My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Apple Blackberry Betty

1/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hello 2022!!!  I've been eagerly anticipating your arrival - I've got big plans for you 2022. 😆 😉

We chose to usher in this new year full of new beginnings with triple berry pie - of course.  🤣
Picture
Picture
I'm not really a "New Year's resolution" kind of girl, but this year I've decided that setting more goals for myself is actually one of my goals for 2022.  Does that even make sense?  😅 I've never been shy about using the "I'll start in January" excuse to procrastinate the changing of my bad habits but I've never really taken the opportunity of a new year to clearly define achievable goals for myself either professionally or personally.  And before you start thinking crazy thoughts - bungee jumping in Nepal is NOT one the goals I'm adding to my list for 2022. 🤣🏔 
Picture
Dedicating more time to recipe development is one of my goals for early 2022.  Like many of the recipes that I post, I found the inspiration for this Apple Blackberry Betty in my Cook's Country magazine and I tweaked it to make it my own.  America's Test Kitchen is the creator of that magazine and they are the master of recipe creation and recording about all the trials along their journey to perfection.  This year, try and keep in mind that my goal is to work on creating new and unique recipes and not reach expert level food scientist status. 👩🏻‍🍳 😬
​
The more time I spend on recipe development - the more appreciation I have for the people that do it well.  A really great recipe doesn't just happen by accident which is exactly why I wanted to share this Apple Blackberry Betty recipe with you.  It's amazing and you know that it's been created and tested with extreme care because it's come from America's Test Kitchen.  
Picture
Apple Blackberry Betty
7 slices hearty white sandwich bread 
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled and sliced into 1/2" slices
1 pound Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into 1/2" slices
2 Tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
​3/4 cup blackberries, cut in half
Picture
Picture
Pulse bread in food processor until finely ground. 
Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pulse 5 times.
Picture
Picture
Drizzle in melted butter.  Pulse.
Gently press 2 1/2 cups bread crumbs into an 8" square baking pan.
Picture
Combine apples, water, vanilla, nutmeg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 t. salt in bowl.
Picture
Pile apples on top of bread crumbs in pan. 
Picture
Picture
Sprinkle blackberries over apples. 
Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs over filling and press lightly. 
Picture
Cover with foil.  Place pan on baking sheet and bake 60-70 minutes at 375.  Remove foil and bake 15 more minutes. 
Picture
Serve with ice cream. 

​If you're an experienced goal setter - I'd love to hear your tips and strategies.  I would love to hear what's worked for you and what your own goals are for 2022. 😌

​Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Apple Crisp

11/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
I feel like I've fallen behind on my Fall baking.  If you've been following along on the blog - you already know the reason for the delay.  In a word - disarray.  We just wrapped up week 6 of our kitchen remodeling project and I feel like I'm existing in a constant state of tospy-turveyness. 🙃 I wouldn't necessarily call it untidy or sloppy - it's more like everything in the house has been temporarily relocated to other areas of the house.  I've actually gotten accustomed to the sight of cutting boards in my bedroom and canisters of flour and rice stacked on living room chairs. 😅

As you might imagine, baking this month has proven to be somewhat of a challenge. I find myself looking for recipes with ingredients that are easy to find. 😂I definitely didn't think that I'd be making anything with ​oats anytime soon because it's buried beneath a LOT of other baking supplies.  At this point it would be easier to go out and buy more instead of trying to uncover them and risk upsetting the delicate tower of food that lies above them.  🤣
Picture
Picture
There's no question that apple pie is a family favorite but let's face it - creating a homemade apple pie is a labor of love. 🥧Preparing, chilling, rolling, fitting, crimping, brushing and decorating.  Making a pie crust is VERY time consuming. 

​So when I crave that warm, cinnamony apple flavor but I don't want to deal with a fussy pie, (or if my kitchen is under construction) I go to the store and buy more oats and then I swap the crust for a crunchy oaty topping and make apple cobbler. 😂It takes far less time to prepare and you don't even have to wait for it to cool completely.  Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the top of a warm bowl of apple crisp and its pretty much Fall dessert perfection.  🍏
Picture
Apple Crisp
6 apples, peeled and sliced
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
pinch of kosher salt
Picture
Picture
Combine apples, sugar, 3/4 t. cinnamon and lemon juice.
Transfer to a greased 8" square baking dish. 
Picture
Picture
Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 t. cinnamon and salt.
Cut in cold butter with pastry cutter.
Picture
Picture
Evenly spread topping over apple mixture. 
Bake 40 minutes at 350. 
Picture
Shoutout to my sweet DIL for letting me take over her kitchen and use all of her cute Fall decorations for my apple crisp photo shoot.  She's got the cutest pumpkins and Fall signs.  😂
​
​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Autumn Harvest Bowl

