Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #117

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Apple Pecan Cheesecake Bars with Caramel

I love cheesecake and caramel apple pie so why not put them together in one dish? Drizzle on some caramel or leave it off.  We decided it is good either way!

Apple Pecan Cheesecake Bars with Caramel                                Printable Recipe

2 cups flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
2 – 8 ounce packages light cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and shredded
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon sugar

Crumb Topping:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup quick oats
5 Tablespoons cold butter, cubed
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #116

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Chicken, Corn and Potato Chowder

This chowder contains so many of our favorite flavors. Smoky bacon and good ol' Iowa sweet corn take it to the next level.  Won't you join me for a bowl...or two?

Chicken Corn Potato Chowder

olive oil
salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or tenders
2 cups chopped Yukon gold potatoes (skin on)
6 slices bacon, chopped
1/3 cup diced onion
2 jalapenos, diced

2 cups chicken broth
2 cups sweet corn with juice or 1 can creamed corn
1/2 cup milk
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour (for GF use oat flour)
salt and pepper to taste

Boil and drain potatoes. Set aside.

Drizzle some olive oil on the chicken breast to lightly coat.  Sprinkle with salt (pepper if desired.)  Grill chicken breasts until no longer pink.  Chop and set aside.

In large pot, cook bacon until done.  Remove bacon and dump out all but about 1 tablespoon grease.  

Add onions and jalapenos and cook, stirring constantly until onions are translucent.  Do not walk off or it will burn.

Add chicken broth, corn, cooked potatoes and heat. Let cook for a bit to let the flavors mingle.  

 Add chicken and allow to reheat. Stir in milk.

In small saucepan melt butter. Add flour and whisk smooth.  Cook for about a minute to get rid of the raw flour taste. This is called a roux.  

Whisk roux into hot soup to thicken.

Ladle into soup cups or bowls.  Top with extra bacon if you like!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce will taste so much better than anything you've ever eaten from a store.  My family doesn't mind a little bit of tart so we don't add any sugar at all. If you prefer a sweeter sauce find a sweet variety or you can use a little bit of sugar.   

We have found that if you see an apple tree, ask the owner if you can pick their apples.  Most time we find they will give them to you rather than have to mow over them or keep picking them off after they fall.  

Many times people don't know what kind of apple tree they have.  They may have moved in and it was already there.  Not every apples makes good sauce.  I usually take a box and test them out first.  Some have no flavor, some have a weird texture.  Once we know we like them we sauce them.  If we don't we press them for cider.  Still no waste!

If you are ready to make your own applesauce with no additives, no preservatives, no sugar and most likely no chemicals..scroll on down!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Wash your apples well, especially ones that have hit the ground. 

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #115

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Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

The only thing that would be better than a tall glass of milk is sandwiching a little bit of ice cream in the middle of two of these and making an ice cream sandwich!

Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies                                     Printable Recipe  

1-1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1-1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups mini semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

Fall has arrived and I'm ringing it in with this beautiful bundt cake.  I love cakes made in this pan.  So simple and the pan does most of the work. All I did was drizzle on some glaze and sprinkle on the pecans. And viola...one gorgeous cake!

Apple Pecan Bundt Cake with Apple Cider Glaze                      Printable Recipe

1-3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used French Vanilla)

1-1/2 cup canola oil

3 cups all purpose flour

1-1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

3 medium Granny Smith apples

1 cup chopped pecans

Glaze and Topping:

2 Tablespoons apple cider

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons chopped pecans

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #114

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Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Cut the carbs (and gluten!) by ditching the noodles and using zucchini and yellow squash instead.

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

1-2 small zucchini
1-2 small yellow squash
1 jar or 4 cups marinara sauce
1 pound ground beef (optional)
6 ounces ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
grated Parmesan

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy

One day I had lunch out with my husband.  Chicken fried steak was their special of the day. I thought to myself that I need to figure out how to make this at home.  My fried steak is crunchy and the gravy is over the top.  It reminds me of the milk gravy my mom made when she fried chicken. Little crunchy breading bits speckled throughout. 

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy (with Gluten Free Options*)      Printable Recipe

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4-6 (4 ounce) cube steaks (or tenderized round and cut your own pieces like I did)

30 wheat saltine crackers, crushed

1 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon pepper (and optional, we prefer not so much black pepper)

few dashes cayenne pepper

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #113

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