Signature Apple Pie!

After many attempts and many recipe's... I have finally come up with my signature Apple Pie!

*I bake my own crust, just becaue it makes it so much more homemade, but you are more than welcome to buy 2 pie pre-made pie crusts!

Signature Apple Pie

Flaky Pie Crust - Double recipe for 2 pie crust

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening, chilled (this is very important) *Also, I like to use butter flavored vegitable shortening

3 tablespoons ice water

1. Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixture with a fork to moisten.

2. Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling.

3. Roll out dough, and put in pie plate.

Apple Pie

2/4 cup white sugar

1/4 brown sugar

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

6 cups thinly sliced apples. Cored and peeled. (I like Fiji the best - they stand up to the heat and stay a little crisp)

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2. Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon peel

3. Line one crust in a 9 inch deep dish pie pan. Layer 1/2 of apples into pie crust. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and repeat until done. Sprinkle lemon juice and dot with butter.

4. Place second pie crust on top of filling and flute the edges. Cut vents in top crust and brush with butter for a glazed appearences (if desired.)

5. Bake at 425 degrees F for 40 -50 minutes.

Amazing grilled fish!

I saw this recipe on the biggest loser and after being pregnant for 34 weeks, I sympathize with those contestants!

I am always trying new ways to squeeze in healthy dinners to my potato chip cravings :)

Amazing grilled fish!

1 bunch of Italian flat leaf parsley

1 half large tomato

1 lemon

2 fillets of Tilapia or other white fish

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Lemon/Pepper to season fish

1. Heat grill or oven to 350 degrees.

2. Poor 1 tablespoon of olive oil over fish and season with lemon pepper. Set aside

3. Chop Italian parsley, and tomato. Cut lemon in half.

4. Place fish on grill (with tin foil so it doesn't fall through) or in oven for 2 min on each side.

4. Heat non-stick pan to medium-low, add tomato and cook for 1 min. Add parsley and juice lemon. Cook for 1 more minute stirring occasionally.

Place fish on rice and place the parsley mixture on top. Enjoy!

Spinach Dip!

Yummm! Since being pregnant I have become a salt wench! All I want are salty foods! So, since I eat more potato chips than I care to admit, I thought I would share with you my mom's famous and awesomely easy Spinach Dip!

Spinach Dip!

1. package frozen spinach (de-thawed and drained well)

2. 1 package onion soup mix

3. 1 16 oz tub, fat free sour cream

In order to drain spinach, the easiest way is to take the de-thawed spinach, wrap in a cheese cloth or towel and twist over the sink. A green liquid will poor out and you will be left with very dry spinach.

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and keep cool. Enjoy!!



It doesn't look all that appetizing but it is darn good!

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

So, today I was in the mood for something sweet and warm. My dad bought me this awesome cookie book for Christmas, The COOKIE book, and I found this awesome recipe.

I only had whole wheat flour, and no brown sugar, so I had to use all white sugar, but it turned out amazing!! *Now... when using whole wheat flour you need to understand that is soaks up more liquid than the white flour.

1 cup plain (all purpose flour) or 3/4 cup whole wheat flour.

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 cup butter or margerine (at room temperature, diced)

1/2 cup refined sugar

1/2 cup soft light brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup plain (semisweet) chocolate chips.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, F. Lightly grease two or three baking sheets.

2. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder adn salt into mixing bowl and set aside.

3. With an electric mixer, cream together the butter or margarine, and the sugars. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffly.

4. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until thoroughly blended. Stir in the rolled oats and chocolate chips. The dough should be crumbly. Drop heaped teaspoonfuls on to the prepared baking sheets, spacing dough about 1 inch apart.

5. Bake for about 15 min until just firm around the edges, but still soft to touch in the center. Transfer cookies to wire rack and leave to cool.

Enjoy!!

Whole Wheat Peach Pancakes

Whole Wheat Peach Pancakes!

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 cups milk Fresh peaches

In a mixing bowl, sift the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine all other ingredients, except peaches, using a whisk. Combine dry and wet ingredients. Let rest for 2 hours.

Heat griddle. In the meantime, slice peaches thinly. Spoon pancake mixture onto the griddle. The sliced peaches should be added immediately. Flip once.

*I substituted blueberry's for peach (since it is March) and I used all whole wheat flour. They turned out really good!