Apples | Good Dinner Mrs Mellen

Category: Apples
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Spicy Pepitas
  
  Posted at 4:54 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 17th
  Living in New England the weather is so unpredictable and today, Sunday, November 17th it was cold and we saw snow flurries. Early for our Boston suburbs. I started early in the morning making batches of soup to freeze. Soup on a wintery day is my favorite meal.
  
  I use to roast whole butternut squash, then peel and cut for this soup. Recently I jokingly said that I was changing my middle name to easy. So now I purchase packaged peeled and cut butternut squash and the taste of the soup has not been altered.
  
  Roasted vegetables are deliciously flavorful, and roasting butternut squash brings out a nutty flavor. Lately, I have been using pepitas in salads,.To add crunch and heat, I tossed the pepitas with spices and toasted them.
  
  Another benefit of this soup is that is it low fat and vegan, very healthy!
  
  1 package(20 oz.) butternut squash
  
  1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  
  1 celery rib, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  
  1 carrot, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  
  1 tart granny smith apple, peeled, cored, chopped
  
  1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  4 cups vegetable broth
  
  1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  
  1/8 cayenne pepper
  
  salt and pepper to taste
  
  Preheat oven to 375. Line one large baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place squash, onion, celery, carrot, and apple on a baking pan. Roast for 30-35 minutes.
  
  Working in batches purée the vegetables in a blender alternating with the vegetable broth until the mixture is smooth. Pour the purée vegetable mixture into a large stockpot.
  
  Add cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to the squash soup and heat until hot.
  
  Top with toasted spicy pepitas. (optional)
  
  Spicy Pepitas
  
  1/2 cup of pepitas
  
  1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  
  1/4 hot paprika
  
  1/4 cayenne pepper
  
  1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  
  1/8 black pepper
  
  Place pepitas in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Put pepitas in a toaster oven pan and toast for 2 minutes.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Apples, Food, Healthy, lunch, Soup, vegan | Tagged Butternut Squash Soup, Pepitas
- Fall Apple Desserts
  
  Posted at 8:25 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 11th
  Autumn, crisp mornings when dew glistens on burnished crimson leaves and you can taste the ripe apples in the orchards, just waiting to be picked. Apples, caramels, walnuts, and cinnamon flavors my favorite ingredients baked into fabulous desserts!
  
  Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  In New England we are love to celebrate the fall season. Cool morning with warm sunny days, jewel tone leaves, farm roadside stands bursting with the last of summer’s bounty all signal the change in the seasons. Nature’s premier show on display for all to enjoy. Fall baking is one of my favorite past times and I especially love to make apple desserts. Going through all my post I realized I’m kind of obsessed with apples, cakes, pies, cupcakes and more. When I’m creating a new cake or pie the fall just inspires me like nature to give it my all and go wild! Here are a few of my fall favorites that I have posted over the years.
  
  Candied Apple Fudge Bundt Cake
  
  Candied Apple Fudge Bundt Cake
  
  FANTASTIC APPLE PIE
  
  Fantastic Fall Apple Pie
  
  CANDIED APPLE CRUMB CAKE
  
  Candied Apple Crumb Cake
  
  FALL APPLE PIE
  
  FALL APPLE PIE
  
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  Posted in Apples, Cake, desserts, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen | Tagged Apple cake, Apple Pie
- BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP
  
  Posted at 9:50 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Dec 22nd
  A good bowl of hot soup on a cold winter day, what better way to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Add a crisp salad, fresh bread and a glass of wine perfect for celebrating the changing rotation of the earth. I always felt there was something mystical about a solstice reminding me four times a year that the earth and life are transient, ever-changing and by embracing this fact life is perfectly imperfect.
  
  My recipe for Butternut Squash soup with a touch of apple captures the essence of the winter season with just a touch of aromatic spices that don’t overpower the squash and apple. I use store purchased cut and cleaned butternut squash when I make a small batch of soup; making the work and clean up easier.
  
  INGREDIENTS
  - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  - 1 celery rib, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  - 1 carrot, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  - 2 Tbsp butter
  - 1 package(20 oz.) butternut squash
  - 1 tart granny smith apple, peeled, cored, chopped
  - 3 cups vegetable broth
  - 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  - 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  - 1/8 cayenne
  - salt and pepper to taste
  1. Heat a large thick-bottomed pot on medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the pot and let it foam up and recede. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and sauté for 5 minutes. Lower the heat if the vegetables begin to brown.
  
