Kids in the Kitchen - Easy Apple Turnovers

Mimi is really enjoying her time with me in the kitchen and asks every week what we can make. This week was her idea. She wanted apple pie so we compromised with apple turnovers.

Easy Apple Turnovers

Filling:

2 or 3 apples, peeled and chopped, we used Golden Delicious which is a great cooking apple

2 Tbs melted butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tbs flour

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pie Crust - we used store bought, hence the "easy" in the title.

Glaze:

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/8 tsp cinnamon

2 or 3 tsp apple juice

Mix the filling ingredients and set aside. Cut each crust in half and then in quarters (this is a great time to introduce fractions to a 4 year old, really, she dug it). Fill each triangle with about 1/4 cup filling, fold over, seal edges with a fork (this was Mimi's favorite part and took her time to make sure it was done right). Prick tops with a fork. Bake at 375 for 20 to 30 minutes, until they are golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes then top with glaze and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar. Enjoy!

They are delicious and Mimi will feature them at her future restaurant, which she told me will be called The Four Musketeers. It's funny because my husband and I were just talking about what if one of our darlings didn't want to go to college but wanted to go to chef school or something like that (totally OK with us, but hard to swallow when you never questioned the "life after high school route", which we always assumed would be college). Then, out of the blue, Mimi told me she might be a cook when she grew up. Maybe she heard us talking :) Go over to A Little Fun With Me and Lu to check out more Kids in the Kitchen posts! I'm using this for my Kid Friendly Friday post as well. Join along by posting your Kid Friendly project, activity, recipe, etc. below. Have a great weekend!

FNCCC Assignment #8 - Brian Boitano

We know that Brian Boitano is a figure skater that won a gold medal for the US at the 1988 Winter Olympics Games in Calgary, Canada. But did you know he stars in his own Food Network series that started in September of this year? The show is called What Would Brian Boitano Make?

So if you really want a challenge, this is the week. There are only 21 recipes listed for him SO let's open it up to those 21 (for those daring individuals out there!) OR a recipe by any of the chefs we already have done but you didn't get a chance to try. I have several in my to-try list. We have already done Aaron McCargo, Jr. Aida Mollenkamp -Alexandra Guarnaschelli Alton Brown Anne Burrell Bobby Flay Bobby and Jamie Deen or Paula Deen . Come back October 21 and we'll post about them. I would love to have everyone try one of his recipes but I know it might be tough to try to fit one in your menu plan!

FNCCC Week 7 - The Deen Brothers

I chose a "Lady and Sons" recipe from Food Network, to include the Deen Brothers. Asparagus was on sale this week again and after falling in love with grilled asparagus from a recipe a few weeks ago I couldn't wait to try this....but I had to wait until I was cooking for myself (I knew nobody else in the house would want it).



I grilled a big bunch of asparagus and used in on a salad as well. With that being done in advance, this recipes was quick and easy to prepare and SUPER delicious!! It's a grown up grilled cheese. I did not make her Thousand Island Dressing as listed because I was only making one sandwich and don't use it on salads. I used the ingredients she listed in questionable amounts (I don't know what Thousand Island is supposed to taste like) and I liked my concoction - but can't vouch for hers. I saved the leftover asparagus so I could make another one of these tomorrow. Two thumbs up!!



Lady and Sons Asparagus Sandwich
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Serves:
1 sandwich


Ingredients
8 to 10 fresh asparagus spears, washed and trimmed
2 tablespoons butter, divided
Salt and pepper or lemon pepper
2 slices pumpernickel bread
2 slices Jack cheese (I only had shredded, so used that)
1 or 2 tablespoons Thousand Island Dressing, recipe follows
3 slices red onion, cut into rings
Pickle slices or fresh parsley, for garnish, optional

Directions
Blanch asparagus spears in boiling, salted water for 1 minute. Remove immediately to a bowl of ice water.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus and lightly saute. Season with salt and pepper, or lemon pepper. Remove asparagus from pan and set aside. (I skipped this whole step and used grilled asparagus)


Butter 2 pieces of bread with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Place bread in the same skillet, buttered side down, and grill on 1 side. Flip bread and lay 1 piece of cheese on each slice of bread. Grill until cheese is melted and then remove from pan.


