Adventures in Canning: Homemade Apple Pie Filling

In preparation for a friend's wedding, I decided to try my hand at canning apple pie filling.  Having the filling ready to go will save me lots of time the week of the wedding when I'm making the pies.  Since we had an overabundance of apples from our trip to Stuckey Farm, I decided to double the recipe, so we'd have plenty of cinnamon apples on hand for Fall to use in pies, crisps, cobblers, and fruit braids.  Honestly, it was much less work to double the recipe now then to do all the work twice.  We ended up with 13 quart jars!  Now, I won't claim to be an expert at canning - in fact, I've only done it a few times.  But with a little help from Michael, it turned out just fine.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Homemade Apple Pie Filling

Ingredients: (for a double batch)

- 9 c. sugar

- 2 c. cornstarch

- 3 T. cinnamon

- 1 t. nutmeg

- 1 T. + 1 t. salt

- 20 c. water, divided

- 1/4 c. + 2 T. lemon

- 12 lbs. apples

Red, White, & Bleu Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

So, the name might be a tad bit cheesy (there I go again), but this is one amazing sandwich.  American cheese, bleu cheese crumbles, and lingonberry jam on sourdough bread, and grilled to perfection.  I'm not sure which is going to sound stranger - the idea of adding bleu cheese or lingonberry jam to a grilled cheese sandwich.  Never fear my friends, this is not as crazy as it sounds.  By adding just a hint of bleu cheese and a little sweetness/tartness from the jam, you end up with this amazing blend of flavors all within the creaminess of the American cheese.  Where on earth did this idea come from?  Well, this year at the Indiana State Fair, the dairy barn's new sandwich is an American/bleu cheese on sourdough bread.  I heard it described on the radio and was curious enough to give it a shot.  After trying the first one, my dear hubby decided to add some lingonberry jam to his sandwich.  I must say, it was even better!  So, this recipe was born and I was compelled to share it with all of you.  Here's how Mama (and Daddy) makes it:

Red, White, & Bleu Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients: (for 2 sandwiches)

- 4 slices sourdough bread

- 4 T. yogurt butter

- 4 slices American cheese

- 1/4 c. bleu cheese crumbles

- 2-4 T. lingonberry jam (we found ours at Whole Foods)

Caramelized Sweet Onion Tart

Shawna, if you're reading this, just close it now.  While I congratulate you on being brave enough to even attempt to read this post, this one is not for you.  Sure, most of my recipes you can simply leave out the onions or chop them up tiny enough that you don't mind it.  But not this one.  This recipe is for all my fellow onion lovers.  Does it taste like eating straight onions?  Of course not.  It's actually surprisingly sweet and oh-so rich.  But that doesn't change the fact that it's onions.  In tart form.

Now, for everyone else still reading, I know I've gotten your attention and you're either salivating in anticipation, or so grossed out that you just can't look away.   Hopefully it's not the latter - seriously guys, just close the screen now, check out another of my safer, tamer recipes.  The rest of us are trying to make onion awesomeness.  Sweet caramelized onions with pecans, dates, and just a touch of honey baked to perfection in a pastry, to be exact.  And here's how Mama makes it:

Caramelized Sweet Onion Tart

Ingredients:

- pastry for 1 crust pie (again, I usually buy refrigerated - feel free to substitute your favorite homemade recipe)
- 3 medium onions, sliced
- 3 T. butter
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/4 t. pepper
- 1/4 c. chopped pecans
- 1/4 c. chopped dates
- 1/4 c. milk
- 1 egg
- 1/4 t. nutmeg
- 2 T. flour
- 2 T. honey, divided

Peanut Post: 18 Month Update

Once again time has gotten away from us and it's almost your half birthday!  Looking back at my last update (which was 3 months ago!), I can't believe how much you've grown up this summer.  You are more and more a little kid and less of a baby (though I still call you my baby).  You have become fearless, strong, and very coordinated - a dangerous combination! 

Mama's Favorite Things - Apple Peeler, Corer, & Slicer



As I've told you all before, I absolutely love kitchen gadgets.  So when I discovered there was a contraption that peeled, cored, and sliced apples with the turn of a handle, I had to check it out.  Especially since I was getting ready to can pie filling.  I don't know about you guys, but my least favorite part of making apple pies is all the peeling and coring - it takes forever!  But not anymore...

