Delicious Homemade Apple Pie

Delicious Homemade Apple Pie

 

 

 

This is an Apple Pie recipe that I kinda threw together on my own. I had some apples that I did not want to waste and I was looking for recipes and could not find one single recipe that I had all the ingredients for. So I took about three recipes and pulled components from each and made my own. haha Hope you enjoy!

 

You Will Need:

 

Approx. 5 1/2 to 6 cups of apples peeled, cored,and thinly sliced (you can use any kind you like)

 

1 TBS. Lemon Juice

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 TBS. all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

1-2 tsps maple syrup (my little secret ingredient)

2tbs. butter, cubed

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 cup of cream, half & half, or milk (whichever you have on hand)

 

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

 

 

 

You will need a pie crust, You can use store bought or below is the recipe for my homemade crust.

 

Apple Pie Crust:

 

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter, cubed

glass of ice water

 

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.

Add the cubed butter.

With a pastry blender or fork, begin cutting butter into the flour until the butter is the size of peas.

Begin adding the ice water 1 TBS. at a time, tossing with a fork. Using a total of about 6 or 7 TBS of water.

Shape into a ball and refrigerate until ready to use.

 

Now onto the Apple Pie assembly:

 

Cut your ball of pie dough in half and roll one half til it's approx. 12 inches in diameter and fit it into your 9 inch pie plate and trim edges.

 

Then pile your apple mixture in the the pie pan.

 

Take the other half of your pie dough and roll out and you can either do the "lattice" type like I did which is just rolling it out and cutting it into strips with a pizza cutter.

Or you can lay it over top and just make a few small slits in the middle.  I also used cookie cutters to make shapes to use as a border. You can do that to fit any holiday or season.

 

Once pie is assembled, brush the crust with some milk and sprinkle some sugar on top and back at 350 for about an hour or until crust is golden brown.

Then,  remove from oven (filling will be very hot)  let cool slightly then serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream and enjoy!!

 

 

 



Homemade Fresh Coconut Macaroons

Homemade Fresh Coconut Macaroons:

 

You Will Need:

 

1 1/2 Cups Fresh Coconut

1/3 Cup brown sugar

2 TBS. whole wheat flour

A Pinch of Salt

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

 

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325

 

Mix freshly grated coconut, sugar, flour, and salt together.

 

 

Mix egg whites with vanilla then add.

 

Drop heaped teaspoons of mix onto nonstick pan.

Bake at 325 for 22-24 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

Makes 9-12 Macaroons.

 

Enjoy!!!

 

 



 

Oreo Truffels

 

Oreo Truffles

 

*This is the ultimate go-to dessert! So easy to make! *

 

You Will Need:

 

1 18 oz. pack of Oreo Cookies

1 8 oz. pack of Cream Cheese

2 8 oz. bars of "Bakers Chocolate" (you can use milk chocolate or white chocolate or some of both! Whichever you prefer!

 

 

 

Here's What You Do:

 

Crush you Oreo cookies either in a food processor or you can put them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.

 

Blend together the Oreos and Cream Cheese until completely incorporated.

 

Take small amounts of the Oreo mixture and for into balls (I do mine just slightly smaller than golf balls. They are pretty rich so you don't want them to be to big. I think the ideal size is one that can be eaten in two bites.) Lay them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

 

Place the balls in the freezer for a few minutes so they will become slightly hard. This will make them easier to work with when you are dipping them in the chocolate.

 

Next, you need to melt your chocolate.  You can do this using a double boiler or in the microwave, whichever you prefer.

 

Take the Oreo balls out of the freezer and insert a toothpick into each ball. (This makes it easier to dip them into the melted chocolate.

 

Once you have the Oreo balls ready for dipping, dip each ball into the chocolate and sit them back onto the cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Once they are all covered with the chocolate you will need to put them into the refridgerator for a few minutes so the chocolate can set.

 

And there you have it!  Oreo Truffles that are sure to be a big hit and I'm pretty sure there won't be any left overs!!!

 

Enjoy!

 



Homemade Caramel Sauce

Homemade Caramel Sauce:

 

 

You will need:

1 cup of sugar

2 TBS. Corn Syrup

2 TBS. Water

1/8 tsp. Lemon Juice

1/2 cup heavy cream (for best results, heat the cream before adding it in the mixture)

1 TBS. unsalted butter

 

 

Here's What You Do:

Stir the sugar, corn syrup, water, and lemon juice together in a 2 cup measuring cup or medium sized microwave safe bowl.

 

Microwave the mixture just until it starts to take on a "caramel like" color (it usually takes between 4 and 8 minutes depending on your microwave. But watch it very closely because you need to be extra careful not to leave it in too long.  It doesn't have to be too dark because it will continue to darken and take on the caramel color as it sits to cool.