  2. Add the butternut squash, apple, and broth Bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or so, until the squash and carrots have softened.
  
  3. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup, or work in batches and purée the soup in a standing blender.
  
  4. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  
  Enjoy!
  
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  Posted in Apples, cooking, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Healthy, Soup, Vegetarian, Weeknight dinner | Tagged Apple, butternut squash, easy, Soup, vegetarian, winter solstice
- FALL APPLE PIE
  
  Posted at 4:44 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Oct 1st
  Good Dinner Mellen loves pies and one of my favorite pie to bake is an apple. I love the smell of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice baking in the oven; the scent escaping throughout the kitchen. Who can resist a piece of warm apple pie topped with rich vanilla ice cream?
  
  Pastry:
  
  2 1/2 cups flour
  
  1 teaspoon salt
  
  1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
  
  1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter
  
  1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
  
  Measure flour and salt into a bowl. Cut into butter thoroughly with a pastry blender. Sprinkle in the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork until flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl.
  
  Gather the dough into a ball, then shape, divide the dough in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds.) Chill dough for at least one hour. On a lightly floured board roll each dough rounds 2 inches larger all around than the inverted pie pan. Place pastry on parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet, and chill.
  
  9 medium-size firm tart apples, cored and thinly sliced. (I used Granny Smith)
  
  2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  
  2/3 cup granulated sugar
  
  2 tablespoon quick tapioca
  
  1/4 teaspoon salt
  
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  
  1/4 teaspoon allspice
  
  1/4 cup boiled apple cider
  
  2 tablespoon butter
  
  Preheat oven to 425 F. Put apple slices mixing bowl sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine sugar, tapioca, salt, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg toss mix well and toss with apples. Place on pastry round in the pie plate. Pour apple mixture into the pie crust and dot with butter. Carefully cover the apples with top pastry, trim the overhang, and crimp the edges to seal. Cut vents in top pie crust to allow steam to escape. Brush crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar for a nice shine. Bake the pie for 20 minutes then lower oven to 375 and bake for another 40 minutes or until pastry is nicely browned and the juices in the center of the pie are bubbling. Let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Serve plain or with vanilla ice cream!
  
  Enjoy!
  
  Enjoy!
  
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  Posted in Apples, Baking, Dessert, desserts, Pie | Tagged Apple Pie, fall desserts
- Fantastic Fall Apple Pie
  
  Posted at 4:05 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 23rd
  I have made this apple pie for over 30 years with some changes along the way. A disclaimer this pie is very rich but sometimes you just have to let go and indulge. You can’t each low fat cottage cheese and fruit every day. I just tell myself an extra hot yoga class and this piece of the pie has my name on it.
  
  French Custard Apple Pie
  
  Crust
  
  1 3/4 cup flour
  
  1/4 cup sugar
  
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  1/3 lb of butter
  
  2/3 teaspoon salt
  
  6-7 tablespoon apple cider or water
  
  Filling
  
  6 large Granny Smith or Macintosh apples pared and diced (you can use a combination or just one kind of apple. I like the Granny Smith because they are tart and this is a sweet pie)
  
  1 2/3 cup sour cream
  
  1 egg(2 if small)
  
  1 cup of sugar
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  2 teaspoon vanilla or 1 tablespoon Brandy
  
  1/3 cup flour
  
  Topping
  
  1/3 cup brown sugar
  
  1/3 cup sugar
  
  1/2 cup flour
  
  1 tablespoon cinnamon
  
  1 cup chopped walnuts
  
  1/2 cup dried cranberries
  
  1 stick butter
  
  Crust: Combine all the ingredients except the apple cider in a food processor, pulse until combined. Add one tablespoon of cider at a time and pulse after each addition. The dough will form a softball. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface 2 inches larger than the pie plate, fit a 10-inch pie plate. This is a soft cookie-like dough so I lightly dust the pie plate with flour before I fit the dough. This will prevent the pie crust from sticking when you cut the pie. Fold and roll pastry under and flute.
  
  Filling: Mix filling ingredients together and fill the pie shell. Bake for 450 10 minutes, then 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Blend topping ingredients together and place on top of the pie. Bake for additional 15 minutes.
  
  Enjoy!
  
