Baked Apple Cider Mini Donuts

We purchased an apple press this year and are pressing our own apple cider.  I mentioned this to someone and she told me about apple cider donuts.  Intrigued, I looked them up.  I decided I must make them!  I have tweaked my Baked Eggnog Mini Donuts with Eggnog Glaze recipe to include the flavors of fall.  Careful, they are addicting, especially warm.  I had downed a half dozen before I knew it.  Good thing I made them mini size!

As an after thought I thought an apple cider glaze instead of a cinnamon and sugar dusting might be lovely so I have included ingredients for that also.  

Baked Apple Cider Mini Donuts – makes 20 mini donuts           Printable Recipe

Donuts:
2-1/2 Tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup apple cider reduced (see instructions)
1-1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Couple dashes salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Pork Meat Balls with Dijon Cream Sauce with Wini Moranville

This recipe is from a fellow Iowan Blogger Wini Moranville.  After checking out her e-cookbook,

which is full of 22 wonderful recipes, I chose this pork meat ball recipe to share with you.  The recipe is simple and the dish looks divine.   See link at end to see how you can order your own e-cookbook for only $2.99! (Price as of 10/17/2014)

A bit more about the cookbook from Wini:  It's the result of a collaboration between French-born chef David Baruthio and me. (Chef Baru owns the widely acclaimed Baru 66 restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa). I just love the way this recipe shows that the French know their way around a meatball just as much as Italian-Americans do. 

Of course, we don't think of meatballs as something you'd braise, but in fact, on two different occasions, two different renown chefs (including David) have given me their recipes for meatballs, and both times they've been cooked partially submerged in liquid (not baked dry, as so many recipes call for). This method of cooking meatballs may just change your meatball-loving life!

A word about the recipe: As you shape the meatballs, you're going to think they're super soft and too flimsy to fry. You're going to wonder where the breading is. There is no breading in this recipe; hence, what you get is pure, rich, meaty flavor, along with that fresh green spark of the parsley. The trick is to use lots of oil to keep them from sticking. Use a large tablespoon to gently turn them. And don't worry--you'll drain off most of that fat!

P.S.  A HUGE thanks to Wini for taking the step by step photos for me to share with the recipe!

Pork Meat Balls with Dijon Cream Sauce

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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Pizza Zucchini Boats

I have to give credit to my husband for this one.  He came up with the idea on his own.  I helped him carry it out.  We used small zucchini here but you can use larger ones.  You will need to cook them longer to get them soft.  Change up all the toppings as you like them.   I will give you a guide as to how we put our tasty dish together.

Pizza Zucchini Boats

Small Zucchini
Pizza or Marinara sauce
Ground Beef
Pepperoni Slices
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese or Italian Blend Cheese

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #112

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Grilled Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese

If you are already grilling other foods you might as well throw some corn on while you are at it and save heating up your kitchen. Now let's talk cheese.  I saw a chef on TV once put Parmesan on his corn and I thought he was nuts.  Turns out the saltiness of the Parmesan is just what this corn needs.  Try it, you won't be disappointed. 

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese                            Printable Recipe

Sweet Corn (Husk On)
Butter
Grated Parmesan cheese
Black Pepper (optional)

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Freezing Sweet Corn

Freezing sweet corn is easy to do and the best way, in my opinion, to preserve it.  There are many who can it in jars but the cooking method for that I think takes away from the freshness.  My mom shucks and removes the silks from hers and freezes them on the cob.  I don't have space to do that so I remove mine from the cob to freeze.  This is my method.  There are some who add extra ingredients to their corn, like sugar, but if your corn is sweet it doesn't need it.

Freezing Sweet Corn

Sweet Corn

Water

Salt

Large pot

Sharp knife or a kernel cutter tool

two large bowls that nest in each other

measuring cup

zip shut quart freezer bags

jelly roll pan

basket

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Sports Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters, Girlfriends!

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Team Colors Sports Bracelets

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