Spiced Caramel Apple Cider Doodles

 I really wanted to combine caramel and spiced apple cider into a cookie. I could get the spice and the caramel but the apple part was eluding me. So how would I get that intense apple cider flavor I wanted? Boil down some of our hand-pressed cider into a dark, syrupy goodness. Then combine it with butter, sugar and cream and make caramel. Place on top of a mulling spice snickerdoodle. Yup. That's it...

I used the Smitten Kitchen recipe HERE but only make a half batch for this recipe with a couple of changes.

First... make the snickerdoodles.

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

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1/4 cup sugar

3 tsp cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves & allspice

Heat oven to 400.

Mix butter, shortening, sugar, and eggs thoroughly. Blend flour, cream of tartar, salt, and soda. Stir into butter mixture. Mix well. Shape dough into 1” balls and roll in spiced sugar mixture.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes. Before removing from pan and while still warm, press an indentation in the top of each cookie. I used my wooden tart shaper from Pampered Chef, but you can be creative.

Then remove and let cool on wire rack. (the cookies in the picture aren't the ones I used for these cookies, so no indentation for caramel... 😊)

Now to make the caramel. And this takes a while. Oh, and prep all your ingredients while you're reducing your cider. You won't have time later...

Reduce 2 cups of cider to 1/4 cup. 

You can't use just any cider for this. It needs to be the real stuff. Not the one you get at the grocery store. This needs to be hand pressed with the sludge at the bottom. Look at your local natural grocer or farmer's market.

Pour 2 cups of cider into a heavy saucepan and turn on a fairly high heat. Not your highest setting but close. And then just let it boil, hard. Stir it every once in a while. This is going to take a bit of time. Like maybe a half an hour. When it starts to get foamy, you know it's getting close. So keep an eye on it, it goes much quicker at this point. Have a heatproof measuring cup for liquids nearby so you can check your amount. 

Ingredients to prep while reducing cider:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

Mix together in small bowl.

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

scant 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Mix in small bowl

3 Tablespoons of heavy cream

Pour into small glass

4 Tablespoons margarine (I don't use butter because it makes a stickier caramel and I hate caramel that sticks in your teeth)

Cut the margarine into smaller cubes

When your cider is down to 1/4 cup, immediately pour it back into your saucepan and remove from the heat. Stir in sugars, margarine and cream (in that order) and stir until margarine melts. 

Place back on burner and reduce heat just a bit (still med-high). Put a candy thermometer into the pan. Bring the mixture up to 252 degrees that can't be stirred down, while stirring constantly. You don't want it to burn. 😬

Stir in cinnamon and salt.

Carefully pour the caramel into a bowl and stir until it cools and begins to thicken a bit. 

Then carefully fill the centers of the cookies with the caramel. 

Let cool completely before eating. 

Caramel Apple Oatmeal Muffins

 Inspired by the salted caramel chips at Trader Joe's, we had these muffins for breakfast this morning. Apple and caramel are one of my favorite flavor combinations and apple is my transition food between Summer and Fall. 😋🍎🍂

I was so nervous about how they would turn out, I only baked 6 as a trial. But they were moist, apple-y and sweet, but not too sweet. Next time I'll throw some pecans or walnuts in my half of the batch... 😜

Preheat oven to 425. Grease or place 12 muffin papers into standard sized muffin tin. You may make more or less depending on how full you fill them.

First mix 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl. 

Next grind 1/2 cup of rolled oats in food processor or blender until they have a flour-like consistency. Then pour them into a new mixing bowl.

Add:

1/2 cup white flour

1/2 cup wheat flour

3/8 cup or 6 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.

Grate a cored and quartered apple until you have 1 cup. You don't need to grate it first, but you can if you want.

Add:

1/3 cup melted coconut oil

1 beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

the sour cream/baking soda mixture

Stir until mixed but don't over mix or the muffins will become tough. Stir in grated apple and 1/4-1/3 cup caramel chips.  Gently fold them in, making sure they are both well incorporated.

Spoon into prepared muffin tin. The batter will be very thick.

