Apples, Apples, Apples

I was gifted a big bag of apples earlier this week.  Kind of exciting since we got our first bit of fall weather this week after a super hot summer. Fall weather really gets me in the mood for apple filled dishes.

I decided to use most of them to make some crockpot applesauce.  Gretchen loves applesauce and while I don't care for it out of a jar, homemade it is great!  I looked around the internet at crockpot recipes then just decided to add 4 TBSP of lemon juice and 3 cinnamon sticks to a crockpot 3/4 of the way filled with peeled and sliced apples.  Turned it to high for a couple of hours then low for 3 or 4 more hours, stirring every once in a while.  That was it, plenty sweet with no added sugar and high on cinnamon flavor.

For dinner that night to go with our applesauce I made apple pancakes using a standard pancake recipe I added about 1 cup chopped apples.  I also switched out the while flour for whole wheat.  Turkey bacon on the side.  Meal of the week.

Last up a couple of days later with my 2 remaining apples I made an apple cake.  I started with this apple coffee cake recipe but only really looked at the ingredients then did my own thing.

Apple Cake

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

mixed together

In a separate bowl

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup skim milk

5 1/2 TBSP melted butter

mixed together then added to dry ingredients

stir in 2 cups chopped apples and 1/3 cup shredded coconut

pour into a greased 8X8 baking dish

sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

bake at 375˚  for about 30 minutes

It turned out great, perfect with coffee or milk.