Fried Apple Spirals

Who doesn’t love fried food. These fried goodies were a crowd pleasure taking 2nd place in the Sweet category. Congrats Ben!

Serves:  8

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Krusteaz belgian waffle mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• optionally, add in some cinnamon
• 4-5 Apples.  (Granny Smiths, work well.   Fujis are okay)
• fair quantity of canola oil for frying

 

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix the waffle mix, cinnamon, water, and sugar until smooth.
2. Heat oil in a deep fryer.  If you do not have a deep fryer, a reasonably deep skillet will work.
3. Spiral and peel the apples.  If you don’t have an apple spiraler (and, really, why would you?), then peel the apples, core them, and cut into slices about 1/4 inch thick.
4. Coat the spirals/slices in batter, and deep fry until golden brown.
5. Serve warm, preferably with honey for drizzling.

Submitted by Ben L.

Apples & Honey Ice Cream

Entrying the Cook-off for the first Sarah took home the 1st place prize in the Sweet category with this melt-able delight. Scoring high marks in all 3 judging areas (presentation, taste, and originality) this dessert stood out from the rest.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 7 egg yolks, beaten
• 5 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 peeled, cored, and diced apples
• 1 1/4 cup sugar (yes, again)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Mix 1/4 cup sugar, the milk, salt, egg yolks, and honey into a saucepan and cook over medium heat while stirring constantly. Heat until just about boiling (but not completely boiling). Chill mixture in refrigerator uncovered until cool.
2. Mix whipping cream, the remaining 1 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla extract into the chilled milk and honey mixture.
3. Peel, core, and dice 6 medium-large apples. After dicing each apple, place the apple bits in a large ziplock bag with the lemon juice, to keep them fresh while you dice the rest of the apples.
4. Make sure that each apple is diced into small bits, so they don’t clog your ice cream maker.
5. Combine apples with the milk and honey mixture in your ice cream maker and follow the ice cream maker’s instructions.
6. After the ice cream maker has finished freezing and churning the ice cream, place into the freezer for at least 2 hours so that it can further harden.

Submitted by Sarah B.

Honey Roasted Peanuts

Looking for something to snack on? This succulent entry from Micki is a great to nosh on any time of day.

Makes 1lbs.

Ingredients:

• 1lbs raw peanuts
• 2.5 TBSp honey
• 1 1/2 TBSp map;e syrup
• 1.5 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 to 3 tbsp granulated sugar

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Measure honey, maple syrup and butter into glass measuring cup. Use more butter if using whipped butter. Add salt, vanilla and cinnamon. Microwave mixture for about 22 seconds until butter melts completely. Stir mixture with large spoon.
2. Pour heated honey syrup mixture over the nuts in the bowl. Stir nuts with a large spoon to coat with mixture.
3. Spread coated nuts on a large, un-greased baking sheet in a single layer. Use aluminum foil as a liner if you don’t want to scrub the baking sheet when you’re finished.
4. Bake coated peanuts at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, then remove nuts quickly and stir them around to event the coating. Return nuts to oven for another 5 to 7 minutes at 350 degrees until golden.
5. Remove honey-roasted peanuts from the oven and immediately transfer hot nuts to a large, clean mixing bowl. Sprinkle nuts with 2 to 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar while mixing with a large spoon. Sprinkle on additional salt to taste, if desired. Lets nuts cool and store in a glass or porcelain jar.

Submitted by Micki A.

Apple & Walnut Latkes

These latkes aren’t your normal potato variety and are best served warm. Thanks Ella for introducing us to these.

Makes 20 latkes

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups flour
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 3 Apples
• 2 whisked eggs
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1/3 chopped walnuts
• 6 Tablespoons oil for cooking

Directions:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together. Mix.
2. Core the apples and grate apples on a coarse grater.
3. Add the eggs and tablespoons of oil to the grated apples, mix.
4. Add the flour and and walnuts to the mixture, mix.
5. Simmer the cooking oil in a pan until hot, drop latkes mix by tablespoonfuls. Fry until golden brown.
6. Serve hot with a sprinkle of sugar/cinnamon, or sour cream.

Submitted by Ella G.

Apple-Crusted Salmon

For those that are fish lovers this cook-off entry is for you.

