around for the crisp then blurted with panic, “CRISP! CRISP?” And yes, she was the only kid at the dinner table eating her crisp after dinner, while all the others were playing downstairs (Then, was it bad to serve this for breakfast to her? I did put my foot down and say no to the ice cream she requested).
The crumb crust before entering the oven. Yes it’s a lot of topping, but keep piling it on.
And it must be said that I adore all of these ladies whom I get to share life with (almost) every week. We have been meeting weekly since just after V’s first birthday, which is almost two years now. I love how we have our similarities and differences, yet we still choose to be more than co-mothers, but friends. Each one of them brings a different gift to my life as a woman, wife & mom. There isn’t judgment on how we parent different or how we fail, but grace, because we understand (period). I also love how everyone is real & genuine. No one comes in with a, “Wow, I LOVE being a mother every second of the day (or everyday for that matter).” But there’s also not this, “Whoa, I hate being a mom and my kid is a….”
Instead, it’s a sincerity and a realness of “this mothering/parenting job is hard, and I don’t always like it, and I’m not going to be fake and make you think it’s the best job in the whole world 100% of the time. But I do value something higher, which means I will give up some of my rights, in order to provide my children with something greater. I not only value something higher, but love these stinkers so deep it hurts and am willing to go above & beyond for them.” That’s who these women are to me and I love them for it. So thanks Biz, Lindsey, Becky, Christine, Bethany, Megan & Talia–my Thursday mornings (although always running late & a bit disheveled) are my diamond in the rough as a stay at home mom and you ladies’ bring out a different spectrum of light in my diamond.
Last year’s Halloween party before many of the siblings were born.
P.A.C. Crisp (pear, apple, cranberry) (printable recipe)
Recipe is adapted from the Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook. **A little side note: If you’re not familiar with other sugars like rapadura, I would encourage you to start baking & cooking with them. I get mine from the bulk section at our local Co-op, which is cheaper than buying it pre-packaged in the health/natural section of your grocery store.** The recipe also called for Macoun apples, but I used what I had on hand and I’m not too particular when the recipe calls for say ‘Granny Smith.’ Instead, I use what I know could create a good end product and wouldn’t dissolve into mush (say Red Delicious). My apples came from a friend’s tree, so I have no idea what they are called.
Ingredients:
3 ripe Bosc pears
5 apples (I have no idea what kind I used)
3/4 cup frozen cranberries (that’s what I had on hand, but you could use fresh)
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Squeezed juice of one orange
Squeezed juice of one lemon
1/2 cup evaporated cane juice sugar (this is sugar which is less refined and has a golden color to it)
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Topping:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup rapadura sugar (however, I know most people don’t have this, so do 3/4 of the above sugars)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel and core the pears & apples. Cut them into large chunks. Put the fruit into a large bowl, toss with cranberries, zests, juices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, & cardamom. Pour into a 9×13 baking dish.
For the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit, covering the fruit completely. You’ll notice that this is a lot of crisp topping, but keep packing it on and you won’t be disappointed.
Place the baking dish on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbly. Serve warm (with vanilla ice cream to live on the wild side).
Maybe sitting by the fire eating the crisp with this little cutie could be better.
Something Quick
So I made this yummy Salmon Chowder last night for our small group gathering, but I don’t have the recipe as it was a do it as I go sort of thing. The greatest part to me was the pureed celery root, which if you’ve never tried it you truly must and this is the season to do it. Quick, go do it before time runs out.
Aside from the salmon chowder, I have to say that I love my small group and how it’s made up. We are in this transition period. You know the transition of figuring out how to meet together, have adult conversations, while seven little monkeys all under the age of 3 are running, crying, & shouting around the house. Nonetheless, we’re figuring out our rhythms and it just might be working.
We meet twice a month as a large group where we share dinner. I make the main dish and everyone brings something else to share. It’s this beautiful meld of hospitality at it’s finest. We see each other as we are, much like the dishes we bring. The food doesn’t have to compliment one another, be exquisite, or honestly, it doesn’t even have to taste the best. What it is is that we are simply taking time to breathe, love, & enjoy one another.
