Cranberry Apple Marsala....

The cranberries are exceptional this year.  There is such a distinct flavor difference between the bagged super market cranberries and the locally grown berries. It's almost as if they had a little bit of a sparkle to them. Anyway, with three pounds to use I went straight to the cranberry experts,  Ocean Spray Cranberry.  This recipe sounded delicious and easy.  I did however make quite a few modifications to the Ocean Spray recipe.  I used floured pork instead of plain chicken, fresh cranberries rather than dried, apple cider because I forgot to buy apple jelly and then took it upon myself to add the mustard and raw sugar.  Everyone loved it.


INGREDIENTS

• 4 boneless, center cut pork chops sliced in half as if your were making cutlets.  So tip to tail.. 
• 1 cup flour 
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup Marsala wine
• 1/3 cup apple cider
• 2 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 1 tbsp. raw sugar
• 3 apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 slices (any variety will do)
• 1 cup fresh cranberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Season the flour with salt and pepper.  Dredge the pork cutlets lightly in the flour. Melt the butter along with the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.  Add the pork and cook 3 or 4 minutes per side.  Remove to a warm platter in the oven to keep warm.  I put my oven on 190 degrees.
2. Stir in wine, cider, mustard, apples, raw sugar and fresh cranberries.  Bring to a boil all the while scraping any brown bits of the bottom of the pan.  Reduce heat and return pork to the pan for 2 or 3 minutes to finish cooking.  Here is my version.  Enjoy!

 I was so busy taking the photo I forgot to pour the delicious sauce over the top. That's the best part!!

Baked Apple Oatmeal.....

 
There is a reason I only buy Macintosh scented candles and if you've ever walked through an apple orchard when its harvest time,  you'll understand why that is.  The fragrance of the orchard is intoxicating.  I made my annual fall trek to the orchards with Kerry the lovely, my oldest sons girlfriend.  Kerry was kind enough to come home from school for the weekend and accompany me to Brookdale Farms.  This is our third season going together and do we ever have fun. We always pick huge bags of apples so there is always plenty to eat and plenty to bake with.  Soooo....instead of baking up a dessert storm,  I thought for a change of pace, I might try this baked breakfast masterpiece.  This delicious, filling oatmeal treat is why I love to cook.  You can take the most ordinary ingredients throw it all in a casserole and the results are extraordinary. Baked Apple Oatmeal is very close to a deconstructed Apple Crisp, but healthier.

If you are a fan of oatmeal you will absolutely love this easy to make breakfast delight. Oatmeal, brown sugar, dried cranberries, nuts, apples and cinnamon baked along with a few cups of milk.  Wow!!!   

Baked Apple Oatmeal is from a lovely blog I follow called    rita-may-recipes.blogspot.com . Pop over and visit Rita's blog for her recipe.  You will be so glad you did!!  Thank you Rita,  it exceeded my expectations.

An Apple A Day.........

Here are some fun facts about the humble apple:

• The Pilgrims  planted the first apple tree in the Bay Colony, now known as Massachusetts.
• One medium apple is roughly 81 calories.
• Apples are fat, sodium and cholesterol free.
• The average person eats 65 apples per year.
• The more apples a person eats the lower the risk is of developing lung cancer .
• Apples and apple juice are two of the best sources of the mineral boron, which may promote bone health.
• Because of apples high fiber content, the fruit's natural sugars are slowly released into the blood stream, helping maintain steady blood sugar levels
• Apple trees can live for over 100 years .
• More children prefer Honey Crisp apples than any other variety.
• Granny Smith apples are the most popular variety worldwide.
• It takes two pounds of apples to make an apple pie.

 Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? That's a question I don't have an answer to, but I do know apples are good for you, taste delicious and are fun to pick!!!

A is for..........

 

Do you think I have enough apples to make an apple pie?  My guess is yes.  There is another question that needs to be answered though.  How do I showcase these fall beauties while they wait to be eaten.  

There is the always elegant simple white bowl.

 

The very old fashioned Grandma's bowl.

The grab an apple from the basket by the gate (bowl).

Glamor them up  in some  BLING bowl.

Well, there seemed to be more than plenty of apples to make my pie and the best place to showcase them was baked right inside .