Slow Cooker Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Greg leaves for work at 5am most mornings and with this cold weather, I wanted to have something nice and warm for him to eat before he leaves (but without having to get up and make a breakfast! LOL!)  I happened to see this recipe and it is a definite keeper!  I intend to experiment with a variety of ingredients such as toasted almonds and dried wild blueberries, or dried cherries and walnuts!!! The chewiness of the steel cut oats, along with the sweetness of the apples and the delicious aroma of cinnamon will undoubtedly make it a favourite in your home!

SLOW COOKER OVERNIGHT APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL

Ingredients:

2 apples peeled, cored and cut into 1/2" pieces

1 1/2 cups of non-fat milk (I use vanilla almond milk as we are dairy-free)

1 1/2 cups of water

1 cup steel cut oats

2 tbsp brown or coconut sugar

1 1/2 tbsp of butter cut into pieces (optional)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tbsp ground chia or flax seed

1/4 tsp salt

• Coat the inside of the 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray or oil (trust me - this saves a TON of cleaning!!)  Add all ingredients and stir to combine.
• Place the lid on the slow cooker and turn it to low for 7 hours (overnight)  Resist the urge to lift the lid of the slow cooker as this adds an additional 30 minutes of cooking time to the recipe...trust me, the aroma will escape no matter what!
• Serve topped with nuts, raisins or maple syrup and ENJOY!!!        

Squash and Apple Soup with Horseradish Cream

It was my girlfriend Clare's birthday so my friend Michelle and I decided to throw her a luncheon since a birthday on December 28th often gets overlooked!  We have received quite a dump of snow lately and the cold northerly winds were blowing...so I decided to make soup for lunch!  This has quite a few flavours which work beautifully together, and if you have the time, make the horseradish cream for the top - it awakens the soup!

SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH HORSERADISH CREAM

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced

1 cooking apple, peeled, cored, and diced

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 onion, finely chopped

2 tsp curry powder

4 cups vegetable stock

1 tsp chopped fresh sage (or 1/2 tsp dried)

2/3 cup apple juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Lime rind for garnish (optional)

Horseradish Cream:

4 tbsp 18% cream

2 tsp horseradish sauce

1/2 tsp curry powder

•   Heat the butter in a large pot.  Add the onion and saute, stirring until soft (approx. 3 to 5 minutes).  Stir in the curry powder, and cook to bring out the flavour.  Stir constantly for 2 minutes to prevent burning and sticking.
• Add the stock, squash, apple and sage.  Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the squash and apple are soft.
• Meanwhile, make the horseradish cream by beating the cream until it has frothed up, fold in the horseradish sauce and curry until well combined.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Puree the soup in a blender, food processor, or using an immersion blender.  Add apple juice, season with the salt and pepper.  Reheat gently without boiling.
• Serve the soup in bowls topped with a spoonful of the horseradish cream and sprinkled with lime zest!
• ENJOY!

Dutch Apple Pie

This has to be one of my favourite apple pie recipes - it is super-easy and I have received LOADS of compliments on it (one of my friend's sons told his Grandmother that it was way better than hers! LOL!)  Since we have an abundance of apples on our snow apple tree this year (at least that's what variety I have been told they are!), I whipped up one of these ~ much to the family's delight!!!

DUTCH APPLE PIE

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup butter, melted
Filling:
2/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
3 cups diced peeled tart apples
1 tsp vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350F
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats and butter.  Set aside 1 cup for crumble topping.  Press remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9" pie plate; set pie plate aside.
• For filling, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and water in a large saucepan until smooth.  Bring to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until completely thickened.  Remove from the heat.
• Stir in apples and vanilla extract.  Pour into crust; top with reserved crumb mixture and Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
• ENJOY!!!