 

Once you remove it from the microwave (remember it will not look nearly dark enough but trust me it will start to take on it's color!)  Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it has darkened significantly.

 

At this time you can heat up your 1/2 cup of cream (do not boil) and add to your mixture.  Stir to incorporate the ingredients then add in your butter until it is incorporated.

 

Allow to cool before tasting because this stuff, although very tempting, is hot, hot, hot and will burn you!

 

Once it's cooled you can place it in a jar/container of your choice and refridgerate for up to a few weeks.

 

 

This syrup can be used to drizzle over ice cream, cakes, candies, or any way you like! So enjoy!!

 



Homemade Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Homemade Graham Cracker Pie Crust

 

 

Place approx. 24 graham crackers in a bag and crush.

 

Measure 1 1/2 cups of the crumbs into a standard sized pie plate

 

Add 1/4 cups of sugar and 6 TBS. melted, unsalted butter.

 

Mix together and press onto bottom and sides of the pie pan.

 

Bake for 8-10 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven.

 

Then just pour in your pie filling and bake as instructed.

 

 

Enjoy!

Homemade Cheesecake

*Homemade Cheesecake*

 

You Will Need:

2  (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese*
2/3 cup of sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp. Vanilla flavoring


3 TBS. Sugar
8 oz. Sour Cream
1 tsp. Vanilla flavoring

Instructions:
Beat the cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, 3 eggs, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla.  Once the mixture is combined pour into prepared pie crust. (you can use a store bought graham cracker crust or you can check out my recipe for a homemade graham cracker crust. It's super easy!)

Bake at 350 degrees for 22 to 25 minutes.
Turn oven off and remove cheesecake and allow to cool for five minutes.

Combine the 3 TBS. of sugar, sour cream, and 1 tsp vanilla (I also added a little powdered sugar too, just for a little more sweetness to the sour cream).

Once  sour cream mixture is combined spread over top of the warm cheesecake and place back into oven for 5 additional minutes.

Remove from oven, allow to cool for a bit, then refridgerate until set.  I like to let mine set for at least 3 or four hours .

And here you have it!  Enjoy!

 

This is the finished product.  I dusted it with a little cocoa  powder as a garnish then drizzled some homemade caramel sauce over it! Yum!!



Delicious Honey Whole Wheat Bread

Delicious Honey Whole Wheat Bread:

 

 

 

 

 

You Will Need:

 

2 packages (or 4 1/2 tsp. if you are using a jar of Yeast)

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup of butter

3 tsp. Salt

2 1/2 cups very warm water (not boiling)

4 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

2 3/4 to 3 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour

 

 

Instructions:

(They are detailed but super easy! You will be so glad you made it!)

 

 

Step 1: In a large bowl dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.

 

 

Step 2:  Add honey, butter, salt, 2 1/2 cups of the whole wheat flour, and 2 1/2 cups very warm water.

 

 

Step 3:

 

Beat with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of the bowl frequently. Then beat in remaining 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour.

 

 

Step 4:

With a spoon, stir in 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 cups of the all purpose flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

 

 

Step 5:

 

On a lightly floured surface , knead in the remaining 1/2 to 1 cup of All Purpose Flour.   Continue kneading 5 to 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and "springy".

 

 

 

Step 6:

 

Grease a large bowl with butter/cooking spray/or vegetable shortening whichever you have on hand.

Place dough in in the bowl, turning dough to be sure it is greased on all sides.

Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.

 

 

 

Step 7:

 

Generously grease 2 (8x4 or 9x5) loaf pans

Gently punch dough to deflate, then divide in half.

Shape dough into two loaves (I like to use a rolling pin to roll dough out, then roll it up tight, and pinch the seam and ends. This method helps to prevent air pockets or "tunnels" or holes inside the bread ) but you can use any method you like.

Once you have formed your loaves place them in the greased pans.

Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (I usually let mine rise until the dough is just above the rim of the pan)

 

 

Step 8:

 

While dough is rising in pans, heat oven to 375 degrees.

Uncover dough once it has risen and bake for 30 minutes.

Once bread has baked for 30 minutes at 375 degrees, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until loaves sound hollow when lightly thumped.

 

Remove from pans immediately and place on cooling racks, and as hard as it will be to wait, for best results when slicing, allow to cool completely (about 1 hour).

 

This is the finished product!

I like to brush some butter on mine while it is still hot. This makes for a softer crust. It also slices beautifully for perfect toast, french toast, sandwiches. It's just like store-bought except it's cheaper, healthier, and you can pronounce every ingredient in it and it is baked with L-O-V-E!

 

This is my son, Braxton enjoying a slice of Mommy's homemade bread! So it is also "toddler tasted and toddler approved!"

 

Enjoy and God Bless! 

Please feel free to comment or contact me with any questions, comments, or suggestions you may have! I would love to know how YOUR bread turns out!