The Thousand Word Project - An Apple A Day

 Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 

Apple Crisp - Gramma Hoover's Recipes

Here is another recipe from my Gramma Hoover, but this one was a loose card inside her write-in cook book. You can see how simply some recipes were written out by her. 

Hope Knight was a sweet lady that Gramma worked with at the Rural Bible Mission in western Michigan. RBM had a similar format to Child Evangelism, but the ministry was much smaller. Their missionaries went out and did release time classes for children from public schools and chapel services for children in Christian schools during the school year. During the summer vacation (holiday), they did Vacation Bible Schools for various churches who invited them in. Gramma and Hope Knight both worked at the headquarters where materials were written, printed, and sent out as well as the missionaries' newsletters. I believe Hope was an artist who helped create visual materials. Gramma worked in the printing press room and mail room.

Editorial Notes are in brackets.

Apple Crisp

Slice 6 peeled apples into baking pan. [EN: you'll have to judge the size needed. It looks like maybe 8x8 or 9x9 inches, or a 2 qt. casserole dish, possibly. I would use sweet apples since there's not sugar added to them.]

In bowl work together:

1/2 C. flour

1/2 C. oatmeal

1/2 stick margarine [EN: or butter]

1/3 C. sugar

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. nutmeg [EN: ground]

[EN: Spread the crumb mixture evenly on the top of the apples.]

Bake at 450F for 35 minutes.

Fresh Beet Salad

Photo property of Sister in the Mid-West - Simple Inspirations

Root vegetables are a good way to make a winter salad. This beet and carrot slaw style salad with fresh apples and lemon juice from Sister in the Mid-west sounds like it would be refreshing and very nutrient rich. 

By the way, I was thinking that a handful of fresh cranberries before shredding or a handful of dried ones added afterwards could add a nice flavor variation. Also, if it isn't quite sweet enough for you a bit of honey or your other favorite sweetening could be added. This is a versatile recipe. You can make variations. It would be good served with a variety of meals as well, or added to sandwiches or wraps. The color alone makes it a winner for making winter meals pretty. :-)

Simple Inspirations - Beet Salad Recipe!

Crock Pot Apple Butter

As autumn is rapidly approaching in the northern hemisphere, maybe this recipe will be handy to someone. I don't remember where it came from.

Crock Pot Apple Butter 

Peel and core apples, cut in quarters, enough to fill a 4 quart crock pot to about 1 1/2 inches from the top: 

ADD: 

4 tsp. Cinnamon 

1/2 tsp Cloves 

1/2 tsp Salt 

3 Cups Sugar 

Start on high with about 4 TBL. water, till it gets hot, then turn on low and cook all day. When it is done and apples are fully cooked down put small amounts into food processor and zap quickly till smooth. 

For long term storage you will need to freeze or can this.

NOTE: If you are canning this, reheat the apple butter to boiling after it is pureed and it put into hot sterilized jars and seal with hot, sterilized lids. It may need to be put through a period of hot water bath in a canner as well. Look it up to find out. I know some people believe that home canning apple butter is not safe, however, my mom made it for years and we never had an issue. Ours was not super thick.

The Thousand Word Project – A Bowl Full of Sunset

 

Apple Pie Dish

This is one of our favorite desserts! It’s so easy to make and I personally like it better than regular apple pie – the top crust is almost like a cookie.  And, there is no rolling of a crust required!  It is very quick for a busy wife/mom to prepare if she already has canned apple pie filling.  (Thanks to Denise F., who first shared this recipe with us.)
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Apples (peel and slice enough to fill a 9-inch pie plate 2/3 full)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup melted butter (or 2/3 cup of oil) 3/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans taste best)
Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over apples. Mix together egg, sugar, flour, salt, and margarine, and nuts and spread over the apples. Bake 35 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure it is brown on the top and done in the middle. (I sometimes double this and put it in a 9 x 13).
Note: If you make your own apple pie filling this recipe takes one quart.  Canned apple pie filling makes this recipe super quick!
Also, you may wish to substitute half of the flour with whole wheat flour to improve the food value.  You could also reduce the sugar to 2/3 cup.  Try adding raisins or cranberries too!

Mary's Fake Caramel Dip

I invented some dip tonight after looking online for a recipe for caramel dip for apples and realizing that I didn't have time or the ingredients to make "the real thing".  It turned out really well, if I do say so myself.  My husband, Peter, and I had eaten a fairly large dinner in the middle of the afternoon so we weren't very hungry tonight.  I thought a nice plate of apple and cheese slices, some crackers and pretzels and some caramel dip would be just about right.  It was.

Here's the recipe for the dip.

Quick "Caramel" Fruit Dip

2/3 C. sour cream

2 Tbs. packed brown sugar

Slightly more than 1/2 tsp. of vanilla

1/2 tsp. of lemon juice

Mix all ingredients till brown sugar is dissolved.  Add more sweetening (artificial, sugar, stevia, etc.) if it isn't sweet enough for you.

Makes 2-3 servings