Recipe of the Day: Easy Apple Strudel *National Apple Strudel Day*

Easy Apple Strudel

Ingredients
1/3 cup raisins
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups coarsely chopped peeled apples
1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 sheets phyllo dough (14 inches x 9 inches)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions
In a microwave-save bowl, combine the raisins, water and almond extract. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 minutes, let stand for 5 minutes. Drain. Add the apples, 1/3 cup sugar, flour and cinnamon; toss to coat. Set aside.

Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface. Combine butter and oil; set aside 2 teaspoons. Lightly brush some of the remaining butter mixture over phyllo dough. Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to avoid drying out. Layer with 7 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each layer with some of the butter mixture. Spread apple mixture over phyllo to within 2 in. of one long side. Fold the short edges over filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting from the long side where the apple filling is 2 in. from edge.

Place seam side down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. With a sharp knife, cut diagonal slits into top of strudel. Brush with reserved butter mixture. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden. Yield: 4 servings.

Recipe found here: Easy Apple Strudel

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Recipe of the Day: Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

Ingredients
6 boneless pork loin chops (1-inch thick and 4 ounces each)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 package (6 ounces) crushed stuffing mix
1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling with cinnamon

Directions
In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare stuffing according to package directions. Spread pie filling into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Place the pork chops on top; spoon stuffing over chops.

Cover and bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Yield: 6 servings.

Recipe found here: Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

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Recipe of the Day: Apple Fritters *National Doughnut Day*

Apple Fritters

Ingredients
1 cup cake flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/3 cup whole milk
4 teaspoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped peeled tart apple
Oil for frying
Confectioners’ sugar

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, combine the egg, milk, butter, orange juice, peel and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples.

In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat 1/4 in. of oil to 375°. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons into oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve warm. Yield: 2-3 servings.

Recipe found here: Apple Fritters

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Recipe of the Day: Dutch Apple Pie *National Apple Pie Day*

Dutch Apple Pie

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
1 unbaked pie shell (9 inches)

STREUSEL TOPPING:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Stir in the egg, vanilla and sour cream; stir until smooth. Add apples; mix well. Pour into pie crust. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325° and bake for 30 minutes more.

For topping, combine flour and sugar in a small bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle topping over pie; bake 20 minutes longer or until filling is bubbly and topping is browned. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or chilled. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 8 servings.

Recipe found here: Dutch Apple Pie

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Recipe of the Day: Apple Nachos

Apple Nachos

Ingredients
36 caramels
1 tablespoon water
30 large marshmallows
1/3 cup butter, cubed
4 medium tart apples, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/3 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles

Directions
In a microwave, melt caramels with water; stir until smooth.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt marshmallows and butter. Arrange apple slices on a large platter. Drizzle with caramel; top with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts, chocolate chips and sprinkles. Serve immediately. Yield: 24 servings

Recipe found here: Apple Nachos

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Recipe of the Day: Apple Pie *National Pie Day*

Apple Pie

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 to 7 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg white
Additional sugar

Directions
In a small bowl, combine the sugars, flour and spices; set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.

Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge. Fill with apple mixture; dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in pastry.

Beat egg white until foamy; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges loosely with foil.

Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 8 servings.

Recipe found here: Apple Pie

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Recipe of the Day: Fried Apple Pies *National Fried Pies Day*

Fried Apple Pies

For the Pastry:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening, chilled
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold water

For the Apple Filling:
2 apples
1/4 cup white sugar, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste
oil for frying

Directions

Sift flour and salt together. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix with fork. When the flour mixture is moistened, gather it into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Peel and dice the apples and place them in a saucepan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon; pour over the apples and toss to coat. Cook, covered, in a saucepan on low heat. Cook until soft, then mash with fork to form a thick applesauce. Allow to cool.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thick and cut rounds with a large cookie cutter (4 inches in diameter).

In each round, place 1 heaping tablespoon fruit. Moisten edges with cold water, fold in half, and press edge with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Fry the pies, a few at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on each side; cook until the crust is golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Original recipe makes 6 to 8 fried pies

Recipe found here: Fried Apple Pies

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Recipe of the Day: Apple Betty *National Apple Betty Day*

Apple Betty

Ingredients
4 cups thinly sliced apples
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie plate.

Mound sliced apples in the pie plate. Sprinkle with orange juice.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Scatter over the apples.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

Recipe found here: Apple Betty

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Recipe of the Day: Apple Dumplings with Sauce *National Apple Dumplings Day*

Apple Dumplings with Sauce

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1/3 cup cold water
8 medium tart apples, peeled and cored
8 teaspoons butter
9 teaspoons cinnamon-sugar, divided

SAUCE:
1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter, cubed

Directions
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide into eight portions. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until easy to handle.

Roll each portion of dough between two lightly floured sheets of waxed paper into a 7-in. square. Place an apple on each square. Place 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar in the center of each apple.

Gently bring up corners of pastry to each center; pinch edges to seal. If desired, cut out apple leaves and stems from dough scraps; attach to dumplings with water. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar.

In a large saucepan, combine sauce ingredients. Bring just to a boil, stirring until blended. Pour over apples.

Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until apples are tender and pastry is golden brown, basting occasionally with sauce. Serve warm. Yield: 8 servings.

Recipe found here: Apple Dumplings with Sauce

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Recipe of the Day: Grilled Apple and Swiss Cheese Sandwich *National Sandwich Month*

Grilled Apple and Swiss Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 Granny Smith apple – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Directions
Preheat a skillet over medium heat.

Lightly brush one side of each slice of bread with the olive oil.

Place 1 slice of bread, olive oil side down into the skillet, and arrange the apple slices evenly over the top.

Sprinkle the Swiss cheese over the apple, then top with the remaining slice of bread, olive oil-side up.

Cook until the bread is golden brown, then flip the sandwich over, and cook until the other side is golden brown and the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 more minutes.

Recipe found here: Grilled Apple and Swiss Cheese Sandwich

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