Baked Apples

This is a dish my dad started making on cold winter nights. It's super simple and very yummy. And it's easy to make into a crumble!

Baked Apples

Ingredients
(#) apples, cored (the number of people is the number of apples you'll use)
Raisins (or other dried fruit, like craisins)
Brown sugar
Chopped nuts of your choice

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Put cored apples into individual oven-safe dishes.
3. Mix brown sugar, raisins, and chopped nuts. Stuff into apples.
4. Bake until apple is tender, about 20-30 minutes.

Crumble

Ingredients
Margarine
Brown sugar
Oats

Directions
1. Using 2 knives in a crossing motion, work together margarine, brown sugar, and oats.
2. Pack on top of individual apples.
or
3. Slice apples up and mix with dried fruit, and nuts. Top put mixture into baking dishes. Top with crumble.

Either way, you'll get a really yummy result. :-D

Cleaning out the fridge

Do you ever find yourself with a variety of almost-gone veggies but have no idea what to do with them? I have a simple way to cook up your veggies and have a great meal, and perhaps even have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch! And I'll even throw in a recipe for garlic bread. YUM!

Pasta My Way

Ingredients
Any veggie combo you want
Olive Oil (also canola, grape, etc)
Seasoning of your choice
Whole grain pasta of your choice (I like small cuts like penne)

Directions
1. Chop your veggies in bite size pieces.
2. Put in a pan (glass pan or big baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil. Mix it together with the veggies.
4. Mix in seasoning of your choice.
5. Pop veggies in a 400 degree over for 30-40 minutes.
6. Cook pasta.
7. Mix pasta and veggies together. Add whatever sauce/salad dressing you like.

Garlic Bread

Ingredients
Whole wheat French bread (or anything similar will work too)
1 head of garlic
Olive Oil
Margerine (optional)

Directions
1. Cut the top off of the head of garlic, exposing the cloves.
2. Put the head of garlic in foil.
3. Drizzle olive oil onto the garlic.
4. Wrap the foil over the head of garlic.
5. Put foil pack in a 400 degree oven. Let it cook for about an hour.
6. Slice up the bread.
7. Drizzle olive oil on the bread and put on a baking sheet.
8. Put a little salt and pepper onto the bread to season it. (Just a tiny pinch)
9. Put in the oven for about 10 minutes.
There are two options:
1. When garlic is done roasting, just take a clove and smash it onto each piece of bread. SO GOOD!
2. Smash roasted garlic with some margerine. Spread onto the bread. Pop bread back in the oven for no more htan 5 minutes.

Sorry I don't have pics....we ate it all up before I thought of taking pictures. But trust me, it's good!

Baking Secrets

So this is a not-so-secret secret, considering it's printed right on the bag....

Looking for an easier way to bake vegan, but can't find vegan friendly egg substitute? Take a hint from Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal:

Flaxseed Meal makes a great egg substitute for most recipes. For one egg, simply mix 1 TBS flaxseed eal with 3 TBS water in a small bowl and let sit for two minutes. Add to a recipe as you would an egg.

I found this brand of Flaxseed Meal at my local Kroger, which means you should be able to find it even if you're in a smaller town.

So for those baking needs, try substituting non-dairy milk and ground flaxseed mix!

Rocket, Pear, and Parmesan Salad

I would have never thought of this combination on my own. Thank goodness they already put these wonderful flavors together Down Under! This is so simple and so easy to make, you'll wonder why you didn't think of this earlier. And since pears are in season right now, pick one up and make this salad! It's a wonderful started to any meal, and everyone will think you're a genius for putting this together.


Ingredients
Arugala (aka Rocket)
Fresh pear slices
Shaved Parmesan
Toasted Walnuts (optional, but good!)
2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 TBS brown sugar, plus a little extra

Directions
1. Arrange the arrugala and pear slices onto a plate.
2. Put the vinegar and the brown sugar into a pot. Heat on the stove for 30-60 seconds. That's all it takes!
3. Drizzel vinegar reduction over the salad.
4. Top with cheese and walnuts.
Options
You don't need to make the balsamic reduction. You could also just drizzle the vinegar over the greens.
Use any toasted nuts you'd like! Feel free to experiment.

So easy, so simple, and soooo good. You'll love the peppery bit of the arrugala with the sweetness of the pears, salty cheese, and tartness of the vinagar. And the crunch from the nuts is a nice touch.