Mosaic Monday

Hello & Happy Monday! Enjoy today's mosaic, and remember: An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Apple Facts:
(source: Fowler Farms)

* Americans eat approximately 19.6 pounds of fresh apples annually.
* Apples are a member of the rose family.
* Apples are available year-round.
* The most popular variety in the United States is the Red Delicious.
* Fresh apples float because 25 percent of their volume is air.
* 50% of apples grown in the United States are sold fresh
* 50% are made into apple juice, apple sauce or dehydrated apple products.
* There are more than 7,000 varieties of apples grown in the world.
* Almost 1/2 of the U.S. apple crop is processed into apple products.

Have a wonderful day!

Temptation Thursday

“Ignorance is like a delicate fruit; touch it, and the bloom is gone.”
-Oscar Wilde

Hello! Today I am sharing the recipe for one of my favorite desserts. It his always a go to - especially in summer when you can make it with different types of fruit. It is not hard to make and the results are always impressive! Enjoy!

What is a Clafouti you ask?

1. fruit pastry: a fruit and batter pastry, typically made with cherries
[Late 20th century. < French < dialect clafir "to stuff" + standard French foutre "to stuff"]
Taken from Encarta® World English Dictionary[North American Edition]©


Strawberry Clafouti

Ingredients:

* 1 1/3 cups + 1 Tbsp sugar
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1 cup egg substitute
* 1 1/2 cups skim milk
* 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 2 tsp finely grated orange peel
* 1 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon peel
* 2 pears, peeled, sliced, seeded
* 10 strawberries, stems removed, sliced
* 4 Tbsp confectioners' sugar

Equipment Needed:

* 2 Mixing Bowls
* 8 - 6 ounce oven safe dishes
* Large baking sheet

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 375°.
2.) Butter all 8 baking dishes and set aside.
3.) Combine sugar, flour, and baking powder in mixing bowl.
4.) Lightly beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, & grated peels in another bowl.
5.) Add egg mixture to sugar mixture & stir slightly to combine.
6.) Spoon pears and berries into the 8 buttered dishes.
7.) Pour batter over fruit, filling dishes about three-quarters full.
8.) Place dishes on baking sheet.
9.) Then, put baking sheet with dishes onto center rack of oven.
10.) Bake 30 to 35 min, until golden brown.
11.) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar while still warm.

Thought of the Day:

“Truth is a fruit which should not be plucked until it is ripe.”
-Voltaire

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mosaic Monday

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”
-Pablo Picasso

Hello! I was thinking about color last night and became so thankful that I have my sight. The beauty of the world around us is a site to behold and I would hate to miss any of it! My thoughts about color led me to think about food - it is recommended that we eat a lot of colorful foods because they are good for us. Well, that makes sense - if seeing color makes me happy, then it stand to reason that eating colorful foods would make my body happy! Enjoy!

“There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen”
-Unknown




Thought of the Day:

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
-Maya Angelou

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."
-Meister Eckhart

Hello!! Have I mentioned how much I love fall and Thanksgiving? Well, if I have neglected to do so, let me say it now!! I LOVE FALL & THANKSGIVING!!

Everyone always laughs at how much I cook for Thanksgiving dinner, but I just cannot help myself! There are so many wonderful recipes!! Today's recipe is one of my favorites!! I can eat yams/sweet potatoes everyday - they are so YUMMY! Enjoy!


Apple, Almond and Yam Patties

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 lbs yams, peeled, coarsely grated
* 1 large honeycrisp apple, peeled, cored, coarsley grated
* 1/4 cup finely diced onions
* 1 1/2 Tbsp sour cream
* 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sliced almonds
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* Sour Cream

Equipment Needed:

* Large nonstick skillet
* Box grater
* Ice cream scoop

Directions:

1.) Combine yam, apple, and onion in a large mixing bowl.
2.) Add sour cream and eggs; season to taste with salt and white pepper.
3.) Stir ingredients to combine.
4.) Slowly fold in flour, then add in almonds.
5.) Mix well.
6.) Form patties: scoop mixture with ice cream scoop, press firmly with hands.
7.) Set patties aside.
8.) Heat oil on medium-high 1-2 min. (do not let oil reach smoking point)
9.) Reduce heat to medium.
10.) Add yam patties to pan.
11.) Cook, 7-8 min until edges begin to brown.
12.) Gently turn patties over and cook 5-6 min until browned and tender.
13.) Place on a double layer of paper towels to drain.
14.) Repeat with remaining yam patties, heating additional oil if needed.
15.) Serve warm with sour cream as garnish.

(These can be made ahead of time and reheated in a 350° oven for 20 min)

Thought of the Day:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

Hello! I don't know if you noticed, but it is that time of year: FALL! I love fall and everything about it (except that winter follows!). The days are warm and the nights cools (perfect sleeping weather), and APPLES!! Apples are such a wonderful and versatile fruit - you can do so much with them! My boys and I go apple picking every year and we always pick way more than we need, but we have so much fun! Do you like to pick apples? Today I am going to share a great fall drink made from, APPLES! The following recipe is non-alcoholic, so everyone can partake. ENJOY!

“Love doesn't grow on trees like apples in Eden - it's something you have to make. And you must use your imagination too.”
-Joyce Cary


Hot Mulled Cider
Servings: 8

Ingredients:

* 1 orange, washed
* 15 whole cloves
* 2 quarts apple cider
* 3 whole cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)

Directions:

1.) Peel orange and insert cloves into peel.
2.) Combine apple cider, orange peel and cinnamon sticks in large stockpot.
3.) Remove sections from orange and squeeze any remaining juice into cider mixture.
4.) Simmer slowly on MEDIUM until hot and steamy, about 10 min; do not boil.
5.) Remove cinnamon sticks and orange peel.
6.) Ladle into warm glasses and serve.
7.) Garnish with extra cinnamon sticks.

“Why not upset the apple cart? If you don't, the apples will rot anyway.”
-Frank A. Clark

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Thursday!

“Drink moderately, for drunkenness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise”
-Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Hello! Can you believe that is is Thursday already? I can't! Today I have two drink recipes to share with you - one with and one without alcohol. However, the alcoholic drink tastes great without the vodka also! The shake is a great way to start your morning, my kids love them for breakfast! Enjoy!

“Responsible Drinking? Now that's an Oxymoron.”
-Aaron Howard


Apple & Cranberry Cocktail
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
* 2/3 cup cranberry juice
* 2/3 cup apple soda
* 2 1/2 oz cranberry vodka
* Ice
* green apple slices

Equipment Needed:
* Shaker

Directions:
1.) Combine juice, soda & vodka in shaker & mix well.
2.) Place ice in glasses.
3.) Pour drink over ice.
4.) Garnish with green apple slices.


“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.”
-Latin Proverb



Banana & Orange Yogurt Shake
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
* 2 bananas, peeled & sliced (1")
* 1 1/2 cups orange juice concentrate (defrosted)
* 2 Tbsp orange marmalade
* 2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt

Equipment Needed:
* Blender

Directions:
1.) Puree bananas in blender.
2.) Pour in orange juice, a little at a time, until smooth & thick.
3.) Add marmalade & puree until smooth.
4.) Mix in yogurt & puree until smooth.
5.) Serve immediately (garnish with mint if you would like)

Silly Joke of the Day:
What's round and bad-tempered?
.....A vicious circle.

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!