 

Back to School!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Although my kids HATE me singing that annoying 'back to school' song from the "Staples" commercial, I truly feel like fall is the most wonderful time of the year.  Now I know many of you will debate with me that it is in fact still the tail-end of summer, but with the trees already displaying tinges of autumnal colour, the thermometer is reading lower temperatures due to the northerly winds, and the sun is setting earlier ~  it just feels like fall to me already!
Since India and Devon are heading back to school tomorrow (grades 5 and 3), my mind turns to lunchbox snacks.  I admit it.  I HATE MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES!!!!  But it is a necessary task at this time of year, and one that doesn't need to be daunting if a little premptive planning is employed!  (Yeah, talk to me come December, I know!)  Our apple and pear trees have burst forth with an amazing amount of fruit this year and we have already enjoyed a Dutch apple pie from the grounders.  So I sent the kids out to the front meadow to pick apples and pears this afternoon, while I fired up my canner and got all the necessary items to make "blushing apple/pear sauce"!
I have a feeling that the house will smell of sweet apples for quite some time as the children collected so many both my kitchen sinks are overflowing, as well as a couple of milk crates!!!

I just gave both India and Devon a little taste of the first batch (which I added some organic brown sugar and cinnamon to) and they are already begging for bowls-full!

If you want to make some homemade blushing applesauce, just click here for the recipe!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Although India's Naturopath said that she is MUCH better now, we have to slowly reintroduce the previously restricted foods into her diet.  Therefore, I am still creating foods that stick to her diet (and frankly do us all the world of good as they have no dairy, wheat, refined sugar...after all it is only a couple of weeks until we head down to Mexico and have to squeeze our winter bodies into bathing suits!!!)
 I found this recipe in the "Get It Ripe" vegan cookbook by Jae Steele and all of the family LOVED them!!!

APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS

Ingredients:

2 cups spelt flour (or 1 brown rice & 1 quinoa like I used!)

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 medium apple, peeled & diced

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup raisins

1/3 cup non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

3 tbsp EVOO (or sunflower oil)

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

• Preheat oven to 375F.  Prepare a 12 cup muffin tray with paper liners or a light coating of oil (I have silicone muffin trays so I didn't do either!)
• Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.  In a smaller bowl combine the raisins, apples, applesauce, milk, syrup, oil and vinegar (this will help rehydrate your raisins a little so they aren't so chewy)
• Add the liquids to the flour mixture and gently stir with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until just combined.*
• Portion the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 20 to 22 minutes until the tops are golden brown and domed and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• ENJOY!! 

*Ensure that you stir your batter gently as over-mixing can cause gluten to develop in the batter and your muffins won't rise as well.  Spelt has gluten but the amount is so minor that your body can process it much easier than if it were wheat flour!
**Make sure you remove the muffins from the tray 5 minutes after they've been removed from the oven - this will ensure that humidity doesn't build up in the bases of your muffins and cause them to become 'gluey'.
***You can also add flax or poppy seeds or chopped almonds or walnuts to the batter as well!!!

Fruity Beef Curry

As we have a freezer full of "Cooper's Farm's" hormone and antibiotic free, pasture raised, Angus-grade beef, and I was wishing I was somewhere far warmer than home, I created this sweet and succulent curry which fit the bill perfectly!

FRUITY BEEF CURRY

Ingredients

2 tsp EVOO

1 lb lean ground beef

1 tsp sea salt

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 tbsp cumin seeds

2 tsp coarsely grated fresh gingerroot (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1 bay leaf

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp dried crushed red chilis

3 medium sized tomatoes, chopped

2 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored and chopped

Juice and grated peel of 1 medium lemon

1/2 cup sultana raisins.

2 medium bananas, cut into 1" pieces

1 cup chopped, ripe mango

2 tbsp liquid honey

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add ground beef and salt and saute until beef is no longer pink.  Add next 8 ingredients.  Stir together and cook for approx. 5 mins, stirring often until onion is soft.
• Add next 4 ingredients, stir and cook covered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until apple just begins to soften.
• Add banana, mango and honey.  Stir, cook covered for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through and fruit is just slightly softened.  Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Serve over basmati rice and ENJOY! 

Creamy Turkey & Apple Chili

As it is harvest time here and we just had Thanksgiving, I had apples and turkey a-plenty!  This recipe is one that I have made for years and love.  It is deceiving because it appears to be just creamy and bland...but it really packs a lovely heat which is surprising and delicious!!  I made a double-batch for a dinner party we had last night and everyone loved it!!

