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Monday, October 12, 2009

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.

58 comments:

  1. mmmmm all looks delicious.

    I would make apple crumble!

    awesome posting Mel!

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  2. Hi Mel,

    Wow, your apple cake looks amazing! What a little "balebosta"! Next brunch I would like to request the apple pancakes or apple waffles!
    Great posting! Commenting from Sedona, Arizona!
    With love, mommy

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  3. Congrats on your engagement! I found your website through Bakerella! I love blogs with food! I can't wait to try your Caramel Coated Candy Apples!

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  4. I saw your blog linked from Bakerella's site. What a "sweet" proposal! Just wanted to say congrats!!

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  5. I saw the proposal too, lucky girl! such a good idea, he obviously loves you a lot! good luck and congrats to both of you!!

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  6. Congrats guys! How could I not comment after I see that you are a fellow Canadian (Yay!!), your "mini picker" and I share the same name and I saw your super fun engagement from Bakerella's blog!!

    Wishing you both all the best for a fabulous life together, congratulations!

    Hugs, Kelly

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  7. Your blog looks so yummy. Your new fiance is a lucky man! Congrats and best wishes to you both!

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  8. Congrats to you!! I am a blogging baker as well and will be following along here. :) -Jessica

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  9. Found your blog on Bakerella... if only all guys were as thoughtful and creative as yours! Love is sweet, congrats to you!

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  10. The proposal at Bakerella's site was too cute. Good job. You had me in tears! :) Blessings...

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  11. first of all i would like to say congrats on your engagement! i too linked here after the
    "sweetest" proposal i have ever seen on bakerella. quite a guy you have there! looking forward to following your blog. i would have to say i would make the apple waffles. something extra special for the kids breakfast. :)
    if i were you i would make more of the yummy looking caramel apples...maybe pass them out at school as a reward?
    happy baking!
    danica

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  12. Congratulations!!!!!! He's a keeper! now are you going to have Wedding Pops at the wedding?

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  13. Mel,

    This is all simply charming, and I just sat here with a big old bedtime glass of iced tea and read EVERY WORD of the entire blog! I enjoyed the pictures and the recipes and all your good information on "How To" and especially all the wonderful celebrations your baking is a part of.

    I'm so pleased at your happy news, and wish you both a lifetime of SWEET together!

    rachel

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  14. Congratulations on your engagement and for taking the leap in starting your blog!!! Thanks to Bakerella and The Pioneer Woman I think there are many of us blogging now! :)

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  15. Congratulations on your engagement! I wandered over from Bakerella and I am glad I did. I look forward to seeing what you have in store!

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  16. Congratulations on the engagement! And good luck with the blog - I'll be back.

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  17. I came from Bakerella also...congrats on the engagement! Wish you both the best!

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  18. Congratulations! Found you through Bakerella and I'm happy I did because now I will be making the apple cake and chips tomorrow!

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  19. Congrats on your engagement! The apple cake looks amazing. I love apple desserts. My mom made apple cookies when I was a kid and I remember they were really good. I don't have the recipe, but you could probably google them. :)

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  20. I too ventured here from Bakerella and wanted to pass on a big Congrats to you and your amazing fiance! Good luck to you and I look forward to keeping up with your baking venture. =)

    From Missouri.

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  21. Is this book out of print? Does that mean you could share the apple cake recipe with us? It looks so amazing!!!
    (Congratulations, by the way. I came to your site from Bakerella. Your blog is great!)

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  22. Congratulations! What a fun way to be proposed to! The apple cake looks incredible btw.

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  23. Congrats on your engagement! What an amazing proposal! Very special! Love all your apple recipes:)

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  24. I am SOOOO wanting that apple cake recipe now! Can you please share it with us as I don't feel like I'll be able to get a copy of it! Thank you!!

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  25. We usually make apple scones, especially when an apple starts to get a little soft, since no one in our house will eat them. I love the apple chips idea for the skins.

    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Scones/Detail.aspx
    this was the orginal recipe of course my girls and I have changed it a little.

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  26. Hi! I also found you via Bakerella and I think your blog is wonderful!

    I think you should make baked applesauce and then use the applesauce in other things (on top of Greek yogurt with granola for breakfast, in apple cake, mixed with sweet potatoes or butternut squash...or just plain!).

    Baked applesauce is super easy (and your house will smell divine!). Just peel/core and coarsely chop the apples (1" pieces). Put in buttered baking dish with a little water or unsweetened apple juice. I sprinkle mine liberally with cinnamon and sometimes dot it with butter. Bake at 350 for approx. 30 mins or till tender enough to mash with a fork. I never use sugar in this recipe! Not needed.

    Congratulation on your engagement!!!

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  27. Wow you are amazing! Thank you for sharing all of your yummy treats! I want to win these apples!! :) They look tasty!!! I am also a teacher, and I have no time to bake!!!! :)

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  28. Oh yeah, and I think you should give these apples to the teachers. I would die happy if someone brought me one of these to school! Yum!

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  29. Fried cinnamon apples! SO yummy!!!

    In a cast iron skillet (or plain frying pan) melt 1 tbsp butter then take your apples, and slice them up (i use an apple slicer that makes 8 slices and then I slice up those 8 to make 16) Put a bit of sugar not much, cinnamon (i just sprinkle until I feel it's engouh, i love cinnamon) and then a pinch of nutmeg.

    Cook over med heat until apples are slightly soft, but still have a slight crunch. :)

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  30. Hi Mandy,
    I have posted the apple cake recipe! It is so easy and delicious.
    Enjoy!

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  31. Hi Mel and Rich,
    I also found your site from bakerella. When I read the proposal I thought ..."Is this real?" What a wonderful way to propose and how thoughtful, Rich! It sounds like you two are a great match and reading your answer brought tears to my eyes. God bless you in your future together!

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  32. Congrats! So sweet :) When we lived in Indiana, we would pick apples too! Now that we live in Florida, I miss fresh picked apples! I always made a French Country apple pie! The apple cake would be great though and easier for the teachers to eat! Also, Apple Pie squares from pampered chef are really easy and delicious! Good Luck with your choices!!

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  33. Hi! Congrats on the engagement! I read your blog b/c of Bakerella and I love it! When I saw the caramel apples I thought of some I had years ago that were really good. Basically you crush up oreos and put them in the caramel. Evil...and very yummy. We cut the apples up and dipped them and ate them so I don't know how well they would sit, we couldn't wait that long :0)

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  34. I am absolutely making apple waffles!

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  35. Hey, let me try this again..I just lost my last comment!!

    First CONGRATS on the engagement! I'm one of the many who landed here via Bakerella!! Looks like you've got a great little blog going here, and a sweet and supportive finace too! I was even more excited about the proposal on Bakerella when I read you were a Canadian girl! :)

    About the apples...not sure if you're still looking for suggestions but I'd suggest and apple crisp!!! I just realized it's probably too late, but now that I'm thinking about apple crisp...mmmmm...my personal preference is a crumble topping that uses rolled oats!

    I look forward to following your blog!! (I'm new to this stuff!!)

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  36. Hi! I linked to your site from Bakerella's site. I quickly bookmarked it! I can't wait to read more!

    Here's what I HAVE made with my leftover apples = =
    www.thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/apple-bread

    It's not bread at all. A DELICIOUS cake! YUMM!!!

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  37. I made the most amazing caramel apple BARS - they were a HUGE hit - go to Allrecipes.com and search for caramel apple bars II

    MMMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmmm

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  38. aww congrats to you and rich! i saw the very sweet and creative proposal on bakerella's blog and had to check out yours. that apple cake looks amazing! how about an apple crisp (a la mode of course!) or apple turnovers or apple cheesecake? mmm, now i'm craving an apple-y dessert. best of luck from a fellow food lover and baker.
    -leyla

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  39. Congratulations what a romantic guy!!!

