Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are like a cross between donuts and funnel cake. I am wishing I had some right now. Today I am sharing the recipe for these fruity yummy golden apple fritters. They are best served warm, but it’s doubtful that there will be any left before they cool off. These fritters are studded with diced apples and generously dusted with powdered sugar or rolled in cinnamon and sugar. My youngest daughter even suggested a drizzle of caramel syrup. What a delicious treat!

These are easy to make and you kids will enjoy mixing and sugaring. Keep the cooking in oil to the older ones or adults.

Apple Fritters                                                                                                  Printable Recipe

1 cup all purpose flour
1-½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup milk
1 egg
1-½ cups chopped apples
2 Tablespoons sugar and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon mixed
Powdered sugar

Top 10 Recipes of 2015

2015 has drawn to its end and it's always fun to look back and see some of the fan favorites.  Most of them are from this year but a few from last year snuck in. 

I hope you enjoy the look back with me. Click on the title to see the recipe or click on the "pin it" link to go right to Pinterest to re-pin for later!

Quark

Quark?  That's that character from Star Trek, right?  Sure, that's his name but today I am talking dairy!

I first discovered quark in Munich, Germany.  Although at the time I didn't really know what it was.  I just knew that I had been seeing the runnier, semi sour European yogurts up until that point in my trip.  This one was drizzled with walnuts and honey and looked thicker. I took a small scoop to try.  It was so delicious!  Super creamy and just a little sweet.  I was pleasantly surprised.  

I belong to a German page on Facebook and one day she was discussing this treat called "quark."  I was pretty sure then that it was what I had in Munich.  I set out to see if I could make it from my goat milk.  I found a few recipes for using cultures and this is what I came up with.  Every milk is a little different so you may have to play with the draining times to get what you want but it is easy to make so give it a go!  

We'll still make our runnier type of goat yogurt for smoothies but this is my new go to thick yogurt type of recipe!  I also found that if I don't sweeten it that it works similar to sour cream.  I plan to try it with a baked potato soon.  I read that the un-thinned version can be used like cream cheese for käsekuchen (cheesecake.)  Maybe we'll have a go at that too!

Quark                                                                                                  Printable Recipe

1 gallon whole milk (not ultra pasteurized)*
Buttermilk culture  - USE 1 packet from New England Cheesemaking Culture or 1/8 teaspoon bulk from GetCulture
3 drops liquid rennet
Extra whole milk (amount needed depends on amount of quark making at serving time)
pure maple syrup or honey
pecans or walnuts

Cheese-Stuffed Bread Sticks

I love my Quick Pizza Dough recipe but sometimes I don't want to heat up the kitchen with the oven for just me. One day I flattened the dough like a pizza and cooked it in my pan so I could dip it in the Roasted Marinara.  Then I realized I was missing out on the cheese. I decided to wrap a cheese stick up in the dough and then cook the dough.  Yum!  It's ooey gooey!  Quick and easy to make!

Cheese-Stuffed Bread Sticks                                                   Printable Recipe

3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
3/4 teaspoon  sugar
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees)
1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
couple dashes salt
1-1/2 cups flour plus more for dusting/kneading
6 cheese sticks (mozzarella or colby jack are best)

Add yeast and sugar to water.  Let set for 5 minutes.

Add olive oil, salt, and flour. 

Stir until completely mixed.  It is OK if it is a little wet.  You are going to add to a floured surface and knead. This will add flour and help complete your dough.

It should take you less than 5 minutes to get a nice smooth ball.  Cover with a towel and set aside for 15 minutes to rest/rise.

Divide dough into 6 pieces. 

Roll out into a rectangle that is large enough to cover your cheese stick.  Dampen the edge of the dough so when you fold over last edge it sticks.  Do the same on the end.  I lightly roll it all to be sure the are not holes for the cheese to seep out of as it melts.

Lightly oil a non-stick pan and heat to medium.  Add dough wrapped cheese to pan and cook until light brown. 

Flip each side and continue to brown/cook the dough.  If you want all edges brown you will need to gently hold the bread stick and hold the part of the dough you want browned to the pan.  I have learned that if you go too long they can leak but not as easily as when I did them in the oven.

Remove from pan and allow to cool for just a bit while you warm up your marinara sauce. I topped my sauce with Parmesan for extra cheesy flavor!  These are great to send in lunches too.

Check out that melty cheese!

I think next time I will make extra and freeze some.

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Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #83

Welcome to the Foodie Friends Friday Party!!

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins (with Gluten Free Option)

Three of our favorites in one...cinnamon....applesauce...muffins! These are great for snack, breakfast, or even dessert.  Double your batch because they go fast!

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins (with Gluten Free Option)

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

2 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (homemade is best if you have it)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour (I used Jules GF Flour)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine dry ingredients.

Beat together butter and sugar, then add eggs.  Beat on medium for 20-30 seconds.

 Add applesauce.

 Mix until combined. 

 Dump in flour mixture. 

Mix just until dry ingredients are wet.

Scoop into greased muffin pan. (I have not tried these with papers so I don't know if they will work well or not.) 

I filled mine fairly full using all of the batter.  It is thick.  If you have peaks on your muffin batter you can wet your fingers a little and tap them down.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool in pans for at least 5 minutes then finish cooling on rack.  

 Eat now or freeze for another time.

