Apple Hand Pies

I love this time of year.  Kids are in school.  The weather starts to cool and in NY it’s everything apple.  The apple cider here is delicious.  I love to go to a place where they serve cider, cider slushies and warm pastries and donuts.  My favorite is the Apple Hand Pie.  I had a can of canned Apple filling so I decided to make some at home.

Apple Hand Pies

For the crust:

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup chilled shortening, (I used Crisco brand)

3-6 Tablespoons ice cold water

FOR THE FILLING

1 Can apple pie filling

For the glaze

GLAZE RECIPE

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup confectioner sugar, more if mix is too runny

you also need one egg for an egg wash before baking, beat egg and brush over pie

DIRECTIONS

Pre-Heat Oven 350 degrees

In a large mixing bowl, mix flour and salt.

Place shortening in bowl, using a pastry blender, in an up and down motion mix until it looks like pea sized crumbs.

Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons cold water over the flour mixture.  Using a fork distribute the water evenly into the flour.  Press the chunks to the bottom of bowl with fork, add more water by the tablespoon until dough is held together when pressed.

Shape dough into about 8 balls and roll each one individually

Add about 1 tablespoon apple filling, crimp edges to completely close pies so filling does not run.

Place on a Parchment lined cookie sheet, add an egg wash before baking

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Apple Dump Cake

This cake is a perfect alternative to an apple pie.  It is very easy to make and tastes delicious.  I assume you could also use cherry or any other flavor pie filling, although I have not tried the other flavors yet.

APPLE DUMP CAKE

YOU WILL NEED:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick butter

2 cans apple pie filling (the cans I use are 21 oz. Comstock Brand)

1/2 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease a 9X13 baking dish

Dump pie filling

Dump cake mix over the filling

Place pads of butter on top of the cake mix

Evenly sprinkle brown sugar on top of butter

Bake for about 40 minutes

Enjoy!!!

Hush Puppies

Ingredients

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons grated onion with juice
• Vegetable or peanut oil, for frying (about 2 quarts)

Directions

1. Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and the cayenne. Whisk together egg, buttermilk, and onion. Stir egg mixture into cornmeal mixture. Batter will be as thick as a heavy pancake batter.

2. Heat 4 inches oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 360 degrees. Working in batches, drop batter by the tablespoon into oil. Cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through and deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. (Adjust heat so that temperature remains constant.) Transfer hush puppies to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Serve warm.

Tortilla Wraps

I started making this recipe when I wanted to eat something flavorful without turning a hot stove on.  These make a lot and they are delicious!!

TORTILLA WRAP

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 tortillas
• 1 can sweet corn, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 5 slices jalapenos from a jar, more or less, to taste, chopped
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ¼-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• Garlic powder, to your taste
• salt and pepper to taste
• 5 slices pepper jack cheese. or your favorite flavor, cut in half
• 1 box cooked chicken, or rotisserie chicken, or 1 chicken breast.  Just use any COOKED chicken that you like
• Onions, (optional)

DIRECTIONS-

• MIX CORN, BEANS, JALAPENO, ONION, COOKED CHICKEN & SPICES COOK IN SAUCE PAN FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, OR UNTIL WARM.
• PUT ½ SLICE CHEESE ON A TORTILLA, DROP A SPOONFUL OF MIX ON TORTILLA, WRAP LIKE A BURRITO.
• COOK IN OVEN FOR 15 MINUTES AT 350 DEGREES, OR COOK IN MICROWAVE OVEN FOR 20 SECONDS. I use microwave oven for hot days. You can also try this in an air fryer. I have not tested the time in air fryer yet but as soon as I do I will update the blog. ( Use the oven method for crisp tortillas.)
• SERVE PLAIN OR WITH SOUR CREAM OR SALSA.

Enjoy!!

Rae