Apple Walnut Raisin Cookies

Tuesday, October 26, 2010


Yes, it is that time of year. Just last week I went to the apple orchard, had some cider, ate a donut and dreamed of all things apple.

I found this recipe at Food.com which is one of my favorite spots to look for new recipes.

Here is my overindulgent version!

INGREDIENTS

3 cups crisco
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups quick oats
1 cup peeled and diced apple (I needed about an apple and a half but the other half was already diced so it went in the batch as well!)
1 cup raisins
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts




1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine crisco, egg, milk, sugar and vanilla in a mixer until creamy.

2. Add in cinnamon, salt, soda and nutmeg. Slowly add in the flour until well combined.


3. Fold in oats, apples, raisin and walnuts by hand.


4. Drop onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes for a softy doughy cookies, 12-13 for firmer cookies.


These definitely smelled like heaven when they were baking. Next time I might press them down a little bit. They didn't spread very much, but they tasted amazing!



They were naturally sweet, had a crunch with the nuts and the oats made a nice firm "muffin" type cookie.

The best way to eat them... microwave them for about ten seconds and enjoy with your morning tea... or coffee!


PS Isn't my cookie jar too cute?!

25th Anniversary!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

So this is pretty similar to a previous post except for the colors and occasion. 

It was my BF's parent's 25th wedding anniversary and I was asked to make the cake with purple and silver accents. 


I started by making some purple fondant flowers and dusting them with silver luster dust. Perty! 


And I found this really pretty and simple topper (silver!) and surrounded it with more flowers and leaves. 


So it's quite pretty isn't it? Well I'm not done yet!


I tinted the cake purple too! Too cute! 

Love it! 

Grand Hotel French Toast

Monday, October 11, 2010

When I was young my parents took my brother and I to The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island every few years or so and one of the best things about the Grand is the food.

Something I remember vividly is the french toast. This is my rendition with... what I had on hand. I'll put some additions and suggestions at the bottom!

Remember the cream cheese frosting from two posts ago? This is a great way to use the rest of it!




INGREDIENTS

3 eggs
a splash of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a few shakes of cinnamon
4 pieces of whole wheat bread
cream cheese frosting
chopped walnuts
pure maple syrup

1. First whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

2. Heat a skillet to medium high. Dip bread in egg mixture and put in the skillet. Brown on each side.

3. "Fill" the toast with frosting and walnuts. Put the other piece on top and drizzle with syrup!


YES I used a piping bag to fill the french toast! So sue me!


These were delicious but here are some Grand Hotel ideas and changes you can make to jazz them up...

*use cinnamon raison toast
*add dried cranberries to the frosting
*who doesn't love a little powdered sugar?!
*any kind of fruit you just love
*toast the walnuts in a pan with some cinnamon

Oh the list could go on!

It's October!

Monday, October 4, 2010


It's October! And it's time for everything pumpkin, apple and Halloween! First order of business... getting the trifecta of Halloween cereals!

I kid not. This is a serious matter. I have to get these every October and eat them for breakfast up to Halloween!

Yes, I'm 5 ;)

Stay tuned because the next order of action involves apples!! Mmmm sweet Michigan apples!

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