Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bake

Source: https://recipesbyethan.com/recipe/oatmeal-apple-breakfast-bake/

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Rest Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 large apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1/3 cup raisins (optional)

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish or a medium-sized casserole dish.
In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Mix well to distribute the ingredients evenly.
In another bowl, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, melted butter, and eggs until fully combined.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until completely incorporated.
Fold in the chopped apples and raisins (if using) until they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Carefully pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly with a silicone spatula or the back of a spoon.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the oats are set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean.
Allow the oatmeal apple breakfast bake to cool slightly before serving. It can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

Sheet-Pan Sausage with Veggies

Source: Pillsbury

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 medium orange sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)*I have substituted butternut squash
2 medium unpeeled tart red apples, quartered and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 package (12 oz) fully cooked smoked chicken and apple sausages, cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 18x13x1-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, mix olive oil, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper until well blended. Add sweet potatoes, apples, onion and sausages; toss to coat. Pour mixture in pan.
3. Bake 15 minutes; stir. Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender when poked with fork and sausages are browned on edges.

Easy Winter Fresh Fruit Salad

**DOUBLE IT IF YOU'RE MAKING IT FOR A FUNERAL! 

Source: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/winter-fresh-fruit-salad/

Yield: 6 Servings 

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 20 mins 

Ingredients

 *Fruit is adaptable; see note below* 

1 cup fresh blueberries 

1 cup peeled and diced kiwi fruit 

1 cup mandarin oranges, drained, or fresh mandarin/navel orange segments 

1 cup diced apples or pears 

1 cup halved grapes 

½ cup pomegranate seeds 

1 tablespoon honey 

2 tablespoons orange juice, see note for lemon variation 

Light pinch of cinnamon 

Directions 

Place the fruit in a serving bowl. (If using pears, because they sometimes darken faster than apples, I like to toss them with a light squeeze of lemon juice before adding to the salad.) 

Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour over the fruit and toss to combine. 

The fruit salad can be made a couple hours ahead of time – keep in mind that depending on what type of fruit is used, the colors may seep into each other as the salad sits. 

Notes 

Fruit: as noted above, the fruit is very adaptable to what is in season and what you prefer. You’ll want about 5-6 cups total fruit (not including the pomegranate seeds). (My note on her note: I've done it as she suggested; I've also done it with strawberries, grapes, oranges, and apples. Kiwi is NOT cheap..and the second time I got some, it wasn't even ripe so I couldn't use it.)

Dressing: my favorite way to make the dressing is to use 1 tablespoon orange juice and 1 tablespoon lemon juice (both freshly squeezed, if you can, especially the lemon juice). I love the tangy freshness from the lemon. But if you want it a bit sweeter and not as tangy, use all orange juice. Cinnamon: you want a very light pinch of cinnamon – less than 1/8 teaspoon. It adds something so special to this salad and the small amount doesn’t overpower the flavor.

Caramel Apple Pie

Caramel Apple Pie
Prep 40 MIN
Total 3 HR 30 MIN
Servings 8 

Ingredients
1 box (14.1 oz) refrigerated Pie Crusts (2 Count), softened as directed on box
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
1/2 cup caramel apple dip (or try this sauce)
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F.
Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie using 9-inch glass pie plate.
In large bowl, mix granulated sugar, 1/4 cup flour and the cinnamon. Add apples; toss to coat.
Spoon apple mixture into crust- lined plate.
In small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons caramel apple dip and the milk; drizzle over apples.
In medium bowl, mix 1 cup flour and the brown sugar. With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over filling.
To make lattice top, cut second crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips with pastry cutter. Place half of the strips across filling in pie plate. Weave remaining strips with first strips to form lattice. Trim ends of strips even with edge of bottom crust. Fold trimmed edge of bottom crust over ends of strips, forming a high stand-up rim. Seal and flute.
Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Drizzle remaining caramel apple dip over pie.
Cool at least 2 hours before serving.

Apple Dumplings

Apple Dumplings

Makes: 8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes.

2 granny smith apples
2 cans crescent dough
3/4 c.(1 1/2 sticks) butter, plus more for pan
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
pinch kosher salt
8 oz. lemon -lime soda

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking dish with butter. Peel and core apples then cut each apple into eighths.
2. Separate crescent dough into triangles, starting at the wider end, roll one apple slice up into a crescent triangle. Repeat with remaining apple slices and crescent . place into a prepared pan .
3.In a small saucepan over medium heat , melt butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together. Pour mixture over apples.
4. Pour soda around the edge of the pan , trying to avoid pouring on top of dumplings. Bake dumplings until golden, 30 minutes.

Quick Chicken Salad

Quick Chicken Salad

Source: https://www.realmomkitchen.com/quick-chicken-salad/

Total Time: 10 minutes
Makes 4-6 servings  

Ingredients

2 ( 12.5 oz) cans of chicken (or 3 cups diced cooked chicken) 

3/4 cup light mayonnaise 

1 cup red grapes, halved 

1 green onion, diced 

1 stalk celery, diced 

1/2 cup diced apple 

salt and pepper to taste

pecans or cashews, optional

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, grapes, green onion, celery, apple, salt, and pepper. Combine until well blended. 

Serve on rolls, bread, or croissants sprinkle with some cashews or pecans. This can also be served on a lettuce leaf.