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  Posted in Apples, Baking, Baking, Food | Tagged Apple Pie, Desserts, fall baking
- Candied Apple Crumb Cake
  
  Posted at 3:56 pm by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Sep 18th
  Fall at it’s best with fresh-picked apples baked in a rich pound cake with a crumb topping and caramel drizzled on top. Richly flavored with just a hint of orange juice, cinnamon, and crisp tart apples. I used Granny Smith Apples in this cake for their tart flavor along with a firm consistency after baking. As gorgeous as this cake looks it is quite easy to make. Delicious, dazzling, easy to duplicate, what could be better.
  
  Candied Apple Crumb Cake
  
  4 cups flour
  
  2 cups of sugar
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  4 teaspoons baking powder
  
  1 cup oil
  
  1 cup of orange juice
  
  3 large eggs (4 if small)
  
  1 teaspoon vanilla
  
  Apple Filling
  
  4 Granny Smith Apples peeled and sliced
  
  1/2 cup sugar
  
  2 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  Crumb Topping
  
  1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
  
  1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  
  1 cup flour
  
  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  
  1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  Caramel Sauce
  
  1 cup granulated sugar
  
  ½ cup heavy cream
  
  2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  
  1 teaspoon fleur de sel (or another sea salt)
  
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease tube cake pan and set aside. Sift together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place in a large mixing bowl making a well.
  
  2. Combine oil, orange juice, eggs, and vanilla. Pour into the center of the well and beat for three minutes.
  
  3. Combine sugar and cinnamon in the small bowl and set aside.
  
  4. Pour a third of the batter into prepared pan, add half sliced apples and half cinnamon-sugar. Cover with half the remaining batter. Top with remaining apples then cinnamon-sugar. Add remaining batter on top.
  
  5. Combine ingredients for crumb topping blending until thoroughly combined. A pastry blender works best to make the crumb topping but you can cut the butter in with two knives.
  
  6. Sprinkle over cake. Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
  
  7. Cool for 1 hour before removing from the tube pan.
  
  8. Make caramel sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat combine the sugar with 1/4 cup cold water and stir to combine. Cook, without stirring, until the sugar has turned a deep amber color about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the cream in a small saucepan. When the caramel is ready, slowly, whisk in the warm cream and continue simmering for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat, then whisk in the butter,, and then salt. Slowly drizzle over cake.
  
  Serve with Vanilla ice cream or just plain.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Apples, Baking, Cake, Dessert, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen | Tagged apples, cake, caramel, fall baking
- Candied Apple Fudge Bundt Cake
  
  Posted at 8:45 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Nov 17th
  Bundt cakes have gotten a bad name over the years, remember ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’, where the wishy-washy mother-in-law brings a bundt cake to the over the top engagement party and the bride’s Greek families reaction. Bundt cakes can be elevated to a show-stopping dessert so easily. I have a repertoire of deliciously eye-popping bundt cakes that are a great addition to any dinner or party. My Candied Apple Fudge Bundt Cake is a great dessert for your Thanksgiving table. Or if you are asked to bring a dessert dazzle your host and hostess with this fabulous cake.
  
  Candied Apple Fudge Bundt Cake
  
  CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
  1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
  1/4 cup butter, softened
  1/2 cup granulated sugar
  1 large egg
  2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  APPLE CAKE BATTER:
  1 cup finely chopped pecans
  3 cups all-purpose flour
  1 cup granulated sugar
  1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  1 teaspoon salt
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  3/4 cup canola oil
  3/4 cup applesauce
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  3 cups peeled and finely chopped Gala apples (about 1 1/2 lb.)
  
  PRALINE FROSTING:
  1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  1/4 cup butter
  3 tablespoons milk
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1 cup powdered sugar
  
  CARAMEL TOPPING
  
  1 bag of caramels
  
  1 tablespoon water
  
  CHOCOLATE GLAZE
  3/4 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
  3 tablespoons butter
  1 tablespoon light corn syrup
  1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  Pecan halves
  
  Preparation
  
  1. Prepare Filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended.
  
  2. Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Stir together 3 cups flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
  
  3. Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon Cream Cheese Filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of the pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Cream Cheese Filling.
  
  4. Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).
  
  5. Prepare Praline Frosting: Bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.
  
  6. Combine caramels with water in a microwave-proof bowl. Microwave on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Stir for one minute and drizzle over cake.
  
