Apple Crisp

I finally made the apple crisp I have been craving for over a week! I tried a new recipe, though, and I am not sure that I was 100% crazy about it (I like the other recipe I've used better.) My husband, however, loved it.



I was intrigued by the inclusion of maple syrup and pecans, which I did like in the recipe, yet I wasn't completely sold on the final outcome. I think I'll try this one again with a few tweaks.


Oh, and I chose to make it in a larger baking dish, as opposed to the individual ramekins the recipe indicated.


So, for now, I am still on the hunt for the perfect apple crisp recipe. Do you have a favorite? If so, I'd love to hear it!

*Sorry the photo quality isn't the greatest, especially the last one!

** I wish I'd had this or this to wear while I was baking.

Dreaming of Apple Picking

My family visited the same apple orchard every fall when I was younger. I always looked forward to those trips; there was something comforting and a little magical about getting to pick apples straight from the tree. I also loved getting fresh apple cider from the farm and spending time with my family.

I haven't been apple-picking since high school, but I would love to be these girls this weekend! I don't know of any apple orchards in our vicinity, but a girl can dream.

Photo by Corrie Bond

I think I may content myself with finally making that Apple Crisp! What are your plans for the weekend?

More Apples, My Pretties

And don't worry, I am positive these aren't poisonous (Snow White...) Here are a couple sweet and modern takes on the apple.

A.P.C. Apple Pendant

Fruit Basket- Sugar & Cream Set

Friendly Frankensteins

Here's a fun little cookie idea for Halloween...Friendly Frank! :) I really like these because they look sweet and not scary!

To make the cookies:

• Using a #2 or #3 tip, outline Franks' face in black. (Spectrum Super Black)
• With the same tip, make a zig-zag outline for the hair and outlines for the neck bolts.
• Thin black, green and white (gray, if not using luster dust later) icing with water to the consistency of syrup. Cover with a damp cloth and let sit several minutes. (Green: AmeriColor Leaf Green)
• Starting with the green icing, run a rubber spatula through the icing to pop bubbles that have risen to the surface. Transfer to a squeeze bottle.
• Fill in the faces with green icing. Use a toothpick to guide into corners.
• With the thinned black flood icing, fill in the hair.
• With the white flood icing, fill in the bolts.
• Let dry at least 1 hour.
• With a #1 or #2 tip, pipe a scar and eyes in black.
• With a #1 tip and red icing, pipe a smile. :) (AmeriColor Super Red)
• Let dry overnight.
• Mix silver luster dust with vodka.
• Using a small paintbrush, apply the silver to the white bolts.

Gluten-Free Mexican Recipes: The Flavors of Santa Fe

The Land of Enchantment

I lived in rural northern New Mexico for three years. During that time I loved cooking with fresh roasted green chiles. Harvest season in New Mexico smells like roasting green chiles. Everywhere. It's true. And it's seductive. Some might even say, magical.

But beyond the smoky sweetness that tugs at your suddenly empty and ravenous belly there is something else in the cool dry air, some intoxicating, invigorating whiff of the impossible, the extraordinary, the stuff of dreams. Barely there. Unless you pay attention to it. A shape shift at the corner of your eye. A rainbow over the mesa. A wing. The yelp of a coyote. The sudden purple of autumn asters in the rain carved arroyo.

New Mexico enchants her visitors.

It’s a feast of color and tastes spiked with the scents of juniper, chile and sage. To celebrate its flavors I have gathered my New Mexican inspired recipes for you- a reference to tempt you. Until you visit New Mexico. And find your own rainbow, waiting.

Fresh fire roasted green and red chiles.

My Santa Fe + Mexican Recipes

Acorn Squash with Green Chiles
Big Easy Chili

Blue Corn Muffins with Green Chiles

Brown Rice Tortilla Chips

Buffalo Sausage Stew with Gold Potatoes

Butternut Chili

Calabasitas- Zucchini, Corn, Green Chiles, Lime and Black Beans

Chicken and Artichoke Enchilada Casserole (New Mexican Style)

Cilantro Pesto de Esteban

Cranberry Buffalo Roast Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Easy Spinach and Cheddar Quesadilla

Enchiladas Griegos for Two with Spinach and Feta Cheese
Holiday Turkey Enchiladas

How to Make Roasted Green Chile Sauce

Jalapeño Lime Hummus

Joey's Kicked Up Rockin' Guac with Tomatillos
Lime Chicken (Soft) Tacos
Lime Quinoa Salad with Mint

