Don’t act like you are surprised…you knew I’d need to do a wrap up of all my apple stuff sooner or later.  And what better way than to make it a TOP 5 topic?

If you aren’t familiar with TOP 5, please click here.

So, with my $11 bushel of apples, I made:

-3 dozen +9 apple muffins

-8 apple pie kits

-3 quarts applesauce

-5 caramel apples

-1 batch applesauce for immediate use

So worth it and so yummy!

Apples are still on sale, so if you like this TOP 5, go get some and start cooking!

TOP 5 Uses for Apples

#1-apple pie kits (explained here)

#2-apple muffins (so tasty!)

#3-caramel apples (not that hard and so delicious, just follow the recipe on the package of Brach’s Caramels)

#4-apple cake

#5-prep for freezer for later use!

What are your favorite uses or recipes for apples?  Please leave a comment and let us know!

Well, I wanted to post a delicious apple cake recipe from my grandmother today.  Everyone loves this recipe and it freezes well, too.  But I ran out of apples before I could make it…I know, I can’t believe it either.  :)  We decided to use the last of the apples to make caramel apples with the kids, so no cake.  But apples are on sale lately, so I may still make it.  :)  However, I will put the recipe up here with no photo for you anyway.

APPLE CAKE (350 degrees)

Mix by hand; NOT mixer……….

Mix together: 1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

Then add: 3 cups peeled raw apples (dice small)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

2 ½ cups self rising flour

Pour into greased & floured long baking dish and bake for 55 min. (or longer if it is not done in the middle when tested with toothpick). Remove from oven and pour on glaze while hot.

GLAZE

1 stick oleo or butter

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup milk

Mix all together and boil for 2 min.

Pour over top of hot cake.

(Freezes well too-For Freezing, bake in 1 disposable 9 x 13 or 2 disposable 8 x8 pans.)

Plus, my fabulous grandmother (who had a birthday this month–Happy Birthday Gam-ma!) made up these instructions for me and you on how to freeze apples for later use.  I can’t wait to get another bushel of apples next season to try this!  Thanks Gam-ma for all the apple help!

Have a great weekend!

Ok- you may get tired of all my apple recipes this week, but I am working through my bushel.  Hoping to get it done by Friday.

So, you already saw my apple pie.  I also made muffins and applesauce this week.  The muffins were delicious and I put some back in the freezer for later.  I got the recipe from Connie’s blog.  I did not put crumb topping on mine though.  Don’t they look delicious?

Now about the applesauce.  It wasn’t hard, but it was a lot of work and I cooked up tons of apples and only got 3 quarts of applesauce.  I’m not sure it is worth the effort…what do you think?  I used the directions in the Ball canning book, but it you want to try it, these are pretty similar.

In case you are wondering, I haven’t done much deal shopping this month…just too busy.  I hope to get back to it next week. 

Check back tomorrow for the next TOP 5!

I am a little hesitant to share this recipe with you.  Why?  It is easy….so easy and everyone will rave over it!

So, here is what I got ready for the freezer this weekend.

These are apple pie kits.  We put all the ingredients for an apple pie in this bag and put it in the freezer.  We made enough for 5 apples pies and I will probably make more.  My wonderful hubby used the Pampered Chef apple peeler corer slicer to get all the recipes all ready.  I put the dry ingredients in Ziploc bags.  We dumped the apples in, shook the bag, sealed it, and put the kits into the freezer.  So easy!  Then, when we want to make an apple pie, we just dump the the kit into a pie shell, top with butter chunks, add one more pie crust, and plop in the oven.  Again super easy!  So, if you find a deal on apples, try it!  (The kits were supposed to be my freezer friday recipe last week….sorry!)

I actually baked one of the apple pies on Sunday for our small group.  There were 10 adults and 1 pie was not enough!  I did not even get a piece.  :(  And the group couldn’t stop talking about it.  :)  And rightly so, it is called “PERFECT Apple Pie”.  If you don’t believe me, just try it.  You won’t believe the comments you get.  And I didn’t even think it looked that good, but I guess taste trumps looks! 

Perfect Apple Pie

4 large Granny Smith apples

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tbs. flour

1 tsp. apple pie spice or 1 tsp. cinnamon

2 Tbs. butter cold

pastry for 2-crust pie

-Peel, core, and thinly slice apples.

-Combine sugar, flour, and spice in a gallon-sized zip-lock bag. Shake. Add sliced apples, seal, and shake until all apples are coated. (Juice from apples will moisten the sugar mixture.)  If freezing, stick this bag in the freezer for later use.

-Line the pie plate with one crust. Fill with the apple mixture. Cut butter into little chunks and dot the apples mixture. Add the top crust and seal edges. Cut 4-5 slits for steam to escape. Bake at 400 F for 50 minutes or until top crust is golden brown.