 

For about $20, this peeler has a vacuum seal base and is capable of peeling, coring, and slicing apples, pears, potatoes, etc.  I've only tried it with apples so far, but after 12 lbs. of apples, it's still working great. 

Staycation part 2: Apple Picking at Stuckey Farm

As promised, here are some pictures from our staycation adventure to Stuckey Farm, a local apple orchard with u-pick apples.  They have so many different varieties that depending on the time of year you go, there are different types of apples to pick.  Our favorite from this trip were the Paula Red apples.  They had an amazingly crisp texture and the perfect mix of sweet and tart flavor.  I'm pretty sure they will make some awesome pies!

Staycation part 1: Apple Induced Euphoria

After much debate, we decided to use my 4 day weekend for a little staycation here in Indy.  Not the kind where you stay home, do nothing, and just enjoy the fact that you have no plans.  No, this staycation is more of a vacation that takes place in the area we live.  We even wrote out a little itinerary to help ensure we made the most of our time off together before Mike starts back teaching.  Like any vacation, we've been eating delicious food (granted we've been cooking it), exploring the area, and not worrying much about accomplishing anything.  We went shopping in Edinburgh at the outlets, picked apples at Stuckey's Farm in Sheridan, took Annalyn to her first splash park in Zionsville, and somehow found time to make 13 quarts of apple pie filling!  And that's all in the first two days...

 

Pictures and recipes will be coming soon, but in the meantime, here's a peak at my current source of insane happiness.  Well before Fall makes an appearance, we have lots of apple pie filling canned and ready for pies, crisps, and cobblers.  I can't even tell you how happy my kitchen is tonight! Take a peak:

 

 

 



Homemade Granola

Who knew granola was so simple to make and tasted sooo much better homemade?!  I sure didn't, but tasting is believing my friends and as of today, Peanut and I are believers.  I whipped up a batch before Annalyn woke up, so she got to try it fresh out of the oven.  All day long she's been asking for more.  I also love how versatile granola can be.  Mix and match any kind of nuts, seeds, and fruit you like.  Or experiment with different extracts and spices to change the overall flavor of the granola.  Once made, sprinkle on yogurt, fresh fruit, baked apples, ice cream, or do like us and eat it with a spoon.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

- 3 c. rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

- 1/2 c. chopped pecans (or nuts of your choice)

- 1/2 c. brown sugar

- 2 T. sesame seeds

- 2 T. flaxseeds

- 1/3 c. water

- 1/4 c. honey

- 3 T. molasses

- 2 T. oil

- 1 t. vanilla

- 1/2 t. salt

- 1 t. cinnamon

- 1/3 c. dried cranberries

- 1/3 c. dried cherries

Garden Fresh Tomatoes

Is there anything better than tomatoes fresh from the garden? Add a little salt and pepper, a few basil leaves, and drizzle with balsamic for a quick and delicious summer side dish.  It's beautiful and absolutely scrumptious.  

 

 

Happy summer, everyone!

Love,

Mama

Slow Cooker Chicken with Artichokes & Olives

Here's a good example of being flexible.  This recipe, originally taken from this one on epicurious.com, combines some of our favorite things.  Spices, check.  Olives (al-la as Peanut calls them), check.  Artichokes, check. It was one I absolutely couldn't wait to try, but in the middle of a bathroom remodel, there was no way I could spare a good hour to prep and cook it.  Meals are not so planned and methodical when doing house projects.  So, in a moment of Mama superpower, I decided to toss it all in a slow cooker and hope for the best!  We ended up serving it over pasta we had on hand since my parents made it in time for dinner and we needed to stretch it out a bit.  Honestly, it was delicious even on its own.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Slow Cooker Chicken with Artichokes & Olives

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- salt & pepper
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 T. minced garlic
- 1 t. turmeric
- 1/2 t. ground cumin
- 1/2 t. ground coriander
- generous pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cinnamon stick, or 1/4 t. ground cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 c. chicken stock
- 1 t. grated lemon zest
- 3 T. lemon juice
- 1 c. canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
- 1/2 c. pitted green olives
- optional:  2 T. cornstarch and 2 T. water to make a thicker sauce