10/14/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have to admit, I’m a little sad to see summer go, but I can't help but be excited about the all of the possibilities that autumn has to offer. 🍂A season of fresh starts, new routines, activities and adventures.  Sure, I'll miss my more laid back summer schedule and nights when the sun didn't set until after 9:00 but I'm excited about this new season that we're entering into. 🍁

I'm ready to trade in my bathing suit for some soft, cozy sweaters and my fresh strawberry shortcake and corn on the cob for all things warm, delicious and  pumpkiny. 🎃There's something about the crisp Fall air that makes me want to escape to my kitchen and start putting together hearty casseroles, make comforting soups and bake soul warming desserts.  🍎 
Picture
Sadly, my kitchen still isn't quite ready for me to use - still waiting on water and countertops - so my Fall cooking might not happen until late November this year.  Rest assured that even if it's delayed - it WILL happen.  I can hardly wait to start to start baking in my new dream kitchen.  Just imagine the Thanksgiving extravaganza that I can create this year with double the oven capacity.  🦃 😅 

We eat a fair amount of take out these days and grain bowls have become my new go-to meal.  I've have some really awesome grain bowl creations from local restaurants so putting together a homemade bowl filled with roasted sweet potatoes, fresh apples, walnuts and dried cranberries just seemed to make sense.  I actually made this Autumn Harvest Grain Bowl just before kitchen demolition began in September.  It was super satisfying and SUPER delicious.  
Picture
Autumn Harvest Bowl
2 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup quinoa cooked
1 small sweet potato
1 apple, sliced thin
1/4 cup chickpeas, rinsed
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
1 Tablespoon chopped walnuts
2 Tablespoons cheese

for the dressing:
2 Tablespoon dijon mustard
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
Picture
Picture
Dice sweet potato.  Drizzle with olive oil.
Roast 40 minutes at 375. 
Picture
Picture
Cook quinoa according to directions. 
Divide greens between 2 bowls.  
Picture
Picture
Top with sweet potatoes.
Add a spoonful of quinoa. 
Picture
Picture
Add chick peas.  
Top with sliced apples. 
Picture
Picture
Arrange cheese over salad. 
Sprinkle with cranberries and walnuts.
Picture
Picture
Combine dressing ingredients. 
Drizzle dressing over salad.
Picture
Grain bowls are growing in popularity and you might remember the other grain bowl recipes that I've shared on the blog. My family loves mediterranean bowls with olives, cucumbers, tomatoes with a tahini sauce.  Mexican bowls are another favorite in this house.  Brown rice, cilantro, black beans and cheddar cheese take center stage when I serve those.  These Fall themed grain bowls are a great way to enjoy the deliciousness of this autumn season.  Pair it with a steaming cup of butternut squash soup - and you've got yourself a perfect Fall combination. 

​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Fall Harvest Granola Bars

10/12/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
What did I ever talk about before I started a kitchen remodeling project?  Two weeks into this massive project and I can officially say that it's consumed my life. 🤣I think about my kitchen all day - every day.  I've even started dreaming about my new kitchen.  No joke.  😅  The other night I had a dream that I forgot to put shelves in the new pantry.  

So today, I'm giving you - and me - a much needed break from all the kitchen talk.  There will be no pictures of cabinet hardware, floating shelves or knife block discussions on today's blog.  I'm choosing to focus on the delicious food that I will soon be able to make in my new and improved kitchen.  Oops, I did it again.   🤦🏻‍♀️
Picture
I don't know if this happens to other people, but I've spent way too many hours standing in the granola bar aisle of the grocery store, comparing brands.  If you've ever looked at the nutritional information on a box of granola bars, you know that they can range from a fancy rice cake to candy bar status.  🍫 I love a good granola bar loaded with chocolate chips but if Im going to eat something chocolatey with 14 grams of fat - I'm going to go all in and eat a snickers bar. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Making homemade granola bars is really the only way that I can know exactly what goes into my favorite snack.  Being able to choose all of the ingredients and having control over the sweetness is ideal and it's actually way easier than you think to make granola bars at home.  Fall Harvest Granola Bars are the perfect no-bake, energy boosting snack that everyone in your house will love.  
Picture
Fall Harvest Granola Bars
2 cups old-fashioned oats 
1 cup whole almonds, roughly chopped
½ cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup packed pitted Medjool dates
⅓ cup maple syrup
¼ cup creamy almond butter
½ cup dried cherries
¼ teaspoon salt
Picture
Picture
Toast oats, almonds and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet for 12 minutes at 350.
Chop dates in a food processor until a rough paste. 
Picture
Picture
Add to a bowl with the oats and nuts. 
Warm maple syrup and almond butter in saucepan.  
Picture
Picture
Add to bowl. 
Stir in cherries. 
Picture
Scoop into an 8x8" square pan with a parchment sling.   Freeze 20 minutes. 
Picture
Remove bars with sling. 
Picture
Cut into 16 bars. 
Picture
You have full permission to take this recipe and make it your own.  Customize it with your favorite nuts, fruits, nut butter and oats.  Then send me a picture of your creation, of course.  I'd love to see what kinds granola bars you make too.  

