APPLE PIE BARS

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends!

It's not Fall without a delicious Apple Pie or maybe an Apple Pie Bar. What is an Apple Pie Bar? Just feast your eyes on these.....

FESTIVE FALL CENTERPIECE

Festive Fall with it's glorious colors.......is simply beautiful!

Touches of fall can easily be added to your home in just a few minutes. From natural elements like apples, pumpkins, gourds, branches and colorful leaves.... to the shimmers of gold and copper. Fall is my second favorite time of year to decorate.  In case you are just joining TLB.....Christmas is my all-time favorite!!

HUBBY'S BIRTHDAY MAPLE-WALNUT APPLE CRISP

Welcome to Foodie Friday!

We have one birthday in our family in November and that would be my hubby. Between being born in the Fall and living his childhood in Western New York where apples are so plentiful, who wouldn't want a good apple anything for their birthday!!

When we were first married he always wanted a Spice birthday cake, but about 11 years ago, he changed his mind. No more cake, he wanted Apple Crisp with French Vanilla ice cream. I thought okay, I can do that. What could be easier.

I found a recipe in Cooking Light magazine that has become a mainstay since then. Every year no matter where we celebrate my husband's birthday, he has his Maple-Walnut Apple Crisp with French Vanilla Ice Cream.

The thing he loves about this recipe is it's loaded with lots of sweet apples, a touch of cinnamon and a crunchy crisp topping.

The recipe is quick and easy----it takes longer to peel the apples than to assemble the crisp. 

MAPLE-WALNUT APPLE CRISP
Ingredients:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup regular oats
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
14 cup chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
7 cups sliced peeled Rome apples (about 3 lbs.)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, oats, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Stir in walnuts.
3. Combine apple and remaining ingredients in a large bowl, toss well. Spoon apple mixture into a 8-inch square baking dish or 1 1/2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Bake at 375F for 45 min or until golden brown.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/maple-walnut-apple-crisp

If you are looking for a delish crisp......give my hubby's favorite a try. I know you'll love it too!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Kathleen

YUMMY CARAMEL APPLE BARS

Welcome to Foodie Friday my friends!

Our area apple orchards are abuzz with apple picking right now. The harvest festivals with "everything apple" are all around us. I love this season.......and can I tell you how much I love apples? How about you, are you excited about fresh delicious apples? 

I'm afraid my enthusiasm for apples has me blogging about another apple recipe. There's something about apple and caramel that appears to be on my radar this season. 

I found a recipe for Caramel Apple Bars. What I love about these bar cookies is that the topping reminds me of the center of an apple pie...soft and moist with a touch of cinnamon.

The recipe starts out with a bottom crust made with oats, flour, cinnamon and other goodies which is baked.

The crust layer is then topped with a caramel and heavy cream mixture. Last but not least a delicious fresh apple layer sprinkled with 1/2 cup of the reserved crust ingredients. 

And then it is re-baked till golden brown.

Don't they look delish? And the combination of the soft chunky apple mixture with the crunchy caramel crust...YUM! What a great Fall combination.

You may find the recipe here:
http://www.bakeorbreak.com/2012/09/caramel-apple-bars/

I hope you enjoyed today's blog. What are some of your favorite apple recipes.....please feel free to share with us we'd love to hear from you. 

Our blog and FACEBOOK page THE LAVENDER BOUQUET have so many new friends......we'd like to say WELCOME! 

Please stop by for a visit anytime and tell your friends!  If you'd like to receive our blog via email, simply go to:  http://thelavenderbouquet.blogspot.com and add your name in the email box located on the right hand side. You will be prompted to verify your request by word verification. Then the blog will be delivered directly to your email account every Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

May your weekend be filled with the warmth and sunshine of a beautiful Fall day!

Kathleen

*****JOIN US MONDAY AS WE SHARE OUR OUTDOOR FALL DECOR!

CARAMEL-GLAZED APPLE BREAD

Welcome to Foodie Friday!

I hope your week has been going well. I can't believe it's Labor Day weekend already! Things are always so hectic. Running to the store for those last minute items to finish the school supply list, and for some of us slipping away for a couple of final vacation days before the temps take that crisp dip.

Thinking ahead to cooler days reminds me of the delicious crispy apples that are always so plentiful in the Fall. I love baking anything apple. Do you remember that terrific smell of something apple baking in the oven when you came home from school? It's so delightful!

Good ole' Betty Crocker has a Caramel-Glazed Apple Bread recipe that's really delish. Drizzling the top of the bread with a Caramel-Glaze makes it even more scrumptious!

This bread is so moist and has such a wonderful apple and cinnamon flavor. The caramel glaze adds just enough sweetness to the top of the bread. This makes a great treat for the kids when they come through the door from a long day at school!