    I would make apple breasd which is so yummy or apple crisp. Also one of my favs!!!

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  40. First, congrats on the proposal! I'm here from bakerella's site, of course, lol. I LOVED the recipe for apple chips, and as soon as I unplug from the computer, I will be making those. They look soo delicious.

    My most recent apple baking is from thepioneerwoman.com ... its a skillet apple cake. So good.

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  41. I just made some pumpkin apple butter with vanilla bean. That is one way to ensure the delicious taste of apples is enjoyed all winter long!

    Congrat's on your engagement. How very exciting! Although I am a fellow Canadian, I did just pop over from Bakerella.

    Congrats on your new blog, as well. See you around!

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  42. Sigh. I simply LOVE apple desserts and the fact that you had three of them in one shot...was awesome.

    HUGE congratualtions on your engagement. I teared...so good job to Rich and Bakerella for pulling it off :)

    Warmest Aloha!

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  43. Wow - thank you so much for posting how to make the Apple Chips! I've tried on a couple different occasions, but never could get them to dry out completely. I can't wait to try again!

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  44. Will definately be making your apple cake, looks delicious. Cheers, Scotia - Australia

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  45. These look delicious! You do an amazing job of making the most of what you have. I love all of the apple ideas! If I were you, I would either make your apple cake, or try Pioneer Woman's apple tart. It is delish!

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  46. I would make french apple cake. It's an old-school recipe from the OLD copy of Joy of Cooking. You can find the recipe through google, which was a lifesaver when I dreamed of the cake I used to make as a kid, only to discover that I only had the NEW copy of JOC, which didn't have it! (TG for the internet!)

    Came over on the link from Bakerella - congrats to you both on your engagement!

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  47. I made the apple cake recipe! It was amazing! :) Thanks for sharing! Congrats on your recent engagement, what a cute way for him to do it!

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  48. Congratulations on your engagement! (I just popped on over from Bakerella and read your whole website! I know have your site bookmarked!).

    My youngest son just ate the last of our apples but I'm going to pick up some more and make your carmel apple recipe for Halloween. Thanks!

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  49. Here's an idea to keep the apples from browning. It's easier and not so tart when using lemon juice.

    Use natural lemon-lime soda (7-Up or Sprite for example) and pour it over the apples.

    I tried this when I sliced apples for a 'snack' along with a container of the caramel dip. I refrigerated the apples/soda, and then drained the apples when it was time to place them on the platter. They didn't brown at all and tasted great!

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  50. Hi there,
    My mum tried the receipe for apple cake however, the cake didn't turn out right. The cake sink when it was taken out from the oven. Do u happen to know what went wrong? The taste of the cake actually is quite nice.

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  51. Not sure what happened to the cake...Was the batter evenly distributed? Perhaps, most of the batter was on the bottom and the weight of the apples forced it to sink? I'm not sure...please try again! It is such a great recipe and usually works!

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  52. I made the Apple Cake this moring and oh my how yummy. So I made a secon one and took it over to my neighbour.
    Guess what....Fia wants the recipe.
    Thanks for sharing your love of cooking and your recipes.

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  53. I saw the whole Bakerella thing go down and it warmed my heart! I was so excited for you both. Congrats, congrats, congrats!!!!

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  54. Hey Mel! First of all congrats on the sweetest proposal from (what is seems like) the sweetest man (after my own husband of course!) Although I have a sneaking suspicion I already congratulated you ;)

    Just wanted to let you know that my three nieces and I just made caramel coated apples following your advice and they were gone within literally seconds!! I also melted some chocolate and put on the apples (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory style) and was soo happy with the results. We live in Taiwan now, so these apples really made me feel like I was home again, thank you so much!

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  55. I can't wait to try SmittenKitchen's Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Sauteed Apples!

    Do you think SmittenKitchen and Bakerella are BFFs? ;)

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