​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

10/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
My house has been bustling with contractors, installers, designers, project managers, and electricians for two solid weeks and by Friday, I had had all I could take.  #remodelingakitchenishard  Don't get me wrong, I'm super grateful - and thankful - for all of the work that they're doing to create my new dream kitchen but it's definitely been an adjustment to share my normally quiet house.  

A day trip to the North Georgia mountains was exactly what this girl needed to escape the construction chaos.  Luckily, Ben stepped in to run point and make all of the kitchen decisions that had to be made on Friday so my girl and I could get away for the day. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Ok, so I didn't exactly escape completely.   There were still a couple dozen phone calls, pictures and text messages back and forth because let's face it - everyone knew that I wouldn't want to be left out of any cabinet hardware decisions.  🤷🏻‍♀️ #IthinkIhavecontrolissues 😂 

Despite all the of the phone calls, you'd be surprised at how quickly the stresses of remodeling fade away when you're feeding a zonkey or drinking wine at the Fainting Goat Vineyard. 🐐(By the way, In case you were wondering  - I'm pretty sure that the adorable goats at the Fainting Goat vineyard were just regular goats.  The wine was good though.) 🍷😂
Picture
Spending the day apple picking, lunching, wine drinking, animal feeding, sampling the homemade apple desserts and shopping was exactly what this stressed out girl needed.  I came home with a full belly, rested and rejuvenated - and carrying  2 bags of freshly picked apples.  🍎 
​
Picking my own apples from the trees in the North Georgia orchards is one my favorite Fall traditions. #whenyouknowyouknow 🏞Last month I posted a recipe for slow cooker apple butter and now that I have some extra apples in the house, I'm feeling the urge to make another batch because we went through the first one really quickly. AND ... I'm all about using my slow cooker until my kitchen is back up and running.  

The first thing that I'm going to make with my second batch of apple butter are these apple butter cinnamon rolls.  They are divine.  These cinnamon rolls are super soft and fluffy and have just the enough sweetness and spice to make them breakfast worthy.  
Picture
Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. whole milk, divided
1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast 
⅔ cup plus 1 tsp. granulated sugar, divided
½ cup butter, cut into 4 pieces and softened
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon plus ⅛ tsp. kosher salt, divided
4 ⅓ cups bread flour
1 cup Slow-Cooker Apple Butter
½ cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Picture
Picture
Combine warm milk, yeast and 1 t. sugar in bowl of stand mixer. Let stand 5 minutes.
​Add butter, eggs, lemon juice, nutmeg, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and remaining ⅔ cup granulated sugar; beat on low.
Picture
Picture
Slowly add bread flour. 
Shape into a ball.  Transfer to a greased bowl.  
Picture
Picture
Cover and let rise 1-2 hours. 
Roll dough to a 14x18" rectangle on floured counter. 
Picture
Picture
Spread apple butter over dough.
Stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. 
Picture
Picture
Sprinkle over apple butter.  
Roll up, starting with a long side. 
Picture

​Cut into 1 1/2" slices. Place rolls in a buttered 9x13" pan and place in refrigerator overnight or let rise 30 minutes.  ​
Picture
Picture
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350.
Whisk together powdered sugar, apple cider, vanilla, 1 T. milk, and ⅛ t. salt.
Picture
Brush glaze over rolls. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
I love Fall baking and I feel like these apple butter cinnamon  rolls epitomize the essence of Fall baking.  The warm Fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg rolled into a delicate yeast dough and drizzled with a hint of apple cider icing -perfection.  Tell me there's a better way to kick off a beautiful Fall weekend.  🤣

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy-choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect