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Apples, Apples everywhere!

December 28, 2010

Winter is here. Along with it brings a delightful array of wonderful apples! So many recipes to try… the possibilities are endless.

Recipe #1 – Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is unbeatable and ever so easy. Once you try it, you will never buy store bought applesauce again. Even the process of canning the extra will make you feel all Martha Stewart without breaking sweat.

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This is a good amount for us (since we are only two), but if you have a family you will definitely want to double, triple, or quadruple this recipe. Enjoy!

Homemade Applesauce

4-5 Apples, peeled-cored-chopped

3/4 cup filtered water

1/2 Lemon, juiced (and zest if you have bitter apples)

1 Tbsp. Apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup sugar* (I only use 1-2 Tbsp. – I prefer a more natural taste)

1-2 tsp. cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick (and/or clove, allspice, ect)

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Place apples, water, cider, and lemon in a saucepan on medium – medium high heat, simmer until apples are extremely soft, stirring occasionally to ensure they do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Mash the apples to desired consistency and continue to simmer until all water is evaporated. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and spices. From here, you can use a food mill for smoother texture or leave as is for more natural consistency.

While the applesauce is still hot, prepare your jars and fill with sauce leaving more or less than 1″ at the top to ensure a good seal. If you have leftover sauce and like apple butter, then you can continue to cook it down, adding more water, sugar, and spices as necessary.

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Recipe #2 – Apple Cake

Being an American from the South, I know all about some apple pies. Now, since living in Greece, I have been introduced to apple cake.

I must admit that I whole-heartedly prefer it! It is unbeatable fresh out of the oven with a cold glass of milk in hand. It is extremely easy to make, and with this recipe you don’t have to feel guilty about going back for seconds or thirds. The cake is full of sweet apples, so you hardly need to add much sugar; by using half applesauce and half olive oil, the fat content is also not a factor. Win/win situation here!

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Apple Cake Recipe

1/2 cup EVOO*

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Apple sauce

2 Eggs

4 cups Apples (About 4-5 apples, peeled-cored-chopped)

2-3 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 cup White Sugar / or Honey

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 cup All Purpose Flour (or sub. White Whole Wheat Flour if you have that luxury
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Baking Soda

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Preheat the oven to 350°/180° and butter well the pan you will be using. Begin beating the brown sugar and oil. Gradually add the applesauce, then the eggs one at a time, beating well. In a separate bowl, prepare your apples and mix with the white sugar or honey, vanilla, and cinnamon, set aside. Sift together the remaining dry ingredients and add to the liquid mixture by hand. The batter will be very thick, do not add any water, but instead fold in the apples thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan and bake in oven for 40-45 minutes or 55 minutes if using a bunt pan. Check to make sure a knife or toothpick removes cleanly before removing from oven. Cool slightly on rack for 10 minutes, and then serve warm.

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I also have a great Applesauce Spice Cake that is pretty scrumptious too! I will share that with you another time. Enjoy your apples and remember, “When the apple is ripe, it will fall” – Irish Proverb and life lesson for today!

Monkey Bread Muffins with Homemade Caramel Sauce

Oreo Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

Banana Blueberry Muffins

4 Comments »

Banana Bread …and low fat too!!!

December 21, 2010

Oh, glorious banana bread!

I think everyone has a good banana bread recipe they love, as well as they should! But, does everyone have a low fat banana bread recipe that is probably better than that other one? Read more... (405 words, 4 images, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Posted in American Favorites | Tags: Banana, Breads, Healthy |

3 Comments »

Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls.

November 26, 2010

To be completely honest, there is nothing Greek about these… it is ALL-American!
These were also my substitute this year to a Thanksgiving lunch, and I am quite confident that I achieved my calorie quota for the day.

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THE Cinnamon Roll Recipe: For 1 pan of Ooey-Gooey Rolls
Printable Recipe Here
Dough-
1 cup warm milk (110° F/45° C)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup butter or oil, softened
4 cups bread flour
1 T. sugar or honey, optional
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. instant dry yeast

I used a bread maker to actually knead the dough and rise, but I have also done this by hand. The secret here is to work the dough until you can actually feel it change into a soft, pliable texture. If you have a bread maker to use, simply add the liquid first then the dry and set to “dough” setting. If you are doing it the old fashioned way, set to “by hand” and start with a large bowl. First, add all of the dry ingredients (minus 3/4 cups of your flour, waiting to add at the end) to your bowl and stir. Warm the milk to 110-115° or to where it is very warm to the touch, but not burning. Slowly add the oil and eggs and give a couple of turns with a wooden spoon. Slowly add the milk and stir into a dough until it becomes too difficult to keep using a spoon. Read more... (797 words, 4 images, estimated 3:11 mins reading time)

Posted in American Favorites | Tags: Breads, Breakfast, Cinnamon |

2 Comments »