CREAMY TURKEY & APPLE CHILI

Ingredients:

1/4 cup EVOO

2 lbs of turkey meat, cut into 1/2" cubes

4 tsp chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

Dash of cayenne (if you like it a little on the hot side!)

Salt & pepper, to taste

2 apples, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes

1 onion, diced

4 tbsp butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups homemade chicken broth (or turkey)

3/4 cup milk

Two 15oz cans of white kidney beans, chickpeas, or Romano beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or Asiago cheese

• In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the turkey, chili powder, cayenne (if using), and cumin.  Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 5 mins.  Transfer to a bowl.
• In the same pot heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil.  Add the apples and onion and saute until soft, stirring constantly. Approximately 6 mins.  Add to the turkey mixture.
• In the same pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Whisk in the chicken (or turkey) broth and milk until thickened, approx. 3 mins.
• Stir in the turkey-apple mixture and beans.  Bring to a simmer, then stir in the cheese.
• Serve with cornbread muffins, tortilla chips, or crusty bread!
• ENJOY!!!

Blushing Apple Sauce

I have never made homemade apple sauce, but in my pursuit of eating as 'clean' as possible I attempted it this year.  The kids have been begging me to make my own for a while and after our excursion to "Siloam Orchards" where they grown heritage apples and use only organic sprays (and it is truly organic because for the first time in 12 years, Greg's been able to eat an apple without having to use his epi pen!), I decided to go for it!  I first went on to http://www.food.com/ where I tend to search for recipes and found one that called for apples, water and sugar...then my friend Moira Sanders gave me a signed copy of her newest cookbook "The Harrow Fair Cookbook: Prize-Winning Recipes Inspired by Canada's Favourite Country Fair" (http://www.theharrowfaircookbook.com/) and her maternal Grandfather's recipe for blushing applesauce was so simple I just had to try it - and it is delicious too!!

BLUSHING APPLE SAUCE

Ingredients:

12 large red-skinned apples

1/2 cup water

• 
  
  Wash the apples thoroughly.
• 
  
  Quarter the apples and remove the cores.  Roughly chop the apples and place them, and the water, in a large pot.  Cook over medium heat until the apples soften and become sauce - approx. 30 minutes.
• 
  
  Push the sauce through a strainer or food mill to remove the skins.
• 
  
  You can either preserve the sauce by canning them (I used 125mL jars and send one a day in each of my children's lunch pails), or placing in a container in the fridge, where it will store for a week or two, or in the freezer for up to 3 months!

THANKS MOIRA AND LORI!!!

Cheddar Apple Soup

Mother Nature has definitely turned her thoughts towards autumn, and the air is getting chillier! I picked up our CSA box from "Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze" today and inside were all sorts of delicious vegetables ~ and most notably baby leeks!!! I LOVE the tender flavour of leeks and nothing smells better than sliced leeks sauteing in butter!!! Since we also received carrots, and I have apples from our apple-picking expedition to "Siloam Orchards" on Sunday, I decided to make this fall favourite! Paired with a loaf of warm crusty bread, this makes a delicious cool weather dinner!

CHEDDAR APPLE SOUP

Ingredients:

1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 small apples, peeled, cored and chopped

1 leek, sliced thinly

1 carrot, diced

1 stalk of celery, diced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups apple cider or juice

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

Pinch hot pepper flakes

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano

• In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat and saute the apples, leeks, carrots and celery until softened.
• Add flour and stir well to coat the vegetables. Stir in the broth, cider, curry powder, cumin and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer until the apples and vegetables are tender.
• Using an immersion blender, or in a food processor or blender in batches, puree the soup until smooth. Return to Dutch oven and bring to a simmer.
• Whisk in the cheeses until melted and soup is smooth.
• Serve with a warm loaf of crusty bread and ENJOY!

