Swedish Apple Cake

 

Ingredients:

½ cup butter, room temp

1 ⅔ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

1 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups diced & peeled apples (~2 large apples)

Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Caramel

1 ⅓ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons half & half

4 tablespoons butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and thoroughly grease a 9-inch springform pan.

In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth, then add eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.

Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined, then fold in apples and nuts if using.

Transfer batter to the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes as you prepare the caramel.

Caramel: when cake has been baking for 30 minutes, start the caramel. Add brown sugar, half & half, and butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir often until the mixture is smooth and fully combined, no need to bring to a full boil.

Remove cake from oven and pour caramel over the top. Return cake to oven for additional 10-15 minutes or until caramel is cracking and cake is cooked through the center.

Allow cake to cool at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Kokanee Pie

1 pie crust (bake for 3 minutes first)

1 1/2 c. milk

1 can salmon

1 tbsp. lemon juice

3 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Scald the 1 1/2 cups milk, cool slightly. Remove bones and skin from salmon. Arrange salmon evenly over the bottom of pie crust. Drizzle lemon juice over salmon

Combine eggs, salt, paprika and beat. Add egg mixture to milk, beat slightly. Pour over fish. Sprinkle top with cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, then 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until set.

This is really good. Picked up a can of salmon in Ollies,   didn't want to make salmon patties. Found this recipe on Reddit. 

I didn't use cheddar cheese, used a Italian Blend of cheeses.

Still using the eggs Laurie picked up for me. Kroger had them on sale 18 for 3.99.

Note: My crust was sort of burnt but it was still good.

1971 Eagle Brand "Magic" Lemon Meringue Pie

A couple of tricks when making meringue

Make sure the bowl is completely clean, especially making sure there's no oil in the bowl. Some claim that even the oils in your fingerprint can impact meringue but I'm not sure I believe that lol

Put the KitchenAid bowl in the fridge to chill for a bit before making the meringue. Cold bowl helps keep the eggs whites from getting too warm which can make it harder to get high peaks.

Add a pinch of cream of tartar. Some cooks say this is "cheating" but I call it insurance.

Whip it for probably longer than you think you need to.

Another note: cook the lemon mixture before adding the meringue.

I have been waiting to make this due to the price of eggs. 

One of my neighbors was able to pick up a dozen from a local lady for 3 dollars. 

IP APPLESAUCE ( NO SUGAR)

Ingredients:

3 lbs. apples mixed variety, about 5-6 large apples

⅓ cup water or apple juice

½ tsp. Saigon  cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. lemon juice optional

Directions:

Core and cut the apples into large 2-inch chunks. I left the skin on

Add cut apples to a 6-quart Instant Pot along with the water and spice(s). 
Cover the Instant Pot with a lid and ensure the pressure release valve is sealed.

Using the manual mode, set the Instant Pot to High pressure and cook for 7 minutes.
 Quick release the pressure valve as soon as the timer goes off.


Mash applesauce using a potato masher until it is to your desired consistency. 

Mix in lemon juice and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.

Cheesy ( cottage cheese) Buffalo Chicken Dip

 

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (from about 1/2 rotisserie chicken if you want easy😀  )

1 1/2 cups cottage cheese

1/2 cup Buffalo-style hot sauce

6 ounces grated pepper jack (about 3 cups)

6 ounces grated mild Cheddar (about 3 cups)

1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Directions:

In a large bowl combine all ingredients, place in refrigerator.

When ready to serve place the dip in a smaller bowl and place

baby carrots, celery sticks and assorted crackers and chips, for serving.

The super bowl is coming up soon and Myra's team is playing. I won't be watching but I made this😉

BTW- I liked this. Make again. 

Healthy Orange Julius

 Ingredients

2 oranges- peeled

1 large banana- peeled and frozen

1/4 to 1/2 cup almond milk

15 large ice cubes

2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Add peeled oranges, frozen banana, ice cubes, your choice of milk (can sub orange juice for a sweeter smoothie), optional protein powder, and vanilla to a blender. This works best in a high speed blender, but can be made in a good quality standard blender.

Blend until the oranges are completely smoothie and the smoothie is thick and creamy.

Note: I had a original  Orange Julius in NYC when I was in my teens. It was the one and only time I had one since we didn't have any Orange Julius stores on the east end of Long Island. 

I picked up a bunch of oranges at a great price ( 1.99 a bag) and Mei gave me a few bananas Richard wouldn't eat.

 I remembered the Orange Julius and wanted to make this one.

Carrot- Toasted Pecan Salad

 Ingredients:

3 cups shredded carrots

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup air fried pecans-chopped*

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped green onions

5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoons dijion  mustard

1 teaspoon honey ( or to taste)

pinch of salt and pepper

1/4 cup canola oil

Directions

Combine carrots, celery, pecans, raisins  and green onion in a medium sized bowl

Add apple cider vinegar, sugar, mustard and salt and pepper to another bowl then whisk in the oil.

Pour the apple cider vinegar mixture over the carrot mixture. Mix well

Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving

* To roast pecans in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 300°F, spread the pecans in a single layer in the basket, and cook for 5-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until they are fragrant and toasted to your desired level; you can add a little oil and salt for extra flavor before cooking

** Mei made fried shrimp for my birthday. I love carrots and this for me was a perfect birthday dinner with a birthday cake from my BFF!