Apple Crisp

An easy and delicious dessert perfect any time of year!


Apple Crisp - Hot and delicious from the oven!

Cook time: 1 hour Prep time: 30 min.

Ingredients:

5 large Granny Smith or Fuji apples (NOTE: Any firm, tart baking apple will work just fine!)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup flour
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup old fashioned oats

Peel, core, and slice the apples into bite-sized pieces, roughly 1/2" thick. Place apple slices in an even layer in an oven-safe baking dish approximately 8" X 12" X 2" in size. Sprinkle apples evenly with the granulated sugar and the cinnamon.

In a medium bowl, combine the butter, flour, light brown sugar, and oats and, using a pastry blender or two forks, cut together these ingredients until they resemble a coarse meal (about the size of small peas) to prepare the crisp topping.

Evenly distribute the crisp topping over the apples, sugar, and cinnamon.

Place the crisp in a 350 degree preheated oven and bake for one hour until the topping is browned and the apples are tender and bubbly. Allow to cool at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

Serving suggestion: Serve in small bowls while still slightly warm along with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The ice cream will melt slightly and make a yummy sauce for the dessert!

I hope you all enjoy this simple dessert at your next fall gathering. Be sure to share your feedback as a comment to this post! And stay tuned for some unique Halloween treat ideas coming soon along with a recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Stew! YUM!

Slow Cooker Creamed Chicken and Biscuits

A comfort food favorite as we head into fall!

Cook time: 8 hours Prep time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup

1 1/4 cups chicken broth

3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning

2/3 cup finely diced onions

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

2 tbsp. milk

2 tsp. cornstarch

Salt and pepper to taste

Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and brown seasoned chicken breasts (usually takes 3-5 minutes per side).

Turn slow cooker on low and allow to heat while chicken is browning.

In a medium bowl, mix soup, chicken broth, and poultry seasoning. Using a small wire whisk will help to mix together well.

Place two chicken breasts on the bottom of the preheated slow cooker, followed by half the onion and half the mixed vegetables. Repeat this process with the remaining chicken, onion, and mixed vegetables. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Cover slow cooker and allow to cook on low for 8 hours.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to serving, using two forks, shred chicken in slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix the milk and cornstarch well and stir into chicken and vegetables and allow to cook for final 30 minutes.

To serve, simply prepare your favorite refrigerated biscuits according to instructions. Split a biscuit in half and spoon chicken and vegetables over biscuit. Add salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Serves 5-6

Enjoy this comforting dish with a fresh green salad on the side! We love this dish because it is simple and requires little to no cooking at all.

I hope you all enjoy this dish as the weather starts to chill a little. Be sure to share your feedback as a comment to this post! Who's ready for Halloween?

Fiesta a la Mexicana!

Here's a fun party idea for the upcoming weekend! Better yet, it's easy and you can even enjoy the fiesta yourself!

No, This isn't my photo. But I had to include something to inspire!

Tip #1 - Be sure to plan a versatile menu. For example, grilled steak and chicken for tacos or fajitas, all the fixins (grilled peppers and onions, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, soft flour tortillas and hard corn taco shells), Easy Fiesta Rice (recipe below), and Fiesta Black Beans (recipe below).

Tip #2 - Decide whether the fiesta will be kid-friendly or adult-only so you can plan beverage selections accordingly. Popular kid's beverage selections are limonada (lemonade) or Mexican soda (Jarritos is a popular Mexican soda available in many fruit flavors and found in the international foods section of your local grocery retailer). Popular adult beverage selections are traditional or strawberry margaritas or sangria.

Tip #3 - Spring a little on some decorations to create the perfect ambience! Your local party store is sure to have some Fiesta-themed items that are fairly inexpensive, such as piñatas, paper lanterns, and chile pepper lights. You can also include some floral elements that you can keep around even after the party is over. My favorite is a big vase full of sunflowers! They are relatively inexpensive and usually last up to seven (7) days after the party ends. Another great table decoration is a Mexican serape blanket. These come in many bright, inviting colors and really add to the party theme! You can find them relatively inexpensively at local home décor stores like Pier 1 or Home Goods or, if your in Texas or Southern California, pick one up! We got one on our last trip to San Diego for only $15 - $20...best part, it's reusable as a blanket!

Tip #4 - It's your fiesta - make sure you get to enjoy it! Be sure to plan your snacks, meal, and drinks accordingly so that you are not stuck in the kitchen or at the grill the entire time while your guests live it up. Some helpful suggestions--prepare all your fixins in advance (day before, if possible), have your serving table decorated ahead of time, have drinks in a tub full of ice where everyone can help themselves and enlist a friend to be the designated "bartender" for drinks like margaritas or sangria, and even grill your meats ahead of time and keep covered and warm in a low (250 degrees) oven. You'll be doing the Mexican Hat Dance before you know it!

Now for the promised side dish recipes!

Easy Fiesta Rice

Cook time: 10 min. Prep time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 of an Anaheim chile pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1 cup prepared thick and chunky salsa
3 cups instant long grain rice (MINUTE brand works best)
1 - 10 oz. package frozen corn, thawed

Directions:

In a large 3-quart saucepan, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and Anaheim chile pepper and sauté for 3-4 minutes until peppers are soft.

Add chicken broth, water, and salsa to the saucepan with the pepper and stir well to blend all ingredients. Bring to a boil.

Stir in instant rice and corn. Reduce heat to low, cover, and continue cooking 5-7 minutes until rice is tender and corn is heated through.

Serving suggestion--cheese never made anything bad! Transfer fiesta rice to a serving dish and sprinkle the top with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese before serving!

Fiesta Black Beans

Cook time: 45 min. Prep time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 of a small white onion, finely diced
1/2 of an Anaheim chile pepper, seeded and chopped
3/4 tsp. Goya (R) Adobo seasoning (without black pepper)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. ground ancho chile powder
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
2 - 30 oz. cans frijoles negros (black beans), drained and rinsed
2 cups water

Directions:

In a large 3-quart saucepan, heat oil on medium-high heat. Add onion and Anaheim chile pepper and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in all spices and cook for 1-2 minutes.

Add black beans and water and stir well to blend all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer approx. 40 minutes.

As they would say in Spanish, "Tener una gran fiesta!" Be sure to share your feedback (as a comment to this post) and also share any other fiesta ideas you may have tried in the past!

Labor Day Weekend Rush!

Hello, Recipe Revolutionaries!

Sorry...I did not forget about our 08/31/2013 recipe! The Labor Day Weekend came on so quickly and we had so much going on that I simply did not have the time to put together a recipe last week. However, I'm working on a special mid-week party idea that I think many of you will find inspiring as we look for more easy entertaining ideas.

I've got a quick and easy Mexican Fiesta party idea that I'll be sharing later today, including two quick recipes for Easy Fiesta Rice and Fiesta Black Beans as well as a couple of table decoration ideas!

Stay tuned...more coming soon!