Fun with Apples

Apple Picking

Saturday was such a gorgeous day to finally go apple picking! We decided to go to a neighbourhood farm called Country Apple Orchard Farm with dwarf apple trees which were perfect for our mini picker, Kelly!

This is what a dwarf tree looks like. No ladders required!

The resident baker suggested that Cortland apples are great for baking. I agree! Everything I made turned out very well!
Even the dwarf trees had some apples that were higher up. My sister and I had fun trying to jump for the high ones!

Got it!

The ladybugs also wanted to be in on the fun!

Our "mini picker" was the cutest of them all!

Not bad for her first time!



Now onto the yummy stuff...

Apple Cake

Does this cookbook look familiar to anyone? I stole it from my mom's kitchen!
Turn to page 128 and follow the apple cake recipe. So easy!

But in case you do not have the book, here is the recipe...

Apple Cake

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. oil

3 tbsp. water or orange juice

1 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

6-8 apples, pared and thinly sliced

1/2 c. white or brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. icing sugar, if desired

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in oil. Add liquid alternately with dry ingredients and beat until just smooth. Spoon half of batter into a lightly greased 9" square baking pan. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Add apples which have been sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Cover with remaining batter. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 -60 minutes, until nicely browned.

Variation: Use blueberries, cherries or any desired pie filling in place of apples.

Peel 6-8 apples. But don't throw the peel away!
Squeeze half of a fresh lemon over the apples to avoid browning.
Core and thinly slice in food processor.
Coat sliced apples in sugar and cinnamon.
Prepare batter and pour half on the bottom of baking dish. Evenly layer apples next.

Top with remaining batter and sprinkle with icing sugar.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

Delicious!

Apple Chips

Use remaining apple peel and coat in juice left over from apples that were used for the cake. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread out apple peel. Sprinkle some additional brown sugar over the skins and bake at 200 for 2 hours. Let sit in oven overnight.

The result...crispy, sweet apple chips.

Apple Waffles

Peel and grate one apple.

Add grated apple to the following recipe:

3/4 cup margarine

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

2 cups flour

1/4 cup milk

Yield: 4 waffles

Pour 3/4 cup of batter onto waffle grid. Close waffle maker.

Bake for about 3-5 minutes until steam no longer escapes.

Allow waffles to cool on cooling rack.

Serve with syrup and your favourite fruit. Watch the syrup drip down the sides...and...enjoy!

Candy Coated Caramel Apples

4 apples at room temperature

4 sticks

40 individually wrapped creamy caramel candies

wax paper

Buy about 40 individually wrapped creamy caramels from Bulk Barn and unwrap while watching your favourite TV show.

Line cookie sheet with wax paper. Insert sticks into apples.

In a bowl, microwave caramels with 1 tbsp of water in 30 second intervals until melted.

Roll in caramel sauce. Use the back of a spoon to remove excess caramel. If desired, roll in topping such as mini M&M's, sprinkles etc. immediately. Let set for 15-20 minutes.

Wrap and tie. Perfect for a sweet gift!

Everyone always asks me what I do with everything I bake. I usually bring it over to a friend's house, like I did with the apple cake this weekend. Or, I have people over to eat it. Or, Rich eats it...

But this time I want to share and I want three of you to have a caramel apple. Well, I want all of you to have one, but I will only have three left after the one that I test!

All you have to do is give me some advice...

I still have some apples left from my trip to Country Apple Orchard Farm and I am responsible for making snack for the staff at my school this Friday.

So the question is...What should I make?

I'm also curious...What would you make?

Leave your answer in the comment section below and you’ll be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of the caramel apples pictured above.