Apple Dip ~ yum!

I tried this recipe today and it's a winner and so easy!  This is the perfect fall snack.

Apple Dip
8 oz cream cheese, softened  (I used light)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract

Mix well with electric mix and refrigerate for a couple hours.  Serve with apple slices.

Enjoy!

*Easy* Apple Strudel

Seriously,  if I can make this strudel, you can make it too!  I recently came across 2 recipes for strudel using puff pastry.  This was my first time using puff pastry and it was pretty easy!  Below is the recipe I came up with after combining a bit from recipes I've read.  I'm thinking of adding this to our Thanksgiving menu.  The only problem I had was that I didn't great the cookie sheet - both recipes I read said there was enough butter in the pastry to keep it from sticking.  Well, mine slightly stuck.  So next time I think I'll put a light spray of PAM down.

1 sheet Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water
1 can apple pie filling
1 golden delicious apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Thaw pastry sheet at room temperature 30-45 minutes, until you're able to roll out. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll out the defrosted puff pastry to form a rectangle and lay on a lightly greased baking sheet.  I lightly floured the pastry before rolling.

Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll into 16x12-inch rectangle  (I didn't measure mine). Place apple slices down center of pastry. Spoon pie filling on top, stopping about an inch from sides.  Neatly fold up both ends to meet in the middle and seal with egg wash. Flip the strudel over on the baking sheet, so the seam side is laying flat down. Tuck ends under to seal. Brush top with egg mixture. Cut several 2-inch slits about 2 inches apart on top using serated knife.  Sprinke top with turbinado (raw) sugar.

Bake 35 minutes or until golden. Cool on baking sheet on wire rack 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Fall Recipes ~ Apple Bars

I found this recipe on allrecipes and it caught my attention because it was low-fat.  They turned out very moist and everyone loved them.  I added a chopped apple, but the original recipe did not call for that.  These were so good I think the next time I make them I'll omit the frosting.  The bars come out pretty thin, so if you want a thicker bar, use a smaller pan.   Enjoy  ♥

Apple Bars

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup applesauce
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (I used a combo of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves)
1 apple peeled and chopped  (I used a golden delicous)

Frosting:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in applesauce. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice; stir into the applesauce mixture until well blended. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are golden. Cool in the pan over a wire rack.

In a small bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar and margarine. Stir in vanilla and milk until smooth. Spread over cooled bars before cutting into squares.