Apple Recipes

Mid-October is a time to get outside and enjoy all that fall has to offer. It's a time to clean up the yard and garden; get out and enjoy some fall foliage; and if possible, visit a local apple orchard or cider mill. Since we still have several bags of apples in the basement from our two backyard trees, I elected on Sunday to turn some into dinner, including the main course, dessert and a hot drink.

Baked Chicken, Apples and Butternut Squash  

2 boneless chicken breasts
1 butternut squash
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 apples
salt and pepper
Peel squash, remove seeds and cut into cubes. Place squash in a greased casserole dish. Pour 3 tablespoons melted butter over squash. Pound chicken breasts until thin and then cut into three pieces. Saute in remaining butter two minutes on each side. Place over the squash and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Peel and slice the apples and place over the chicken. Cover and Bake at 350 degrees until the squash is done, about 1 hour.

Caramelized Apple Tart

Pastry
1 1/3 cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
4 Tablespoons chilled buter
1/4 teaspoon salt
about 1/4 cup cold water
Mix flour, sugar and salt then cut in butter with a pastry blender. Gradually add water just until you can form into a ball. Chill while you make filling


Filling
8 apples peeled and sliced
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Melt butter over medium high heat. Add apples and cook until caramelized, stirring so the apples do not stick to the pan. Add sugar and spices. Place apples into a greased tart pan. Cover with pastry dough. Place dessert on a cookie sheet and back at 350 degrees until crust begins to brown, about 30 minutes. Chill before cutting.

Crock Pot Spiced Apple Cider

The best part of making homemade apple cider is the smell of it cooking. I think that pureeing some of the apples at the end would make for a thicker and richer drink. Nevertheless, it was a nice warm drink for a fall day.

10-12 apples, cored and quartered, not peeled
2 cinnamon sticks
dash nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 container frozen apple juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
Water
Add ingredients to medium crock pot, using enough water to fill. Cover and simmer all day. When ready, ladle and serve