Bake for 5 minutes at 425. Then turn off the oven and turn temperature to 350. Do not open or remove the muffins from the oven. Just continue to bake for 10-14 minutes, or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool on wire rack for 5-10 minutes before removing. Continue to cool on rack or enjoy while warm. 😊

Bottled Lemon Curd

 This is the best lemon curd recipe ever! I can use fresh or bottled juice and lime works as well. I love that it only needs one whole egg and doesn't make a huge batch! I will be making it again soon... 

1/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/3 cup lemon juice

Mix these ingredients in a small heavy saucepan with a whisk. 

Heat on medium heat while whisking constantly. It will become frothy. Keep cooking and whisking until it becomes thick and completely frothy. Test on the back of a metal spoon. If it coats the spoon and doesn't fill in the line made by your finger, it is done.

Remove from heat and immediately whisk in 4 Tablespoons of cold butter, one at a time, using the whisk.

Pour into bowl and chill. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie

 For Pi Day 2021, I tried an idea I'd had floating around in my head for a while... Peanut butter and jelly pie. I used a real pie crust rather than a crust crust for this no-bake pie because I really wanted more of a "bread" crust and I'm glad I did. It turned out just the way I wanted. But be warned... this pie is RICH! Cut it small! 

First you will need to blind bake your crust. Preheat your oven to 375. Roll out your crust and place in pie plate. Prick crust with fork on bottom and sides. Line with non-stick parchment and fill with weights (or uncooked rice or beans). Bake for 15 minutes with weights. Then remove and bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely on wire rack.

Make your peanut butter filling by beating together:

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 softened stick of butter

Beat until smooth and creamy. It will be thick.

Spread a very thin layer of the peanut butter filling on the bottom of your cooled crust to keep the jam from leaking through.

Top with a thin layer of jam or jelly of your choice. (I like my homemade strawberry jam best with peanut butter)

Spread remaining peanut butter filling on top of jam.

Chill for a few hours before cutting. 

Best Irish Soda Bread

 I have tried a lot of soda bread recipes over the years for St Patrick's Day but this one by far was my favorite. It was a very simple recipe with an interesting method. Turns out it was the recipe I've been searching for. And even warmed up nicely the next day... :) 

4 cups flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425.

Mix dry ingredients together and then mix in buttermilk until all the flour mixture is wet. Be careful not to overmix or your bread will be tough.

Gently knead on lightly floured surface.

Place in greased and floured round cake pan (8 or 9"). Cut cross on top with sharp knife. Cover with second round cake pan of same size, lining up the edges of the two pans. Place carefully into oven.

Bake for 30 minutes. Then remove top pan and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until dark golden brown and sounds hollow when bottom is tapped.

Remove from pan and let cool a bit on wire rack. Serve warm with or without butter. 

Skillet Cornbread

 This is the best from-scratch cornbread I've ever made! And it's the perfect amount of batter for my new little Ninja skillet and makes just enough for two meals for my hubby and I! 

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/8 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix dry ingredients together.

Add...

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup melted butter

1 egg

Mix until well incorporated. 

Bake at 375 in small greased skillet or baking dish for 18 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Serve warm with butter and your favorite toppings. Ours are honey and jalapeno jelly! 

Alabama Smoked Chicken with White BBQ Sauce

 After much research and cross-referencing, I chose my food challenge for 2021. Once a week, I will make an iconic dish from each state. First up: Alabama and smoked chicken with white BBQ sauce. Thankful for friends with a new smoker to help me out with the chicken and bring dessert. 😋

It's pretty simple recipe to make, just don't forget to make up the sauce the day before so it has time to really come together and all those flavors can marry. 😁 We also thought it would be good on a smoked pork chop. 👍

If you don't have a smoker, you can also serve this over grilled chicken. I would suggest thighs or leg quarters.

1 cup mayonaise

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 heaping Tablespoon brown sugar

1 Tablespoon spicy brown mustard

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Whisk together in a small bowl and chill for about 12-24 hours.

Brush unto chicken a couple of times at the end of grilling or place smoked chicken under the broiler.

Heat the leftover sauce until warm, but not hot, to serve poured on top of the chicken.