Apple Dumplings

This is one of Zoey's very most favorite desserts.  She loves it with vanilla ice cream on top.  It is really easy to make and dangerously delicious.

Apple Dumplings
recipe from thepioneerwoman.com

2 whole apples, peeled and sliced into 8 slices each.  I use gala or granny smith apples.
2 cans (8oz cans) crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon for sprinkling
1 can (12 oz) mountain dew or sprite

Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll (or use more apples and put more than one slice in each roll).  Place in a 9 X 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.  Add vanilla, stir, and pour mixture over apples/rolls.  Pour soda around the edges of the pan.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  When you serve, pour some of the sweet sauce from the pan over the top.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

African Pancakes a.k.a. German Pancakes

I got this recipe from a friend's blog, and my kids pretty much as for it once a week.  Or more.  They love this for dinner and it is so easy to make.

Recipe from: doublethedeliciousness.blogspot.com

African Pancakes a.k.a. German Pancakes

1 cube butter

1 cup flour

1 cup milk

6 eggs

dash of salt

dash of sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix flour and milk together in a blender until smooth.  Add the eggs one at a time and then the salt and sugar.  Set aside.

Place butter in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.  Put in the oven until butter is melted.  Pour the egg mixtures into the pan and return to the oven. 

Bake for 20-30 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup.

Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

Ingredients:

1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, slightly softened

1 cup brown sugar (lightly packed)

1 cup oats

1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

½ cups lemon juice

zest of 1 lemon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter and brown sugar until well combined. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add oats and flour to butter/sugar mixture and mix to combine. Press half of oat crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 11 inch pan. 

Mix together condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spread onto the bottom layer of the crumb mixture. The other half of the crumb mixture mix and knead together with clean hands so that the butter that you added earlier gets incorporated then crumble on top of lemon layer but don’t press.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let the bars cool for a few hours before cutting into them.  Store in the refrigerator.

Creamy Garlic Pasta

So easy and so delicious.  I have added chicken to it and it is really good with that too.  

Creamy Garlic Pasta
2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
¼  tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 cups chicken stock
½ lb spaghetti
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In a pot, bring the olive oil to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes. Mix in the butter until melted. Add the salt, pepper and chicken stock. Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil. 

Once it is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate. Reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until completely melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and parsley. Serve immediately.

Caramel Pecan Apple Pie

This is, hands down, the best apple pie in the world.  I don't make it all that often because I have a hard time not eating the entire thing.  Even people who don't love apple pie, looooove this apple pie. 

Caramel Pecan Apple Pie
From the Pioneer Woman

• 1 whole Pie Crust
• 6 cups (to 7 Cups) Peeled and sliced apples (I like gala, but granny smith is good too)
• ½ whole (juice Of) Lemon
• ½ cups Sugar
• 4 Tablespoons Flour
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Flour
• 1-½ stick Butter
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cups Quick Oats
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ½ cups Pecans, Chopped
• ½ jars (or More) Caramel Topping

Preparation Instructions

In a bowl mix peeled apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside. For crumb topping, cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, then add in brown sugar, oats, and ¼ teaspoon salt.

Add apples to prepared pie shell and top with crumb topping. Cover crust edges with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil from crust and place back into the oven for another 30 minutes. Chop pecans, and when five minutes remain, sprinkle them over the pie. Finish baking.

Remove the pie from the oven and pour ½ jar of caramel topping over the top. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Zephyr Pancakes

I don't know where the name came from, but these pancakes may as well be called "the best pancakes in the entire world."  Because they are exactly that.  I can't even make any other kind of pancake anymore.  They are so unbelievably good.

Zephyr Pancakes

from melskitchencafe.com

2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tablespoons (1 3/4 ounces) sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 large egg yolks

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) heavy cream

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) buttermilk

2 tablespoons (1 ounce) butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, cream, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry, just until combined – it’s okay if there are a few lumps.

Preheat and lightly grease a heavy skillet or griddle. Scoop the batter onto the griddle with a 1/4 cup measure or a large spoon. Make sure the heat is slightly less than medium. The pancakes will puff up very high. When the first side is golden brown and the edges start to look dry, turn the pancakes over to finish cooking the second side. Remove the pancakes from the griddle.