*To properly prepare leeks: Cut off root end and slice leek in half, lengthwise. Under running water, gently rinse to remove all grit that can be trapped in between the layers of the leek. Shake dry and then lay the halves, cut side down and slice!*

Apple Cranberry Crumble

My sweet tooth was aching for something the other day so I went to my binder of recipes and found this super-easy and super delicious dessert. It uses items that I had in my freezer and pantry and took only minutes to put together...my friend Michelle's family loved it!

APPLE CRANBERRY CRUMBLE

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped peeled apples (I used golden delicious)

2 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed

3/4 cups sugar

1 cup old-fashioned oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

• In a greased 8" square baking dish, combine apples and cranberries; sprinkle with sugar. In another bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour and butter; sprinkle over cranberry mixture. Top with pecans if desired.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 55-60 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Serve warm (although it's delicious at room temperature too!)
  

Kashmiri-Style Curried Turkey

This recipe is one that I have had for a long time and use when I have a couple of bananas that are too ripe to eat. I especially enjoy preparing this recipe when I have turkey on hand that has already been cooked and cut up, as it makes the preparation time that much shorter!

KASHMIRI-STYLE CURRIED TURKEY

Ingredients:

2 tbsp EVOO

3lb cooked turkey, cut into 2" pieces

1 large onion diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 apple, peeled and diced

2 medium-sized ripe bananas, cut into 1" pieces

1 large tomato diced

2 tbsp curry powder

2 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp each of ground cumin and coriander

1 cup low-sodium chicken stock (preferably homemade!)

• In a large skillet, heat the EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and saute the onions and garlic over medium heat. Cook until softened (approx. 5 mins.)
• Sprinkle onions and garlic with the curry powder, turmeric, cumin and coriander. Saute, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Add the apples, bananas, tomato and broth. Bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, and stirring frequently until the liquid is reduced by half (approx. 5 to 10 mins.)
• Add turkey to the pan and stir to ensure all pieces are covered in the sauce. Simmer, covered, for approx. 20 minutes, or until all the pieces are heated through.
• Taste and add salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve on a bed of basmati rice and ENJOY!

*For the recipe that is photographed, I added some leftover roasted butternut squash that has been skinned and diced, for some additional sweetness!*

Thanksgiving Dessert

If you are a regular reader of this blog you will already know that I am a little fearful of baking - although I absolutely adore cooking but feel anxious when it comes to baking (so much so that I am more than happy to leave it to our family master-baker, Greg!) But this Thanksgiving I decided to flex my baking muscle and made the two desserts you see in the photo above...and they were DELICIOUS (not to mention easy!!) I hope you enjoy them as well.

CINNAMON APPLE CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup quick-cooking oats

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 pkgs (8oz each) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup thawed apple juice concentrate

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 medium tart apples, peeled and sliced

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup thawed apple juice concentrate

• In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour, oats, walnuts, and cinnamon until well-blended. Press onto the bottom and 1 1/2" up the sides of a greased 9" springform pan.
• Place ona baking sheet. Bake at 325F for 10 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in milk and juice concentrate until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined (batter will be thin). Pour into crust.
• Return pan to baking sheet. Bake at 325F for 40 - 45 minutes or until centre is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before carefully runnign a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
• In a large skillet, cook and stir apples in butter over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Arrange over cheesecake.
• In a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch, cinnamon and juice concentrate until smooth. Bring to a boil. reduce heat; cook and stir for 1 minute, or until thickened. Immediately brush over apples.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour or unitl chilled. Remove sides of pan and serve.

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

Ingredients:

1 medium pie pumpkin

2 tbsp sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

1/3 cup vanilla or white chips

2 tbsp milk

1 pkg (3oz) cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup solid pack pumpkin

1 tsp grated orange peel

1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped to stiff peaks

• Cut top off pumpkin; scoop out and discard seeds. In a small bowl, combine sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon; sprinkle inside of pumpkin. Replace pumpkin top. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until crisp tender. Cool on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, microwave vanilla chips with milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin, orange peel, reserved chocolate and remaining cinnamon. Fold in whipped cream. Remove pumpkin top. Spoon mousse into pie pumpkin and serve.
  

