Rustic Apple Pie

Yesterday for my Nan's 91st birthday I made an apple pie. I used a recipe from Women's Day Magazine. It was a pretty simple recipe, but I did alter it a little bit. For the dough I did not use white vinegar, so I used an extra 2 tablespoons of ice cold water. I let the dough chill for 4 hours. For the apple mixture I used Red Delicious and New York State apples, orange zest, 3 tablespoons of flour, 4 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. The pie was a little bit watery, so I think I could have used more flour or I could have rolled the apples in flour before mixing them with cinnamon-sugar. I decided to put the pie into a 9 inch pie dish because I wasn't sure how it would turn out without one (like recipe says). It was a little difficult to fold over 3 inches of the crust, so next time I don't think I'll use a dish. The pie would have probably been a little smaller and higher, but more of the crust would have been folded over the top. I baked the pie for about an hour and had to put tinfoil over the top for the last 25 minutes to help the apples soften. 

Veggie Ziti

Baked Ziti with roasted veggies!

Ingredients: 
- half of a large zucchini (peeled, halved and sliced)
-1 red pepper (cut in medium strips)
-1 cup of broccoli bushels (bite-sized pieces)
-3 cups of marinara sauce
-3/4 lb ziti
-2 cups of Ricotta cheese
-1 cup Mozzarella cheese
-1/2 Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Let your sauce cook for about 45 minutes. While sauce is cooking, cut up zucchini, pepper and broccoli in bite-sized pieces. I've been watching Chopped a lot and learned that when you're eating a pasta dish, nothing should have to be cut up (it should already be in bite-sized pieces). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and bake veggies for 20 minutes. When veggies are almost done cook your ziti for 5 minutes, it should be al dente because it will cook more in the oven. Drain the pasta then put it back into the same pot. Stir in sauce, veggies and Rioctta cheese. In a baking dish (I used a disposable tin) sprinkle Mozzarella then add the pasta and veggie mix. Next, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese. Keep layering ingredients in this fashion until you've used them all up. Make sure you put a little extra Mozzarella on top and bake for 25 minutes!

You Don't Know Jack

New favorite meal: Burgers with pepper-jack cheese, caramelized onions and Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce on English muffins and smashed potatoes on the side.

Ingredients
-Lean ground beef
-Dry seasoning (Kosher salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder & basil flakes)
-1/2 cup of onions, sliced into thin strips
-1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
-7 red potatoes, cubed
-English muffins
-BBQ Sauce (Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Chipotle)

Directions

In a medium size pot, let potatoes boil until tender. Then "smash" with a potato masher, adding garlic powder, pepper and butter for seasoning. Caramelize onions in olive oil over medium-low heat. Form burgers out of chop meat and season. Heat a large pan on medium-low heat. Spray with cooking spray and let burgers cook about 6 minutes on each size.  When burgers are just about done, add the cheese and let it melt. Serve on toasted English muffins.

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

This morning for breakfast I made french toast with apples & cinnamon-sugar :)

Ingredients
-3 slices of bread (I used Fiber One bread because it's thicker)
-3 eggs
-approximately 1/8 cup of milk
-1 1/2 tablespoons of butter
-1 gala apple
-cinnamon sugar

Directions

Peel and slice apple into medium sized pieces. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small pan then add apples & cinnamon sugar cooking until soft on low heat. In another pan, melt the remaining butter or use cooking spray to prevent sticking. Beat eggs & milk together in a medium sized bowl. Evenly coat each slice of bread, but don't let them get too soggy. Place the battered bread in the pan over medium heat cooking approximately 3-4 minutes on each side. Once your french toast is on a plate, add on the apple mixture and a little more cinnamon sugar.

A Colorful Fall Dinner

Baked chicken cutlets with veggies and mashed sweet potatoes!

Ingredients
- 2 thin chicken cutlets
- 1 cup whole wheat Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled & cubed
-1 packet of steam-able mixed veggies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium size pot, bring potatoes to a boil for 25 minutes or until tender. Dip chicken cutlets in egg & milk then coat with bread crumbs. Drizzle oil on a baking sheet and bake cutlets for 15 minutes, flipping half way through. When potatoes are soft, drain well then mash. Mix in cinnamon and honey (I definitely think I could have used more). To save time I just used steam-able veggies.