Tag: apples
Homemade Baked Apple Sauce
This is first time I have ever made apple sauce. I never understood why someone would make iy- what is the point? You either eat them raw or use them in a dessert or maybe even cook them on the side with pork or duck.
Then I started writing this blog and apple season came along. Well, I had to come up with a few apple recipes- and I did.. I made the apple cranberry bread, which by the way is delicious. I was thinking what else to make when an apple ice cream came to mind. I was of course going to make my healthy gelato- but what else should I was I going to add to it??
That is when apple sauce came to mind. I looked for different recipes and that is when I came across Ina Garten’s apple sauce recipe- I just love her recipes- don’t you want to invited to her house for a fabulous meal?
I adapted her recipe and came up with this. After the big saucepan came out of the oven and I tasted the results- I understood why people make their own apple sauce. It was absolutely delicious! Fresh, yummy and just the right sweetness and tartness. The wheels were turning in my head- all the things I can do with this- dessert topping, with a pork loin, on top of pancakes- sky is the limit… I can’t wait…
Try this recipe- it’s really good. I will be testing the apple sauce gelato tomorrow and posting the recipe soon- stay tuned.
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Fresh Tuna Salad
This was the first thing I did with the fresh tuna steaks I got from my friend. I was at the mall when I got the call telling me she was on her way to drop the fish off. I immediately left all the shopping and headed home. Ideas began to swim in my head – it’s very hard to drive when that happens- all I could think of was to get in my house and get my hands on those tuna steaks.
It happened to be lunch time and what is more refreshing on a hot day than a freshly made tuna salad? Well, that is what I made. I briefly seared both sides and seasoned them with salt and pepper. I kept them aside to cool off while I went to my back yard to decide what herb to use in the salad. A few years ago I remember eating a lemon thyme chicken salad at a local wrap place in South Orange. It was delicious and I made it at home many times after eating it. While I was outside in my backyard, I thought of that salad and brought some fresh thyme for the tuna salad. I wanted to add a sweet element to the salad- an apple came to mind. I had one left in my fridge and it was my favorite variety- Braeburn. I love the sweet and sour taste paired with the crisp texture of this particular apple. It all came together really well, a little mayo, fresh thyme, lemon juice and an apple.
It was a simple salad but absolutely delicious. I have never had fresher fish before- I couldn’t believe someone caught it just a few days before I put the salad together. Makes me want be more of a locavore.
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Tomato and Apple Salad with Dill
We ordered pizza and pasta for dinner on the weekend. We had enough of the food left over to have it again the next day- so I told my husband I will make a big salad with the left over pizza. The next day, before going grocery shopping, I checked the fridge to make sure I have greens for the salad- I had a bag of arugula. I had strawberries in the house and decided to buy some glazed sweet walnuts for the salad. I came home and put the balsamic vinaigrette together and put it aside. When it was time to make the salad, I got the arugula out of the fridge and discovered it was all wilted and brown!! It was 6:30 in the evening, raining outside and a school night- I wasn’t going to the grocery store now… I decided to go without the salad but felt bad for my husband- what should I give him? I decided to get creative and look in my kitchen for inspiration. I had tomatoes on the counter, apples and dill in the fridge. I called my husband and asked if he was ready to be a guinea pig in my salad experiment! I cut up the tomatoes with the apples and added chopped dill. I then topped it with the balsamic vinaigrette. It all smelled really good and what do you know- the salad tasted really well too. Perfect I thought, this salad is going to be great in the summer with any grilled meat or even hamburgers. I think next time I may even add some feta cheese to the salad and have it for lunch! Not having the greens worked out in the end- great dishes are created when I get desperate!!!
- 2 vine ripe tomatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 pink lady apples, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- Balsamic vinaigrette to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix the tomatoes, apples, dill and the vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix the mustard, honey, balsamic vinegar with the salt and pepper. Drizzle the oil in while whisking the mixture. Keep aside.
Pork Chops with Apples and a Cider Pan Gravy
I had these pork chops in my freezer for a while, I had bought them from a local butcher air-packed and frozen. I wasn’t sure what to do with them until my daughter talked about the delicious applesauce her teacher made at school. Apples go so well with pork chops!! When I think of apples and pork chops, thyme comes to mind! So that is what I did. I took onions, garlic and cooked them with the apples. Adding the flour right into the skillet saves you a step (and cleaning a pan!). I decided to use cider for the pan gravy. The cider gives the dish a very deep apple flavor, and cooking the chops right in the gravy makes them tender and full of flavor. I did make creamed corn and fingerling potatoes (recipes to follow in the next few days!). After all of that, my daughter ate the pork chops but did not like the apples!! They were not the same as what her teacher made! I guess you can’t please everyone! Enjoy!
- 4 boneless center cup pork chops ½ to ¾ inch thick
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced thin
- 1 large Granny Smith apple or 2 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 3/8 inch wedges
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups apple cider
Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until smoking, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, dry pork chops with paper towel and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Brown chops in single layer until deep golden on first side, about 3 minutes. Flip chops and cook until browned on second side, another 3 minutes. Transfer chops to a large plate and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add the onions and apples. Using wooden spoon, scrape bits on pan bottom and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are softened and browned around edges, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and rosemary and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour to the skillet and cook for about a minute mixing well. Next add the apple cider slowly whisking the entire mixture until it turns into a smooth sauce. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium. Add the chops, cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer until pork is tender and paring knife inserted into chops meets very little resistance, about 20 minutes.