Apple Cranberry Sauce

I had torn this recipe out of my "Canadian Living" magazine back in 2005, but had never actually got to making it...so I decided this Thanksgiving was high time! We had visited "Siloam Orchards" (if you have a chance to ever visit this farm it's located northwest of Uxbridge and they grown heirloom apples, farm maple syrup and use 100% organic spray - I know because Greg doesn't go anaphalactic when he eats one!) and had a ton of apples so in place of a McIntosh, I used Honey Golds...delicious!!

This is great with turkey of course, but also equally as good with ham or chicken!

APPLE CRANBERRY SAUCE

Ingredients:

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 small onion, minced

1 pkg fresh cranberries

1 McIntosh apple, peeled and diced

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp cider vinegar

1 cinnamon stick

Pinch, each, salt and pepper

• 
  
  In a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; saute onion, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes.
• 
  
  Add cranberries, apple, brown sugar, vinegar, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring twice, until sauce it thick enough to mound on a spoon (approximately 12 minutes).
• 
  
  Add salt and pepper. Discard cinnamon stick and serve!

This can be served either warm or room temperature! We added some to room temperature goat's cheese and had it on baguette with some smoked pheasant and it was DELICIOUS! It adds just the right amount of sweetness to either smoky or spicy flavours.

Apple, Onion & Ale Relish

As I logged in today to the blog I realized that it has been almost a month since my last post?! "What have I been doing with myself?", I asked. And then it hit me - I have been preserving like a woman crazed (if my pantry is anything to go by!)

I have been making Zucchini Relish, Tomato & Rhubarb Chutney, Strawberry Jam (by the truckload!), Sweet Watermelon Rind Pickles, Caramelized Vidalia Onions, Dill Pickles (both icicles and slices), Spicy & Sweet Mango Salsa, Salsa Verde, Apple, Onion & Ale Relish, Peppery Strawberry Salsa, and the favourite by far - Dilled Green & Yellow Beans!

So thankfully I haven't been exactly slacking! As I am sweating profusely over my steaming canner I hold fast to the vision of friends and family enjoying these summer flavours in the middle of a long and cold winter.

Yesterday I made the Apple,Onion & Ale Relish that I mentioned earlier, and it is so simple and delicious slathered over a crispbread topped with aged cheddar, I just felt I had to share the recipe! The malt and hops from the ale really add depth to this sweet and savoury relish. It comes from my new favourite book "The Complete Book of Pickling" by Jennifer MacKenzie. I picked it up at Costco for $14.99 and it has been an invaluable resource for unique recipes.

APPLE, ONION & ALE RELISH

Ingredients

4 cups finely chopped onions

2 tbsp pickling salt

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup cider vinegar

2 cups finely chopped peeled tart soft apples (McIntosh or Granny Smith)

1 cup dark ale (I used "Chimay" a Trappist Monk's ale)

4 cups finely chopped peeled tart cooking apples (McIntosh or Granny Smith)

6 - 250mL jars

• In a large non-reactive bowl, combine onions and salt. Cover and let stand at a cool room temperature for 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the canner, jars and lids.
• In a colander lined with cheesecloth, working in batches, drain and rinse onions well. Drain again and squeeze out excess liquid. Set aside in colander to continue draining.
• In a large pot, combine brown sugar, mustard seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and vinegar. Brint to a boil over medium heat, stirring often until sugar is dissolved.
• Increase heat to medium-high and add drained onions, soft apples and ale; return to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring often for about 10 minutes, or until apples start ot break down and mixture is slightly thickened.
• Stir in cooking apples and return to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring often to prevent sticking, for about 2 minutes, or until cooking apples just start to soften but don't break down.
• Ladle hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/2" (1cm) headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjsut headspace as necessary by adding hot relish. Wipe rim and place hot lid disc on jar. Screw band down until fingertip tight.
• Place jars in canner and return to boil. Process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and remove canner lid. Let jars stand in water for 5 minutes. Transfer jars to a towel-lined surface, and allow to stand for 24 hours. Reprocess any jars that the lids did not seal properly on to.
• Store in a dark and cool cupboard until you are ready to enjoy!!!