Category: MISC

Pie a la Apple–Save Room for Dessert

Pie a la Apple Serves 4
5-6 Granny Smith apples that can stand on their own
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pie Crust (homemade or pre-made)
  • Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Cut the top of 4 apples off and discard. Remove the inside of each apple with a spoon or melon baller very carefully.

I used all of the inside of the apple that I could.

  • Remove skin from remaining apple(s) and slice very thinly. These apple pieces will give you the additional filling needed to fill the four apples you are baking.
  • Mix sliced apples with sugars and cinnamon in a bowl. If you prefer more or less cinnamon make adjustments as desired. Same goes for the sugar. 
  • Scoop sliced apples into hollow apples.
  • Roll out pie crust and slice into 1/4 inch strips.
  • I added a strip inside the top of the apple, which can be seen in the photo above.
  • Cover the top of the apple in a lattice pattern with pie crust strips.
  • Place apples in an 8×8 pan. If your apples are big you may need a bigger pan. Add just enough water to the cover the bottom of the pan.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown and sliced apples are soft.

How yummy does that look? The entire thing is edible too!


Come see me at Paper Plates and China

Chicken and Bean Chili

I’m sorry that this is late.  It has been a CRAZY week.  Here’s what my family is enjoying today on a cold, rainy (getting ready to snow) Sunday.
Chicken and Bean Chili adapted from Meatless Monday
1 pound ground chicken
1 large onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 can black beans, drained
1 can navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can red kidney beans, drained
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
1 16-oz can diced tomatoes
2 8-oz can tomato sauce or 1 16oz can
1-2 cups water
1 small can (4 oz) green chiles
1-2 tablespoon chili powder
1-2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon basil
Salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry red wine (optional)

Directions:  Saute onion, garlic, and bell pepper in olive oil until soft. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream if desired.
Here’s what you’ll need:
And these.  (forgot them in the 1st picture)
  • Chop up the onion and garlic.
  • Put the ground chicken in a Dutch oven to brown.  Throw the onions and garlic in with the chicken.
  • Drain and rinse the beans.
  • Add the beans to the pot. 
  • Add the can of diced chilies. 
  • Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. 
  • Add the seasonings.  
  • Simmer and serve.
I originally found this recipe as part of Meatless Monday.  I had some ground chicken that needed to be used so I decided to add it.
The addition of the can of green chilies definitely added an extra texture and flavor.  For even more peppers you could always add a diced jalapeno or green pepper.

Season to taste.  I just kind of kept adding until I got the flavor that I liked.
Hope you enjoy!
April

TIME TO TAILGATE!

IT’S OFFICIAL – FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!
We have decided to make a change this year in the way Tailgating Time will work. Instead of a new linky for each week we will be using the same linky to keep all the great recipes in one place. This will provide easy access to the recipes and create one big awesome recipe index collection. There is no limit to how many you add – of course we hope you will add a new recipe each and every week! Tailgating Time will generally be posted each week on Sundays at noon.

It doesn’t matter if you are a football fan or not, great party food is always a good thing. Bring over your grilled goods, chips and dips, appetizers, chili and chowders, cocktails, or any recipes that would be great for the football party buffet!

If any of you would like to host along with us you can click –> get the InLinkz code to add the linky to your blog too. You can post it once in awhile or every week during football season, that’s up to you. The only thing we ask is that you leave a comment here to let us know you are co-hosting, and that you visit and comment on as many of the participants as you can. 
 We can’t wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

TAILGATING TIME 2.0

IT’S OFFICIAL – FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!
We have decided to make a change this year in the way Tailgating Time will work. Instead of a new linky for each week we will be using the same linky to keep all the great recipes in one place. This will provide easy access to the recipes and create one big awesome recipe index collection. There is no limit to how many you add – of course we hope you will add a new recipe each and every week! Tailgating Time will generally be posted each week on Sundays at noon.

It doesn’t matter if you are a football fan or not, great party food is always a good thing. Bring over your grilled goods, chips and dips, appetizers, chili and chowders, cocktails, or any recipes that would be great for the football party buffet!

If any of you would like to host along with us you can click –> get the InLinkz code to add the linky to your blog too. You can post it once in awhile or every week during football season, that’s up to you. The only thing we ask is that you leave a comment here to let us know you are co-hosting, and that you visit and comment on as many of the participants as you can. 
 
 We can’t wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

An email worth repeating… TRULY PROFOUND

At dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.  One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”  To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher,  Bonnie. Be honest. What do you  make?” 

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a  second, then began…)

  • “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
  • I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
  • You want to know what I make? (She paused  again and looked at each and every person at the  table)
  • I make kids wonder.
  • I make them question.
  • I  make them apologize and mean  it.
  • I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
  • I teach them to write and  then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t  everything.
  • I make them read, read, read.
  • I make them show all their work in math.  They use their God given brain, not the man-made  calculator.
  • I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
  • I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
  • Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.  (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
  • Then, when people try to judge  me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to  know what I make? I  MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  What do you make Mr. CEO?“
His jaw dropped, he went  silent.

Teaching is…the profession that makes all other professions!!!