  7. Prepare White Chocolate Glaze: Melt chocolate and cream in a double boiler. Let cool slightly. Whisk in powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze over cake.
  Top with pecan halves.7. Prepare White Chocolate Glaze: Melt chocolate and cream in a double boiler. Let cool slightly. Whisk in powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze over cake. Top with pecan halves.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Apples, Baking, Baking, Cake, Chocolate, Dessert, desserts, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen | Tagged Apple, bundt cake, chocolate, cream cheese filling, fudge
- Applelicious Cupcakes
  
  Posted at 12:31 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Oct 9th
  Ah, fall is in the air! Time for wonderful apple desserts to herald the beginning of fall. Fall is my favorite time of year when the leaves start to change with the crisp Autumn air. And fall clothes, need I say more to soft cashmere sweaters, light wool pants, and boots! But I can’t forget about fresh picked apples right off the tree. Perfect for just taking a big juicy bite or using for outrageous apple desserts like the recipe that I am sharing today which is half cupcake, half muffin, but totally delicious.
  
  Applelicious Cupcakes
  
  Cream Cheese Filling
  
  1 8 ounce package cream cheese
  
  1/4 cup butter, softened
  
  1/2 cup sugar
  
  1 large egg
  
  2 tablespoon flour
  
  1 teaspoon vanilla
  
  Apple batter
  
  1 cup finely chopped pecans
  
  3 cups flour
  
  1 cup sugar
  
  1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  
  2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
  1 teaspoon nutmeg
  
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  
  1 teaspoon salt
  
  1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  
  3/4 cup canola oil
  
  3/4 cup apple sauce
  
  1 teaspoon vanilla
  
  3 cups peeled Gala apples, finely chopped
  
  Praline Frosting
  
  1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  
  1/4 cup butter
  
  3 tablespoon milk
  
  1teaspoon vanilla
  
  1 cup powered sugar
  
  Prepare Filling: Beat first three ingredients at medium speed with electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour and vanilla, beat until blended
  
  Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350. Bake finely chopped pecans in a shallow pan 8-10 minutes until toasted. Stir together flour and next seven ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next three ingredients, just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
  
  Spoon batter into cupcake lined pans, filling half. Then spoon about 1/8 cup of cream cheese filling using all the filling. Top with remaining batter.
  
  Bake 20-25 minutes until wooden tester comes out clean.
  
  Makes 24 cup cakes
  
  Prepare Praline Frosting: Bring brown sugar, butter, milk to a boil in 2-qt sauce pan over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil one minute. Remove from heat, add vanilla, stir. Gradually whisk powder sugar until smooth. Stir for 3-5 minutes until frosting slightly thickens. Before the frosting is cool icing cupcakes. Top with chopped pecans and one dried apple chip.
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Apples, Baking, cupcakes, Dessert, Food, Good Dinner Mrs Mellen, Soups | Tagged apples, cupcakes, fall baking
- President’s Day Old Fashioned American Apple Pie
  
  Posted at 10:19 am by Good Dinner Mrs Mellen
  
  Feb 16th
  Happy President’s Day! I’m celebrating with a good old fashioned American Apple Pie. I’ve added a little extra to this recipe, dried cranberries soaked overnight in cognac.
  
  Pastry:
  
  2 1/2 cups flour
  
  1 teaspoon salt
  
  1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
  
  1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter
  
  1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
  
  Measure flour and salt into a bowl. Cut into butter thoroughly with a pastry blender. Sprinkle in the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork until flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl.
  
  Gather the dough into a ball, then shape, divide the dough in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds.) Chill dough for at least one hour. On a lightly floured board roll each dough rounds 2 inches larger all around than the inverted pie pan. Place pastry on parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet, and chill.
  
  9 medium-size firm tart apples, thinly sliced. (I used Granny Smith)
  
  1/2 cup dried cranberries, soaked overnight in cognac. I used Ocean Spray.
  
  1/3 cup granulated sugar
  
  1/2 teaspoon allspice
  
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  
  Preheat oven to 400F. Put apple slices and raisins in mixing bowl, sprinkle with sugar, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg and toss to mix well. Place pastry round on the pie plate. Pour apple mixture into the pie crust and dot with butter. Carefully cover the apples with top pastry, trim the overhang, and crimp the edges to seal. Bake the pie for 45 to 50 minutes or until pastry is nicely browned and the juices in the center of the pie are bubbling. Let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Serve plain or with vanilla ice cream!
  
  Enjoy!
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  Posted in Apples, Food, Pie | Tagged Apple Pie, apples, baking, Cranberries, Granny Smith, President's day
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