Rustic Apple Pie

I don't know about any of you, but I am not liking this cold weather. We live down south and like the warmer weather, but today it was freezing with ice. I wanted to make something that was going to warm my home and that would smell delicious. I wanted to make bread but no yeast, so I thought about cookies and then remembered this recipe I found from Tried-and-True Cooking with Heidi (which she found from the Duggar family recipes). I had a can of apple pie filling and the recipe was easy.

I whipped this thing up after making dinner and it was super simple and perfect.

RUSTIC APPLE/CHERRY PIE

crust

1 1/3 cup sifted flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening (I use butter flavored crisco)

3 TBSP ice cold waterfilling

1 can pie filling

Combine flour, salt and shortening. Cut well with pastry cutter. Add ice-cold water and cut with pastry cutter. I don't have a pastry cutter (I couldn't even find one at Walmart a few months ago) so I used a fork to mash the butter into the flour. DO NOT STIR. On lightly floured surface roll dough into a large circle (like you would for a pie). Place dough onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Place filling in center of dough and pull edges up around the filling leaving it open in the middle (see the picture). Sprinkle dough with a little sugar if desired. Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

I also mixed up some brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and granola to throw on top for a little bit of a crisp...YUMMY. To top it off and make it even better...Rustic Apple Pie A La Mode. I had no idea just how good apple pie/crisp was with vanilla ice cream. Apparently they are a perfect pair.

Baked Chicken

I haven't posted a recipe on here in forever and then I finally sit down and get these in here in one day. I am a fan of cooking but I hate when I can't come up with something that sounds delicious. With being pregnant, I am finding that nothing sounds good besides a Whataburger meal or a McDouble and coke. Not the best of choice I know which is probably why I have already gained 10 crazy pounds.

So I had some bone-in chicken with the skin still on that I needed to find a recipe for. I found a pretty basic and super simple recipe and it was good. They say don't over cook so you don't dry it out. I think I over cooked just a tiny bit but apparently that is how my daughter Loves it. She is the hardest to please.


Baked Chicken

4 chicken breasts, with bone and skin
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 -2 teaspoon Season-All salt or any brand of season-salt.

oven to 400°F.
Spray a shallow baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Rinse chicken breast under cool running water.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
Place chicken in dish.
Brush the melted butter over the chicken, using all the butter.
Sprinkle with seasoned salt.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until cooked through.
~NOTE~Chicken takes only 50 minutes in my oven.
Don't over cook, as they might turn out tough.

I found this recipe on Food.com

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I don't remember where I first found this recipe but I am glad I did. I made it Christmas morning so we could have something warm for breakfast that was also easy. It was just a plus that it tasted like a cinnamon roll. It is just so simple and a great recipe for breakfast or for just a good 'ol dessert.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Yellow Cake Mix
4 eggs
¾ cup oil
1 cup sour cream

Mix by hand and pour in 13 x 9 greased baking pan.

1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
Mix and pour over cake batter. Swirl into batter with knife.

Bake @ 325 for 40 minutes. Let cake cool 10 – 15 minutes before icing.

Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp milk

Pour over warm cake.

Garlic & Herb Lemon Chicken

Here is another recipe that I used the same seasoning with (it called for McCormick seasoning but I used the Mrs. Dash seasoning). This recipe was a winner with everyone eating it all up.

Perfect Pinch Garlic & Herb Lemon Chicken

1/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp. McCormick Perfect Pinch Garlic & Herb Seasoning
1 lb. thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 Tbsp. oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp. lemon uice
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Mix flour and seasoning in shallow dish. Reserve 1 Tbsp. Moisten chicken lightly with water. Coat evenly with remaining flour mixture.

heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add 1/2 of the chicken, cook 3 minutes per side or until golder brown. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding additional oil if needed. Remove chicken from skillet, keep warm.

Mix broth, lemon juice and reserved flour mixture. Add to skillet; bring to boil, stirring to release browned bits in skillet. Stirring frequently, cook 5 minutes or until sauce is lightly thickened. Spoon over chicken and sprinkle with parsley.

Steak Fries

Always trying to find something new to try. With that I found a Mrs Dash recipe for steak fries. We really enjoyed them along side our crispy oven chicken.

STEAK FRIES

2 large potatoes
2 Tbsp. of Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Salt-Free Seasoning Blend (or any Mrs Dash variety)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced

Wash and cut potatoes into wedges, do not peel the skin. Dry potatoe slices on paper towels.
In a large bowl, toss potatoes with any Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Seasoning blend, olive oil and garlic.
Spray baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray and lay wedges on baking sheet.
Place potatoes in preheated 425 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes. Turn the potatoes and baken another 15 minutes until they are browned and tender.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have used the same chocolate chip cookie recipe for years. Since we moved to Houston, the cookies haven't turned out the same. That left me looking for another recipe. I totally scored with this one I found and have made probably 3 times in about 2 weeks (I did share them the first 2 times I made them). Unfortunately they are SO good that they don't last long. I found this recipe (among many more that I can't wait to try) from "Lick The Bowl Good". Go check her site out and get to cooking/baking.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

Carnation Famous Fudge

Who makes fudge in May? Apparently I do. We have been without an oven for a month and the kids (and I) wanted something sweet, chocolate and homemade. Katrina gave me the idea of making fudge because of a picture that was on a can of evaporated milk. It was really good and has left me wanting more.

Carnation Famous Fudge
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cups (5 fl. oz can) Carnation evaporated milk
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (9oz) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla extract.

Line a 8-in-square baking pan with foil.

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in marshmallows, morsels, nuts and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted. Pour into a prepared baking pan; refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

FOR MILK CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
Substitute 1 3/4 cups Milk Chocolate for Semi-Sweet chocolate morsels.

FOR BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE:
Substitute 1 2/3 cups Butterscotch Flavored Morsels for Semi-Sweet morsels

FOR PEANUTTY CHOCOLATE FUDGE:
1 2/3 cups Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels for Semi-Sweet morsels and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts for pecans for pecans or walnuts.