Caramel Apple Egg Rolls

We recently moved to a new home and have been blessed with not one, but two Apple trees! And they produce the most amazing red apples, and a few of them are even worm-free. I've been trying to figure out different ways to use up the many apples we pull off the tree every week and came up with this eggroll recipe. Super easy and so delicious! 🍎

• 2 medium apples, cored and chopped (I left the skin on)
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 egg roll wrappers
• Caramel sauce for dipping
• Powdered sugar for dusting

In a frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and stir until well blended. Add apples. Cook until apples have softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Fill egg roll wrappers with about ¼ cup of the apple filling. Follow the egg roll packaging directions for rolling and frying. Let cool on paper towel lined plate. Top with a dusting of powdered sugar and serve with a side of salted caramel.

Queso Fundido w/ Chorizo

This is one of our favorite appetizers (and sometimes a meal by itself). Super easy to make and comes together quickly. 

• ½ lb. chorizo (or regular sausage, if you prefer)
• ½ onion, diced small
• 2 small orange and/or red bell peppers, chopped
• 1 lb Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• Chopped tomatoes, if desired
• Green onions, if desired

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In your cast iron skillet, over medium heat, cook your chorizo, onion and bell peppers until the meat is cooked through and veggies are browned. Remove from heat. Cover with cheese and place entire skillet in the oven. Cook 10-15 minutes or until bubbly and brown. Top with tomatoes and onions and serve warm with tortilla chips.

Green Chile Cheese Bread

This has become my go to savory quick bread recipe! It's fantastic! And it's so versatile. We tried it just this past week with Mozzarella, cheddar, bacon and chives. YUM! Try this recipe today! You will not be disappointed! :o)

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cubed cheddar & Monterey jack cheese
• 1 cup whole milk
• ⅓ cup oil
• 1 egg
• 4oz can chopped green chiles
• 1 Tablespoon finely chopped jalapenos (I usually use the jarred jalapenos)

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 8 inch bread loaf pan. Blend the flour, salt, pepper, sugar and baking powder together in mixer. Add cheese. Pour in the milk, oil, egg, chiles and jalapeno. Blend just until incorporated. Pour into prepared pan and bake about 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden and springs back when touched. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Serve warm with butter.

Slow-Cooked Chicken Curry w/ Coconut Rice

This is another family favorite. I usually do a little less curry than the recipe calls for, just so it's not too spicy for my kiddos. The best part is topping it! The topping possibilities are endless. 

• ½ onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup tomato paste
• 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons curry
• ¾ cup water or chicken broth
• 2 pounds of chicken (I usually use thighs, but breasts work too)
• 1 ¼ cups jasmine rice, uncooked
• 1 (13.5oz) can coconut milk
• Toppings of your choice: chopped mangoes, pineapple, mandarin orange, almond slices, sunflower seeds, green onion, coconut, raisins, cranberries, cilantro, crispy rice noodles, etc...

To your slow cooker add the onion, tomato paste, ginger, garlic, curry and water or broth. Mix well. Add the chicken and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Make your coconut rice: bring coconut milk to low boil over low heat. Add rice and stir. Cover and let simmer on low for 20 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Serve warm with chicken on top, topped with your favorite toppings.
Freezer directions: I usually double the recipe. Split the chicken between two gallon size freezer bags. Top the chicken with the chopped onion and then mix the tomato paste, ginger, garlic, curry and chicken broth and split up between the two bags. Write on the bags what it is and the date and freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to cook just thaw and throw in the crock pot.

Apple, Bacon & Gargonzola Salad w/ Candied Pecans

I love a good salad. Especially when it's loaded with bacon and cheese! Oh and the homemade candied pecans are amazing and way cheaper than buying them in the store.

• 4 cups of your favorite greens (I like to use a mixture of baby spinach and a spring salad mix
• 1 green apple, cored and sliced
• 4 slices bacon, chopped and fried until crispy
• Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• Dried cranberries
• Candied pecans (recipe below)

Apple Cider Poppy Seed dressing:

• ¾  cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 teaspoon dry minced onion

Combine all the dressing ingredients together in a mason jar or small bowl and mix well. Set aside. Or make ahead of time and keep in fridge, up to 1 week. Combine the remaining salad ingredients and top with dressing. 

Candied Pecans

• 2 cups pecans
• 3 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons water
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Mix the brown sugar, water, vanilla and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In a large frying pan over medium heat cook the pecan halves until fragrant and roasted, about 4-5 minutes. Add the brown sugar mixture to the pecans and stir until evenly coated, remove from heat. Lay out pecans on parchment paper to cool. Store unused pecans in a airtight container.

Sautéed Zucchini w/ a kick!

This is one of my favorite ways to cook zucchini. I've also made it with corn and bell pepper. A family favorite!

• 4 cups diced zucchini
• Olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped into small pieces
• Queso fresco
• Cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat up a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook until browned. Add jalapeño, tomato and lime juice. Cook for 1 more minute before removing from heat and topping with cheese and cilantro. Serve immediately.