Spread desired amount of dressing on top of each slice of bread. Arrange asparagus on top of cheese, rotating the spears. Place onion rings on top of asparagus. Cut sandwich in half. Garnish with pickle slices or parsley, if desired.


Thousand Island Dressing:
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 hard-boiled egg, crushed finely
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup dill relish
Salt and pepper
Lemon pepper
In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon pepper, to taste. Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Yield: 2 3/4 cups

So what Deen Family recipe did you try out?? Next week we'll post a recipe by Brian Boitano , yes, the skater turned FN chef/host. OR, because there are only 21 eclectic recipes listed by Brian Boitano (there are only 4 episodes), do a recipe from a chef we have already posted about but you didn't get around to trying. I have several of these!

On a side note, Rebekah added her Alton Brown Southern Biscuits to the challenge a few weeks ago. Check them out here. They are pretty! And Tanya, who posts on Facebook, I love your posts but can't figure out a way to comment. I want that bacon!

Tempt My Tummy - Chicken and Dumplings

I made chicken and dumplings for the first time last week and LOVED it! It's the northern way (like stew with fluffy dumplings).....not southern (with only chicken and the little slippery dumplings that are more like thick noodles). I made extra broth out of the carcass as well (in the crock pot) - bonus! The recipe (and picture) I used comes from Penzey's Spices. If you have never heard of them, go visit. They have excellent recipes and spices! If you are lucky enough to have a store near by you should definitely consider going.

Chicken and Dumplings
1 fryer chicken, cut up

2 tsp. your favorite SEASONING (we used NORTHWOODS)
2 TB. canola (vegetable) oil (I didn't use oil)
3 Cups water or chicken broth
1 WHOLE BAY LEAF
1 Cup celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 small onion, chopped (1/2 Cup) (I used more)
1 Cup carrots, cut into small pieces
1-11/2 tsp. salt (too much for us)
1/2 tsp. PENZEYS FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER
1/3 Cup flour or chicken gravy mix
1/2 Cup water

Dumplings:
2 Cups flour (I used 1 cup wheat and 1 cup white)
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. PENZEYS FRESHLY GROUND PEPPER (I didn't use because of the kids)
2 TB. butter
1 Cup milk

Preheat oven to 375°. Place the chicken in a pan and SEASON. Bake the chicken until browned, about 30 minutes. It doesn’t need to be fully done. Remove the chicken from the bones and skin and set aside.

Place the bones and skin in a soup pot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Add the BAY LEAF. Cook for 45 minutes.

While the stock is cooking, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Strain the stock and return to the pot.

Add the chicken, celery, onion and carrot to the pot. Add the salt and PEPPER. Simmer for 30 minutes, using a large spoon to skim off any fat that rises to the top.

Combine the flour and water and whisk to a smooth paste. Slowly drizzle into the broth, stirring continuously, until the desired consistency.

Dumplings

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and PEPPER.

Cut in the butter and blend until you have pea-sized bits of dough. Add the milk and stir until mixed.

Drop by the teaspoon into the broth and chicken mixture. Cover and simmer until the dumplings become light and fluffy (about 10 minutes).

Check out Blessed With Grace for some more Tempt My Tummy recipes!

For The First Time Again - Musical Monday

I am so in love with this song. It's not on YouTube for a embedded post but the song plays on his web site in it's entirety. Follow the link below then in the top right corner is a play button next to the song title (just the arrow, not the arrow with the line, which will bring you to different songs), For The First Time Again.

FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAIN by Jason Gray

I'm linking to Diane and Jori's Musical Monday. Go see what other songs are moving people!