Give the recipe a try and let us know what you think.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/caramel-glazed-apple-bread/b9f0173d-3474-4106-90e7-43d60a1354b1


TLB wishes all of our friends a wonderful safe Labor Day weekend!

Kathleen


*****John F. Kennedy--

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

Foodie Friday--YUMMY Apple Crostata

This week we had friends in visiting from out of town for lunch at our house. I haven't held a luncheon in quite some time. My lunch skills were a bit rusty so I starting browsing for ideas. Since it is Fall, my first thoughts gravitated to a nice warm soup, something hearty. Our friends were headed to a soccer game after they left our house, so they needed something to hold them over because they would most likely be having a late dinner.

I came across a recipe that my husband and I both love for soup; Ellie Krieger's Beef & Mushroom Barley. (see link below) At first, I thought a nice warm sandwich would be a good accompaniment to the soup, however, the idea was to visit and catch up with our friends, not stand at the stove top. I had to keep things easy. I quickly changed my mind and searched for a tasty side salad. I came across an easy Ina Garten recipe for Orzo with Roasted Vegetables that I could make ahead. I added a sliced Ciabatta baquette and dessert. Again, using Ina Garten and her Apple Crostata recipe for dessert completed the meal. (see link below)

 Ellie Krieger-(The Food You Crave fromCookbook --http://www.food.com/recipe/beef-and-mushroom-barley-soup-450503),

Ina Garten-Barefoot Contessa Parties Cookbook (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/apple-crostata-recipe/index.html
and http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/orzo-with-roasted-vegetables-recipe/index.html

I have never made a Crostata before. I have made pies for years, but not a Crostata.  A Crostata is an Italian baked tart in the form of a pie. It is actually quite easy. I have included a set of visual steps below for you. I was a bit rusty with my pie crust skills. Next time I would like my disk shape to be more perfect.......without the little tears in it. Darn tears!

Apparently, tears weren't a problem----I passed the tasty test. Both my husband and our guests all seemed to enjoy the Crostata very much!

STEPS TO MAKING APPLE CROSTATA



My Crostata is displayed on a beautiful platter that was a gift from my husband's nephew, and family from Brazil. It is simply gorgeous----I love the detail!

Since apples are so plentiful right now why not give the Apple Crostata a try? It is easy and so delicious warm!  Some say a bit of whip cream OR vanilla ice cream might complete the package!

I hope you enjoyed this Foodie Friday segment. Now go practice up on those pie skills to impress your family and friends. Please share a photo with us if you decide to make one yourself.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

CHEERS!
K

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foodie Friday-----The Sweet Taste of Fall

Welcome to Fall folks!  Yesterday there was a chill in the air and today the temps were still chilly and darn, it has rained all day. It is always a bit sad when the leaves start falling to the ground, as the trees always look so bare and vulnerable to the winter ahead.

Fall days remind me of so many yummy smells and tastes. I love the scents of cinnamon, pumpkin,  and apples that permeate the kitchen.What could be more delightful than the sweet tastes of Fall?

Our oldest daughter was driving in to NJ on a business trip today, and she called to tell us that she was going to take a bit of a detour and spend Friday and Saturday with us. She really wanted to go to the apple farm on Saturday to pick up fresh apples so that she could make applesauce when she got home. All she had to do is mention applesauce, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. Unfortunately, she had a flat tire (thankfully she is fine) and was unable to make the trip, but that didn't stop me from running to pick up the apples to make our favorite applesauce.

The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten has the most delicious recipe for applesauce. It has some interesting ingredients that give it a new twist, and does not use any sugar. My youngest daughter is just crazy about my mother, Mago's applesauce. Mom spoils my daughter every year, making it ahead of time and freezing it so that my daughter will not miss her applesauce on Thanksgiving day! Now that's a good Mago!

The prep time for Ina's recipe takes a bit of time because of the 6 lbs. of apples that require peeling. I am sure you will forget about the prep time once you taste it. I have taken a series of photos as I prepared the applesauce to kind of give you an idea of how very easy it really is.

 The recipe link may be found at the end of the photos.

The ingredients are so different I am sure you will LOVE the flavors as they meld together!

Zest and juice the oranges and the lemon.

Pour the liquid over the peeled apples.

Pour the apples into a non-reactive Dutch oven or enameled iron pot.

Spread them in a fairly even layer.

Add remaining ingredients, brown sugar, butter, and spices.

I have a very hot oven so it takes me just about one hour instead of the l 1/2 hrs. that is recommended. You may want to watch this step carefully the first time you make it.

Whisking the applesauce in the pan takes out the lumps. My family prefers it to have a few chunks of apples in it. Whisk according to your own final  preferences.

Cut and paste this link to Ina's Homemade Applesauce Recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-applesauce-recipe/index.html

I hope your family enjoys this applesauce as much as mine does!

Have a wonderful weekend---------

ENJOY!
K