Mexican Pumpkin Soup with Black Beans and Lime
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash with Cornbread Stuffing

Mexican Black Bean Soup

Pumpkin Polenta with Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

Quickie Enchilada Sauce- Gluten-Free
Quinoa: How to Cook It- the easy way
Quinoa Taco Salad

Nachos Fabuloso

New Mexican Green Chile Stew with Turkey

Parmesan Crisps & Roasted Tomato Salsa

Pineapple Salsa Chicken Enchiladas

Pinon Rice Bake with Corn, Green Chile, Artichokes and Goat Cheese


Red Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Cranberries

Roasted Corn Chowder with Chicken & Cilantro

Roasted Green Chile Tortilla Bake with Cream Cheese

Roasted Tomato Salsa
Roasted Yellow Tomato Salsa
Roasted Vegetable Salsa

Santa Fe Chicken Chili

Santa Fe Pumpkin Chowder

Slow Cooker Roasted Hatch Chile Stew

Spaghetti Squash New Mexican with Black Beans and Lime

Spanish Rice Bake

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Sweet Potato Soup
Tequilla Lime Salmon

Tostada Nueva- a Southwestern Twist on the BLT

Two Artists Chili

Turkey + Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Vegetarian New Mexican Green Chile

Bakery and Bread

Pear Polenta Muffins

Pueblo Bread- with green chiles

Pumpkin Corn Muffins

Skillet Cornbread with Green Chiles

Sweet Banana Polenta Cake

Sweet Potato Cornbread
Yeasted Quinoa Cornbread

Dessert

Banana Polenta Cake
Mexican Chocolate Cake

New Mexican Hot Fudge Sundae

Pumpkin Raisin Cake
Quinoa Pumpkin Cookies
Rustic Strawberry Cobbler Cake
Strawberries Citronge

More Tex-Mex and New Mexican Recipes from Food Bloggers:

Green Chili Sauce - Salsa Verde from Kitchen Parade
Chile Rellenos Bake from Kalyn's Kitchen
Tangerine and Jicama Salad with Garlic and Cilantro from Pinch My Salt
Turkey Green Chile Chili from Perfect Pantry
Carnitasfrom Simply Recipes
Roasted Green Tomatillo Salsafrom Andrea's Recipes
How To Roast Your Own Green Chiles from Elise at Simply Recipes
Chipotle Chili from Cooking with Amy
Creamy Mexican Chayote Soup from FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Homesick Texan's Carnitas Houston Style
Mexican Grilled Corn from Food Blogga
Three No-Cook Summer Recipes from Farmgirl Fare
Guacamole Deviled Eggs from Coconut and Lime

Red or Green?

While I love the vibrant and deep shade of Red Delicious apples, I can't say that I love their taste quite as much. I do love Fuji, Gala, and Pink Lady apples, however, as well as a tart Granny Smith. Whether I want red or green really just depends on my mood, and sometimes, the answer is both!

Red or Green?

Red or Green?

Red or Green?
(I actually am loving this and this)

How about you? What type of apples do you prefer?

Three Elements {An Apple A Day}

I always love the incorporation of fruit into a wedding's decor, and fall is a perfect time to put apples to work.

I absolutely loved the table trends that Chelsea Fuss created for Once Wed last week; the arrangements were simply beautiful. The first inspiration board this week incorporates a few of those images. While the first board features a color palette that could work easily in spring and summer, the second board is quite decidedly inspired by fall.

The three elements incorporated in "An Apple A Day" are an orchard setting, apple pie, and the use of apples as part of the decor.

An Apple A Day- Inspiration 1

Row 1: L to R- Once Wed, Anna Kuperberg, Once Wed
Row 2: Tracy Reese via Style.com, Martha Stewart, Brides.com, image via flickr Amarnath
Row 3: Once Wed, Leah C. Couture Millinery, Once Wed
Row 4: Eric Cable via The Knot, tie J.Crew spring 08, Jose Villa via Brides.com, image via Odeo.com

An Apple A Day- Inspiration 2

Row 1: L to R- Image via flickr valkyrieh116, Once Wed, Seaport Flowers
Row 2: Image via flickr SchultzLabs, Brides.com, hard cider via flickr Beer Planet, Brides.com
Row 3: Tamalyn Lee Photography via Brides.com, Goen South via The Knot, image via flickr micmare0499
Row 4: Stephanie James Couture blog, Anna Kuperberg, Photogen Inc.