apple update.

I suppose you've been wondering what on earth we've been doing with 65 pounds of apples?  I mean, aside from the fact that they've made everyone around here "regular," and all that jazz.*

*in the past few weeks, our toilet paper consumption has more than tripled.

what?  you could care less about a pile of apples?  well then, my sincere apologies, because Imma tell you anyway.  and you never know, it just might involve a recipe... or three.

*insert dangling carrot*

I know.  when it comes to luring people in, I'm pretty much pro.  just ask my husband.  psst, once you have them hooked, go straight for the jugular.  although sometimes it can get a little messy.  YOU SPENT HOW MUCH ON THAT PURSE?!?  

whatever.  at least a purse is more useful than, um... er... uh... well, I was going to say an elk mount, only he doesn't hunt (minor detail.)  or fish.  or golf.  or... shoot.  what does he even do?  oh yeah, that's right.  he hiked the Grand Canyon with his buddies a couple years ago.

apparently he takes the words "till death do us part" to heart.

anyway, if you can remember alllll the way back to last fall (I know, hard), I posted THIS apple crisp recipe (courtesy of my friend Mia.)  wow, is it ever scrumptious!  I love that the topping is not too dry and crumbly, nor too hard and crunchy.  and that it has just the right amount of sweet, cinnamon and buttery flavor.  and well... mmm.  it's a must try.  we've made at least four pans of it already.

but wait, I'm not done yet.  in one of our church cookbooks, I came across this killer homemade caramel sauce, which we drizzled on top of the apple crisp and ice cream. three words: TO DIE FOR.  it's the "icing on the cake," if you will.  especially delicious with a Chai Tea Latte.  because I NEED all those extra calories, remember?     

here's the recipe:

Caramel Sauce

-1/2 cup butter
-1 cup brown sugar
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 cup evaporated milk
-1 tsp vanilla

combine butter, sugar and salt together and bring to a boil.  remove from heat and stir in evaporated milk and vanilla.

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ALSO.  for breakfast on Saturday, we whipped up a batch of oatmeal-apple pancakes complete with homemade apple-cinnamon syrup.  beware: it's like indulging in a slice of apple pie straight out of bed.  can you say sweet?  your blood sugar will thank you.

I may or may not have devoured this entire stack single handedly.

here are those recipes:

Oatmeal-Apple Pancakes

-1 cup oatmeal
-1-1/3 cups water
-2 eggs
-2 cups buttermilk
-1/2 cup butter, melted
-2 cups flour
-1 Tbsp sugar
-2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
-2 apples, finely chopped

combine oatmeal and water.  let stand at least 10 minutes.  beat eggs, stir in buttermilk, butter, and oatmeal mixture.  combine dry ingredients and stir into egg mixture.  fold in apple.  fry on hot griddle.

Apple-Cinnamon Syrup

-1cup water
-2 cups sugar
-2 cups applesauce, approximately (we used homemade)
-cinnamon to taste

combine water and sugar and cook until it reaches a full, rolling boil.  remove from heat and stir in applesauce and cinnamon.

it's like turning pancakes and waffles into apple pie!  seriously!

enjoy!  oh.  and get your fall flag out and wave it around.  I love this time of year!

-jessica