Autumn Apple Crumb Cake

We just went apple picking. Well, we didn't actually pick any apples because it was so hot and there wasn't anyone else there- we would have had to wait a while to catch the wagon out to the orchard. BUT, we did pick up 2 bushels of fabulous McIntosh and Gala apples. They were a bit on the smaller side, so I put them to use in this cake. enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups chopped apples, I used gala and mcIntosh, skinned and chopped, about 6 apples

streusel topping-
 1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

 The struesel topping-  Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine in a large bowl the streusel ingredients and mix with a fork until crumbs form.

Butter a 9" square casserole dih and set aside. Mix dry ingredietns thoroughly and add beaten egg, apples and yogurt. Mix until just blended, either in a mixer or by hand.  Add cake mixture to dish and smooth out. Top with the streusel and even out. Bake the crumb cake in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, until risen and golden.  Let the crumb cake cool slightly before serving.

Chicken Poblano Popper Casserole

When our garden hits mid-stride in AUgust I am always left with an abundance of poblano peppers and wonder what to do with them. Here's one idea.

Ingredients:

1 whole Rotisserie chicken, meat pulled off and shredded
1 bag tortilla chips, crushed
1/2 block cream cheese, cut up
11/2 cups salsa
1 8 oz package Mexican Blend shredded cheese
6 poblano peppers, roasted and chopped See note below
1 jalapeno pepper, roasted (if desired)

1 tsp peanut or vegetable oil

Spread bottom of large casserole dish with the oil. Layer in 1/2 crushed chips, 1/2 salsa, 1/2 chicken, 1/2 cheese. Next layer in chips, peppers, cream cheese pieces, chicken, salsa, shredded cheese and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 min
until hot and bubbly.

Summer Crisp

Nothing better in the summer than fresh fruit from a local orchard. Today's dessert stars fresh, juicy peaches and blackberries.

Ingredients:

3 ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
1 quart blackberries, rinsed
1/2 cup flour
1-2 tsp cinnamon
1 stick butter, cut up into pieces, reserve 1/4 of it for topping
1/2 cup oats (not instant)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp white sugar

Blend in food processor the butter, flour, oats, cinnamon and vanilla. Butter shallow casserole and add peraches and blackberries. Sprinkle with white sugar. Spread oat topping over, covering the fruit and dot with reserved butter. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 min until bubbling and browned. Let cool for 10-15 min. Even better topped with vanilla ice cream.

Baked Lemon Cod (or Chicken) with Shredded Potatoes

This is one of those one pot meals that can be made easily within 45 min, less if you buy packaged hashbrowns. The picture in the blue casserole is the chicken, both were delicious and definitely made it to the recipe list for my family.

Ingredients:

1 lb cod fish, fillets 

1/4 cup butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon white or black pepper
paprika
Potatoes-
4 medium potatoes, peeled and shredded
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp melted butter
sea salt and pepper

For the potatoes-

Mix butter and olive oil and toss shredded potatoes in the mixture. Place in 1 qt casserole. Season with salt and pepper. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 15 min. While they are baking get the fish (or chicken) ready. If fish fillets are large, cut into serving pieces. Mix butter and lemon juice. In another bowl, mix flour, salt and white pepper.Dip fish into butter mixture; coat fish with flour mixture. Place fish on top of the shredded poatoes and drizzle with a little melted butter or olive oil and sprinkle with paprika. Cook uncovered in 375 degree oven until fish flakes easily with fork, 20-25 minutes. If baking chicken instead of fish it should be easily pierce with a fork.

Banana Oatmeal Bread

I wont say that this is: low fat and healthy (oops I just did!) but it is delicious besides that!

ingredients:

1 cup unbleached flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 medium very ripe bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
Add yogurt, buttermilk, egg and vanilla, then fold in mashed banana.

Empty batter in to an 8 1/2 inch x 4 1/2 inch loaf tin greased with butter and bake for 50 minutes to an 1 hour.