Fried Apples "Cracker Barrel Style"

Sometimes you just get a hankering for "comfort foods." This recipe is SUPER easy. Really, it is hard to mess up...but it is so good!

Ingredients

2 cups apple juice, 
1/2 cup apple juice 
4 large golden delicious apples, unpeeled ,cut 1/2 inch wedges
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon apple pie spice or (1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Core and slice your apples, do not peel, unless you really want to. 

Place apples and 2 cups of apple juice in a medium sized pan

Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until fork tender. (Really watch them, it doesn't take long for them to become mushy...then you will have applesauce! Not fried apples) 

While those are cooking, in a small bowl whisk together 1/2 cup apple juice, cornstarch, sugar, and spices. Making sure the cornstarch is not clumping together. 

Once the apples are fork tender, use a slotted spoon to dish out the apples and place them in a baking dish. 

Add the spiced juice to the heated apple juice in your pan, stir constantly till it is thickened. Adding in the butter towards the end to melt and help thicken. 

 

After its nice and bubbly and thick, poor over apples in baking dish. 

ENJOY! 

These would be fantastic over ice-cream, pancakes, really anything! This time I only cut up 2 apples for the amount of sauce it called for and will be using the rest of the "glaze" on pork chops tomorrow. 

Fresh Fruit Smoothie

Whenever I get a sweet tooth, I turn to fruit. It's natural, healthy, and just yummy. Now, let me say, there is too much of a good thing. So moderation is key.

First off, take a cup of milk and pour it into blender. I use skim/or fat free. Adults don't need the extra fat in milk that kids might need, so keep it simple. Soy or almond milk would even be a good choice. Then add your banana and blend it up good. Add your frozen strawberries and blend those as well. I like frozen berries because it gives it an iced texture. Top with a garnish (if desired) and enjoy. :)

1 Cup Milk
1 Banana
1 Cup Frozen Strawberries

Feel free to mix it up and choose different fruit. Blueberries, peaches, grapes, raspberries, anything will work.

Next thing I want to get into, is veggies smoothies. :) Will post soon.