November 2011 Everything Apple!

Eat-n-Greet's theme this month was "Autumn Harvest" .  All our recipes have apple in them in some shape or form! 

Apple Kiebasa Bites

2 - 20 ounce jars of applesauce

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1 medium onion, chopped fine

2 lbs. cooked kielbasa, cut into 1 inch chunks

In a 9" x 13" baking dish, place the kielbasa.  Mix all the other ingredients in a large bowl and pour over the kielbasa.   Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, covered.  Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes.

This can also be prepared in the crock pot.  Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Apple Spiced Tea

3 cups apple juice

3 cups water

6-8 black tea bags ( alternatively you can use Apple Spice tea bags if you can find them)

2 TBS whole Allspice

1/3 cup honey

In a stockpot, bring the water to boiling.  Add the teabags and allspice and steep for 15 minutes.   Remove teabags and allspice, add the apple juice and honey and heat through until the honey is dissolved.   

Consume hot or cool and pour over ice. (over ice is fabulous!)

Mini Apple Spiced Donuts

Refrigerated biscuit dough (not the flaky kind) usually 8 to 10 per container

Apple Pie Spice (purchased or made from scratch, see recipe below)

2 cups Granulated sugar

3+ cups of canola oil for frying

Apple Pie Spice Recipe

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (do not omit this spice, it "makes" the recipe!)

Using either purchased apple pie spice or making your own, add to a shallow bowl along with the granulated sugar.  Toss until all is distributed; set aside.

Prepare a large area or cookie sheet with brown paper bags and/or paper towels.

Cut the biscuits into 4ths and place on a plate allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Heat the oil to 350-375 degrees in a deep stock pot or dutch oven or a deep frying pan.  

CAREFULLY drop (close to surface of the oil) a few pieces of biscuit dough into the hot oil.

The donuts will sink then rise to the surface quickly, using a slotted spoon or a kitchen spider, turn the donuts over as soon as the edges on the bottom become golden.  cook the top side for another minute until brown.  (they will cook quickly, so only drop 4-6 donuts at a time, otherwise they will burn)

Remove the donuts from the oil with a slotted spoon or spider, and place on paper bags or towels to absorb any excess oil.   Immediately, while still hot, drop into the sugar spice mixture and roll around.

These are absolutely delish! Makes 32-40 mini "hole" sized donuts.

Apple Dip Spread

This apple spread is similar to that of the Classic Waldorf Salad, but we think much better! 

1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup real mayo (do not use miracle whip)

2 TBS granulated sugar

1 cup finely chopped apple with peel

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix cream cheese and cheddar cheese until blended.  Add remaining ingredients and mix until all are distributed.  Serve with crackers.

Turkey Apple Melts

8 slices of Cinnamon Raisin bread

4 tbs. butter softened

4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

8 thin slices of turkey breast

2 med. apples sliced very thinly, peels on

2 tsp cinnamon, divided

Butter one side of each of the slices of bread.   

Line a cookie sheet with a piece of foil paper.

Place 4 pieces of bread on the cookie sheet, butter side down.

Place 1 slice of cheese on each piece of bread.

Layer thin apple slices over cheese edge to edge.

Place 2 slices of turkey on each bread slice.

Sprinkle each with 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

Place remaining 4 slices of bread, butter side up and press down.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, checking to ensure that the bread is not burning, and turning the sandwiches over once during cooking.   Alternatively you can cook these in a frying pan as you would grilled cheese--we made ours in the oven, because we were making 50 sandwiches at a time!