This recipe was found at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1607

 

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups apple juice or apple cider 
• 1/2 cup orange juice 
• 2 1/2 tablespoons honey 
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 
• 1 1/2 to 2 apples* 
• 2 pounds salmon fillet, skin removed 
• Pinch of salt and pepper 
• Sprinkle of oil (on bottom of roasting pan) 
• 1/4 cup loosely packed brown sugar 

*A non-tart variety of apple is preferred for this dish, but your favorite apple variety can certainly be used; use one green and one red-skinned variety for a more colorful presentation.

Directions:

1. Prepare marinade by whisking together apple juice, orange juice, honey, mint, chives, salt and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
2. Core apples using an apple corer or a small paring knife, then slice apples into rings as thin as possible (about 1/8-inch or less). Use a mandoline if you have it, otherwise a good sharp knife will do fine. Place sliced apples into marinade and let them marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of two hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Sprinkle entire surface of salmon lightly with salt and pepper and place it, skin-side down, in a lightly-oiled roasting pan. Remove apples from marinade and place them carefully on salmon, shingling them like scales from one end to the other. If you are using both red and green-skinned apples, alternate colors as you shingle slices. Sprinkle brown sugar over apples.
4. Roast for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. When finished, pour juices from the roasting pan over fish before serving.

Submitted by Aleeza A.

Grilled Apple & Swiss/Brie Sandwich

Nicole also took 3rd place in the Savory category with this fun sandwich oozing with yummy.

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole wheat bread
• 1 ½  tsp. olive oil
• ½ Granny Smith apple – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• ¼ cup Brie

Directions:

1. Preheat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Lightly brush one side of each slice of bread with the olive oil.
3. Place 1 slice of bread, olive oil side down into the skillet, and arrange the apple slices evenly over the top.
4. Sprinkle the Swiss and brie cheese over the apple, then top with the remaining slice of bread, olive oil-side up.
5. Cook until the bread is golden brown, then flip the sandwich over, and cook until the other side is golden brown and the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 more minutes.

Submitted by Nicole P.

Jalapeno Honey Cheese Ganache Atop Apples

This dish packs a punch, but was a winner with our crowd. It took 2nd place in the Savory category at the 4th Annual Apples & Honey Cook-off. Thanks to Nicole, a first time entrant for this treat.

Ingredients:

• 8 apples/crackers
• 1 jar of jalapenos
• 2 (8 oz) bars cream cheese
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

1. Bring skillet to low/medium heat.
2. Add cream cheese to skillet and stir occasionally.  Be sure to not burn the cheese.
3. In a food processor, blend 6 whole jalapenos that have been de-seeded.
4. Once cheese melts add in jalapeno puree, honey and sugar and mix together.
5. Then place mixture into glass container and refrigerate for 24 hours before consuming.
6. Then place atop sliced apples or crackers.

Submitted by Nicole P.

Veggie Lumpia with Soy Honey Dipping Sauce

This dish took 1st place in our Savory category at the 4th Annual Apples & Honey Cook-off. Mazel Tov Shanda on holding onto the title in this category for the 2nd year in a row.

Makes 30 pieces

Veggie Lumpia

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup minced carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
• 1/2 cup julienned green apples
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 30 lumpia wrappers
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

1. Place a wok or large skillet over high heat, and pour in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Cook garlic and onion in the pan for 2 minutes. Stir in the, carrots, green onions, cabbage and apples. Season with pepper, salt, garlic powder, and soy sauce. Remove from heat, and set aside until cool enough to handle.
2. Place three heaping tablespoons of the filling diagonally near one corner of each wrapper, leaving a 1 1/2 inch space at both ends. Fold the side along the length of the filling over the filling, tuck in both ends, and roll neatly. Keep the roll tight as you assemble. Moisten the other side of the wrapper with water to seal the edge. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap to retain moisture.
3. Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat, add oil to 1/2 inch depth, and heat for 5 minutes. Slide 3 or 4 lumpia into the oil. Fry the rolls for 1 to 2 minutes, until all sides are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

Soy Honey Lumpia Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 c. honey
• 3 c. water
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. In a saucepan boil the water and honey until combined.
2. Separately take some of the water, soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch, and the salt and mix into a paste.
3. Add the paste to the sugar and water mixture and stir.
4. Once completely mixed add the crushed garlic and stir over heat until thick.

Submitted by Shanda K.