Glazed Apple Disks

What You Need:

 

3 Red Delicious apples, cored and cut into 1 in slices

1/2 C brown sugar, firmly packed

2 TBSP butter or margarine

1 TBSP grated lemon peel

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

 

How to Make It:

 

Place the born sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. 

Add the butter and cook just until mixture begins to bubble.

Add the lemon peel and stir well to incorporate.

Fold the apples into the glaze mixture in the saucepan.

Reduce the heat to low.

Continue cooking 15 minutes or until the apples are just starting to crisp tender.

Remove pan from heat and stir in the vanilla.

Serve warm

 

Serves 6

 

These apple disks can be served as a side dish or topped with a dollop of whip topping as a dessert. 

Apple Pear and Berry Crumb Pie

What You Need:

 

1 refrigerated pie crust, brought to room temperature

3/4 C sugar

2 TBSP cornstarch

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

3 C tart apples, peeled and thin sliced

3 C pears, peeled and thin sliced

1/2C sweetened dried cranberries

1/2 C all purpose flour

1/4 C brown sugar, firmly packed

1/4 C cold butter

1/2 C walnuts, chopped

 

How to Make It:

 

In a large mixing bowl combine the sugar and cornstarch.

Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and toss to combine.

Gently fold in the apple and pear slices.

Add the dried cranberries and gently mix together.

Place the pie crust in a 9 in pie plate.

Heat the oven temperature to 400 degrees.

In a small bowl combine the flour and brown sugar.

Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until mixture becomes a crumbly texture.

Add the nuts and toss to combine.

Place the fruit mixture into the pie crust.

Add the crumble topping to completely cover the pie.

Cover the pie loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.

Bake 55 minutes.

Remove the foil and continue baking an additional 10 minutes or until top is golden brown.

 

Serves 8

 

This pie is unbelievably good.  The walnuts can be left out or pecans can be substituted in their place.

Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake Squares

What You Need:

 

1 3/4 C sugar plus 1 C sugar

3 eggs

2 C flour

1 tsp. salt

1 C nuts, chopped and divided

1 C canola oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

3 TBSP cinnamon plus 2 tsp. cinnamon

3 C apples (your favorite), chopped

1/4 C butter, melted

 

How to Make It:

 

Place the 1 3/4 C sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Add the eggs and mix to combine.

Stir in the canola oil and extract until well blended.

Stir in the flour until completely moistened.

Add the baking soda, salt and cinnamon and continue stirring until completely incorporated.

Fold in the apples and 1/2 C of the chopped nuts.

Spray a 9 X 13 in pan with a non stick cooking spray.

Heat the oven temperature to 375 degrees.

Place 1 C of sugar into a mixing bowl.

Toss together with the 2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 C chopped nuts.

Pour in the butter and mix until ingredients is well combined.

Pour mixture over the entire top of the cake batter.

Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

 

Serves 12

 

Instead of using the cinnamon and nuts in the topping add a few red hot candies to the mix.  

Create Stress-Free Holidays & Special Events

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.

Create Stress-Free Holidays

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.