Gluten Free Buttermilk Berry Muffins

These muffins are soft and fluffy.  I send them to school with my oldest daughter as a snack to replace the fruit grain bars that contained gluten. If you aren't watching gluten you should be able to sub you regular flour back in for the amount I put here. 

Gluten Free Buttermilk Berry Muffins

2 cups flour (I used Jules GF flour)

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup frozen berries (I used blueberries and raspberries)

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup canola oil

2 eggs

Combine dry ingredients.

In separate bowl mix together liquid ingredients.

 Add berries to flour mixture

 and mix until coated.

Dump into liquid and mix just until dry ingredients are wet.

Scoop into greased muffin pan. (I have not tried these with papers so I don't know if they will work well or not.) I filled mine fairly full. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool in pans for at least 5 minutes then finish cooling on rack.  

Eat now or freeze for another time.

How to Make Fruit Roll-Ups

Fruit Roll-Ups, also known as fruit leathers, are a great healthy snack for young and old alike! You can make them from any type of pureed, cooked fruit that can be made fairly smooth. I prefer to use my homemade unsweetened applesauce but may explore adding some strawberry to it.

Fruit Roll-Ups

No-Sugar Applesauce (preferably homemade) (approx 1 qt made 2 trays cut into 4 - 5 roll ups each)

You will need the fruit-roll up sheets for your dehydrator.  Most come with at least one but they do sell them separately.  Place on the trays.

 Pour a very thin layer of the puree onto the trays of the dehydrator.  Some suggest a little spray oil first. I did not as I didn't want to add anything sticky to my fruit. I was able to peel it off.  Spread your applesauce as evenly as you can.

 Turn on dehydrator. Dry according to dehydrator instructions.  Takes anywhere from 4 to 7 hours.  It needs to be dry and not tacky.  If you dry too long it becomes crumbly. Cut into pieces. 

This is one rolled up.

To store roll-up you need to place on a piece of plastic wrap and roll up so that the plastic is inbetween the fruit so it doesn't stick back upon itself.

 Store in a zip shut bag until ready to eat.  

"Tailgating" Party

PB and Nutella Puppy Chow

The warnings that come with this treat are:

Careful not to inhale when you eat, it's just as bad as eating a powdered sugar donut.  Will cause coughing fits.  Yes, I know from experience.

This is addicting and may require treatment to cure said addiction!

PB and Nutella Puppy Chow

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup Nutella

1 box rice toasted squares cereal (approximately 13 cups)

2-3 cups powdered sugar

Mix together your peanut butter and Nutella.  Gently stir in the cereal.  

Add 1 cup powdered sugar to a zip shut bag.  Dump in the cereal.  Add 1 more cup powdered sugar.  Zip shut.  Gently shake to coat and break apart the cereal pieces. Add more powdered sugar if needed. 

If you have too much powdered sugar you can put your puppy chow in a colander and shake the excess off. 

Enjoy!

*If you are worried your cereal will break up too much you can do these in smaller batches.  I use approximately 1-1/2 Tablespoons each of pb and Nutella and 1-1/2 cups cereal.  Also useful if you just need a tiny treat and not a big batch.  ;-)

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Café Frappé

There is a local coffee shop that makes the most awesome frozen coffee drinks.  If I lived in town I'd have one every day.  I'd also be broke.  I found an espresso machine at a second hand store for $5.38.  I thought for that price I'd give it a whirl! I do still stop by the coffee shop for a drink now and then.  She does a really good job!

Café Frappé

2 espressos (uses 1/2 cup water and 2 Tablespoons coffee ground, espresso style)*

2 Tablespoons coffee syrup (any flavor you like or mix and match a couple)

2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1/4 to 1/3 cup half and half (I use milk)

1-3/4 to 2 cups crushed ice (changes the thickness)

chocolate or caramel syrup (optional)

whipped cream (optional)

Blend all but the chocolate or caramel syrups and whipped cream.  If using syrup drizzle on the inside of your glass.  Pour in drink and either top with whipped cream or drizzle on more syrup. 

Feel free to use more or less of any of the ingredients (except the espresso) to change it up the way you like it. 

*It won't be quite the same but you can use a regular coffee pot with the same measures above and double up on your filter to make your "espresso." 

Fluffy Biscuits

Tender and flaky.  Easy to make, hard to resist!  Freezer friendly so make extra for quick breakfasts!

Fluffy Biscuits                                                                                     Printable Recipe

2 cups flour

1/2 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/3 cup shortening

1 cup milk

In a medium bowl mix together the dry ingredients. 

 Cut shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. 

 Stir in milk be only just enough until the flour just mixes in. (I did not use quite all of my milk the first time before it had enough to turn out.)

Dump out onto a floured surface.  Sprinkle a little flour on top. Gently pat dough out to 1 inch thick.

Cut biscuits with a 2-1/2 - 3 inch cutter. When I was growing up my mom used a plastic glass dipped in flour as her cutter. You can put the scraps together for another biscuit but it won't look the same.  The more you play with the dough the more dense and funny looking your biscuits will be. 

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.

Slice and serve with butter and honey.  Would be great smothered with sausage gravy or use with vegetable beef and biscuit casserole. 

If you'd like to use your biscuits as a morning breakfast or other sandwich press your dough into 1/2" thickness.  Cut, then lightly dampen one biscuit top and lay the other top of it. Bake as usual.  It is much easier to separate for sandwiches.

Washington County Reserve Champion in Breads/No Yeast

2014