Southwest Chile Stew

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 onion
• 1 small can tomato soup
• 1 large can of chopped green chilies
• 1 small can chopped tomatoes (or 1 cup chopped fresh)
• 2 cups (or more) pinto beans
• 1 small can of black beans
• 1-2 cups of beef broth
• 1 small can of mexicorn (corn with bell peppers)

Brown meat with onions. To a big bowl add the meat mixture along with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.
Freezer directions: before adding it to the pot to cook separate the soup into two gallon size freezer bags. Freeze up to 6 months. Thaw and cook.

The Best Chicken Salad!

• 1 whole cooked Rotisserie chicken
• 1-2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 3 cups grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup half and half
• fresh dill, minced (as much or little as you like)
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• lemon juice
• salt and pepper

Remove as much chicken as you can from the Rotisserie chicken, you should get around 2 cups of chicken. Chop up the fruit and vegetables and place them in a big bowl with the chicken. In a smaller bowl mix up the mayo, sour cream, some lemon juice, and some salt and pepper. Add your dill and mix. Pour the mayo mix into your chicken mix and add the almonds and mix until well blended. Eat it as is or put on top of your favorite bread. Personally I prefer it on a buttery croissant. :o)

Recipe adapted from:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/05/chicken-salad-the-way-i-like-it/

Crepes

This is a really nice change when you're looking for something a little different from pancakes. And the beauty of these is you can add some cream filling and a delicious sauce and make it a dessert. My family loves these with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream. 

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 ¼ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

In a blender, blend all your ingredients. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Remove from fridge and blend or whisk batter. Heat your skillet over medium heat. Spray pan with a little oil. Pour about a quarter cup of the batter into the skillet so that there is a thin layer of batter. Swirl the pan around to make sure the batter spreads evenly. Cook for about 30 seconds or until the edges are firm and can be lifted with your spatula. Flip and cook for 15-20 seconds longer. Slide crepe off of pan onto plate and top with your favorite fruit, cream and/or syrups. 

Batter can keep in fridge for up to 3 days.

Makes about 20 crepes, depending on the size of your pan.

Recipe adapted from:

http://littleyellowbarn.com/2012/06/darn-good-crepe/

Shredded Brussels Sprouts w/ Pistachios, Cranberries & Parmesan

I didn't think I was a fan of Brussels sprouts, but this little dish changed my mind. It's even great cold the next day.

• 1 pound brussels sprouts
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/2 cup  dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
• salt and pepper to taste

Cut each brussels sprouts in half, then slice thinly. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook , stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and starting to brown, 5-6 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts and cook until they start to get tender but still are bright green. Remove from heat. Pour into a serving dish and add the remainder of the ingredients. Toss and serve warm. 

Recipe adapted from:

http://www.cookincanuck.com/2013/11/shredded-brussels-sprouts-recipe-pistachios-cranberries-parmesan/#_a5y_p=1041615

Jalapeño Poppers

These are so good and so easy. We make them for pretty much any get together or Monday. I've also made this recipe using roasted green chiles. I added some monterey jack to the cream cheese and stuffed the chiles and wrapped in bacon. SO GOOD! Enjoy. :)

• 6-8 jalapenos
• 8oz cream cheese
• 6-8 slices of bacon, cut in half

Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Careful doing this. Some can be really hot and can burn fingers and eyes! You might want to wear gloves just in case. Cut your cream cheese into 12-18 equal squares, depending on how many jalapenos you have. Fill each jalapeno with cream cheese and then wrap with half of bacon. Grill on medium high for 10-15 minutes OR place in greased pan and bake at 400 degrees F. 20-25 minutes. Broil for 5 minutes or so to get them to crisp up.

Caramel Apple Pizza

• 1 pkg (18oz) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
• 1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 medium granny smith apples
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape softened cookie dough into a ball and place in center of large pizza pan covered with parchment paper or a 9x13 greased casserole dish; flatten slightly. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, or your fingers, flatten to about 1/4 inch thick. Bake 16-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely. While it's cooling: Combine cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla in medium bowl; mix well. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cookie. Core and slice (peel optional) apples and arrange over cream cheese layer. Drizzle with caramel sauce and top with nuts. Serve right away.

Slow Cooked Cranberry Orange Pork Roast

This is one of my favorite slow cooker meals. It may sound like weird ingredients but it's so tasty and so easy! And usually I'm not a big fan of pork, but this dish is fantastic. I've used a pork roast and a pork loin for this recipe. The loin came out a little more tender and moist then the roast, so I'd suggest getting a loin if you can.

• 1 (3lb) pork roast or loin
• 1 (16oz) can of cranberry sauce
• ⅓ cup of French salad dressing
• 1 orange sliced
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 onion, sliced

Mix together the french dressing with the cranberry sauce and orange juice. Place the roast in the slow cooker and top with the sauce, onions and oranges. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Shred pork with two forks or cut into thick slices. Serve with the juices from the slow cooker.

Recipe slightly adapted from:

http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/16465/slow-cooker-cranberry-pork/?evt19=1