FACTS ABOUT FILLING

Good morning everyone.  I thought today I'd share a couple of helpful hints and tricks.  The first one covers facts about filling. 
Sometimes when fresh fruit is plentiful and you don't have the time to make an entire pie, try this:


Mix the fruit as you would in preparing a pie.  Put the pie filling in several pie pans lined with waxed paper or aluminum foil.  Cover and freeze.  When you have time to prepare crusts or if you want to fill a frozen pie crust, just pop your pie-shaped fillings into the crust and bake.

**Add a spoonful of tapioca to pie fillings that contain especially juicy fruits.  The tapioca absorbs the excess juice and keeps the filling in the crust.

For more helpful hints and tips be sure to sign up for our newsletter on the right opt-in form.  We won't bug you (much) but we will give you more hints and tricks over the upcoming weeks and months.

Talk again soon.  Steve and Kim

CARAMELIZED GLAZED APPLE CAKE

I've been craving apple cake lately have been digging around for recipes. I remembered this one from the Costco magazine that I made two or three times last year.

No, it is not good for you. Yes, it is absolutely delicious. I also tried it with pears, and maybe even liked it better.

Caramel-Glazed Apple Cake 
 

1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
5 Granny Smith apples
1 1/4 cup chopped pecans and walnuts
2 1/4 tsp vanilla

Caramel Glaze
4 T butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325. Butter and flour and a 9x13 pan (Or 2 8x8 pans).
Beat sugars and oil until well blended. Add eggs one at a time. Sift dry ingredients together and add to egg mixture until just blended. Stir in apples, nuts, and vanilla. Pour in pan(s).

Bake for 50-75 minutes (mine was about 60). Let cool in pan while preparing glaze.
Glaze: Melt better over low heat. Stir in sugars over med-low and cook for 2 minutes. Add cream and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Stir constantly.

Poke holes in cake with skewer or toothpick. Pour glaze over the cake. Serve warm and top with whipped cream or ice cream.

Apple Pie Pork Chops

I know this sounds like something you would NEVER put into your mouth. But if you don't, you'll be missing one of the very best pork chop recipes I've ever tried. At least try it once!

INGREDIENTS:

4-6 thick center-cut pork chops
1 can of apple pie filling
Your favorite BBQ sauce.

PREPARTATION:

Place the contents of the apple pie filling into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan (I prefer glass).
On top of the filling place the pork chops
Cover the pork chops with a generous coating of your favorite BBQ sauce.
Cover with aluminum foil and poke a few small holes in the top to allow the steam to escape during baking.
In a 300 degree oven place the pan on the middle shelf. Allow to cook approximately 3 hours or until the pork chops are thoroughly cooked through. Remove from the oven and enjoy this great meal.

Come on you porkers, get cooking!
Steve and Kim