Our meal last night was salmon chowder (which I took inventory of what I had and threw it in the pot), leftover salad from the previous night and some corn thrown in on top, freshly picked blueberries with sliced strawberries, and sliced watermelon from the day before. Then, there’s our group, a campus pastor, stay-at-home moms, linguist, financial advisor, nutritionist & physical trainer, baker & cook, horse instructor, engineering, & economist.
There is a realness and understanding that we don’t have it together, that we might come grumpy and distraught, that marriage isn’t easy when you have toddlers and babies, and we might even say some stupid, “why did I just say that?” sort of things. It’s not perfect, it’s not polished, and sometimes it’s not always fun, but I would say that there is a mutual appreciation, respect, honesty & love, which permeates through our gatherings.
Here’s something quick you can pull out with company, your family, or give to someone who needs it. It’s a combination of sweet, tangy & crunchy.
Cabbage-Apple Salad (printable recipe)
This recipe is adapted from Epicurious
Ingredients:
half of green cabbage, sliced thinly
2 apples, sliced thinly
1 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
pinch of cayenne pepper
pinch of kosher salt
1/8 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Prepare:
Put butter in a skillet over medium-high heat till melted. Add pecans and stir to coat them. Cook while stirring for about one minute. Add brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne & salt; stir till nuts are coated, about 1 minute. Transfer nuts to foil or parchment paper to cool.
Combine olive oil, rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, & dijon mustard. Stir to combine & set aside.
Put your sliced cabbage & apples in a bowl. Add your nuts and pour dressing on top. Combine and serve.
Strawberry Jam without Pectin
I think a great gift to people is giving them canned goods. Granted I have only canned jams, but people love the specialness (my own word copyright) of it. There is also something so rewarding about making your own jam instead of buying it at the store. It’s a bit of a novelty because this was common stuff back in the day when a homecook couldn’t imagine going to the store to buy their canned goods–they would make it right at home. And I guess that’s what I like about it, being a part of something that were common occurrences around the home.
Now, I know it’s not all romantic and such, because that whole boiling water, sterilizing the jars, wiping off the jam, etc., isn’t the most enjoyable way to spend your time while your two girls nap. However, once you hear the popping of the lids, the jam setting, the first jar being opened to taste the results and a qualified, “MMMM” from your 2 1/2 year old, it makes it all worth it.
Strawberry Jam (printable recipe)
This is a recipe from Barefoot Contessa. I have added my notes below in italics.
What you need:
3 pints strawberries
3 cups superfine sugar
2 Tablespoons Orange liquor (Grand Marnier)
1/2 cup peeled, cored & chopped Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup rinsed blueberries
Wash & rinse your strawberries. Hull them, cutting the large ones in
quarters, medium ones in half & small ones leave them alone.
In a heavy bottom pot mix strawberries with sugar & liquor. Set over
medium heat, stirring constantly. When it starts to boil, add apples
& blueberries. Maintain a rolling boil and stir occassionally,
skimming the foam off the top. Put in a candy thermometer in and wait
till it reached 220 degrees (25-35 minutes).
Once temperature is reached, cool to room temperature and put in jars
to put in fridge. Will keep for two weeks. If you want to have jam
keep longer than follow canning guidelines (you can look online or if
you have The Joy of Cooking). It produced about 3 3/4 half pint jars
of jam for me.
My notes:
1. You can pulse regular sugar in a food processor to make superfine
sugar, if you can’t find it at the store. I put the sugar in and
pressed on for about 45-60 seconds.
2. Grand Marnier is expensive, so you could do one of three things in
my opinion. Buy the little container (the ones they sell on planes),
omit it altogether as it adds a depth to the jam but not necessary, or
put in orange zest or orange extract.
3. I seemed to have stirred & waited for it to reach 220, but it
didn’t. I gauged it more on what it looked like. You could put a cold
plate in the freezer and drop a bit on the plate, then run a spoon or
knife through the mixture. If it parts (think Red Sea) than take it
off the heat. Remember that you’re basically working in the candy
arena & it could go from soft ball stage to hard ball stage pretty
quickly.
Backdoor Hospitality 