Caramel Apple Crisp Skillet

A new favorite fall treat emerged in our household tonight. Please allow me walk you through the series of events that led to the creation of this decadent apple crisp.

First of all, apple crisp is one of my favorite fall desserts, so over the weekend I purchased some beautiful baking apples just for the purpose of constructing my mom's apple crisp.

Also over the weekend, I noticed a very distinct smell everytime I opened the pantry door. Once you've smelled this smell, even once, you always know just what it is: the smell of rotting potato. As soon as I noticed this stench, I quickly searched the potato bags in my pantry for the offending rotten potato. No luck. All of the potatoes in our pantry looked just fine. I quickly moved other items around in the pantry, making sure that a potato hadn't rolled off to die in peace elsewhere. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I gave up for the moment...optimistically hoping that the smell was either a) a figment of my imagination or b) would go away on it's own. But when I opened the pantry to grab for a box of cereal on Monday morning, the smell hit me again. Okay... it was time for action. I took everything out of our pantry. It was due for organization anyhow. I did finally find the source of the smell. Two liquefying potatoes left in a bag and wedged under some bread flour and flaxseed meal. How did those get there? Yuck! I wiped down the shelves and returned the items in neat rows and stacks. During the cleaning effort, I came across a whole, un-opened bag of caramels, stashed toward the back of my baking shelf. The sell by date was January 2010, but I deemed them safe after tasting one. I made a "note to self" to use them up in the next month or so and placed them next to the chocolate chips as I wrapped up "Operation Rotten Potato".

This morning, my oldest daughter wanted to call my mom to discuss her upcoming visit. I heard them talking (via speaker phone) about our weekend trip to an apple orchard. "That's fun." my mom noted. And then she asked, "So what did you and mommy make with the apples? Has your mommy made caramel apples with you yet?" My daughter loves the chance to "tell on me" to my mom and she quickly answered, "Nope. But I know that she has caramels...I saw them when she was cleaning the pantry yesterday." Arrgh. Caramel apples. Definitely not on my to-do list for the week. It's not that I dislike caramel apples. In fact, a caramel apple was the first food I requested when I got my braces off 18 years ago. But I don't really like to make caramel apples. They are messy to prepare and messy for kids to eat. Plus, my daughter has a loose tooth right now and in my mind's eye I could see myself picking her itty bitty baby tooth out of a caramel apple after like, the second bite. Gross! I stopped eavesdropping and crossed the room to change/end the conversation. "It's your sister's turn to talk to grandma. Say goodbye!"

Once everyone had talked to grandma, I set about washing the breakfast dishes. The basket of fresh picked apples next to the sink kept staring back at me. I started thinking...caramel apples...apple crisp...caramel apples...apple crisp. And then it hit me: Caramel Apple Crisp! Now that could be good. Bonus: loose baby teeth rarely stick in baked apples.

Here's what I did:

First I decided to use my iron skillet, since I've never baked a crisp in my newly acquired iron skillet. I sliced about 6 cups of apples into the skillet. I used both Macintosh and Granny Smith apples. The tart Granny Smith apples worked nicely here against the sweetness of the caramel and the brown sugar crisp topping.



Then I unwrapped half a bag (or a little more) of Kraft caramels and transferred them to a microwave safe dish. Before melting, I added 2 tablespoons of water. Then I microwaved the caramels for about 2 minutes and stirred the mixture until smooth.



I poured the melted caramel over the top of the apples in the skillet...



until the apples were evenly coated.



Mmmm. A classic combination: apples and caramel.



Next, I combined some flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl. Once the dry ingredients were stirred together, I used a pastry cutter to cut in 6 tablespoons of butter, until the mixture resembled coarse crumbs. (I forgot to take a picture of this step).



Sprinkle the topping over the apples and caramel.



Even out the topping so that all of the apples are covered, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes OR...



until the apples are tender, the topping is golden brown, and the edges are bubbly.

With the realization that my jeans were already feeling a little snug today and this dessert was probably the last thing that I needed after a cube steak and potatoes dinner, I was feeling a little obnoxious. So... I melted another 10 pieces of caramel and drizzled them over the top of this dessert. I know that this wasn't a healthy response to my predicament/emotions...but it worked for me tonight.



Now the only thing left to do was DIG IN!



Experience tells me that apple crisp is best served warm, alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.



Experience doesn't lie.

Caramel Apple Crisp

6 cups sliced peeled baking apples
25-30 caramels
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut up
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup quick oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
additional melted caramels and water for drizzling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place apples in the bottom of a 10-inch cast iron skillet or baking pan. Combine caramels and water. Melt in the microwave for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes and stir until smooth. Pour melted caramel over the sliced apples. Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping mixture over the apples and caramel, spreading evenly. Bake for 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown, the apples are tender, and the sides are bubbling. Top with additional melted caramel, if desired. Serve warm with ice cream.

For a printable copy of this recipe, please click here!

Meal Plan and Grocery List 10/11-10/17

It's a busy October week for our little family, so as I sat down to plan these meals, a theme emerged: Easy Fall Food. This meal plan features squash, 2 slow cooker dinners, pumpkin soup, and one of our favorite pizzas. Delicious, hearty, quick dinners that are perfect for the season. Enjoy!

Monday October 11th

Baked Acorn Squash with Sausage

Tuesday October 12th

Cubed Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Wednesday October 13th

Pumpkin Corn Soup

Thursday October 14th

Leftovers

Friday October 15th

Bacon, Onion, and Mushroom Pizza

Saturday October 16th

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

Sunday October 17th

Burgers on the Grill (weather permitting)
or Leftovers again



Grocery List

Produce

2 acorn squash
4 onions
sweet red pepper
jalapeno pepper
10 cloves garlic
lime
mushrooms
flat leaf parsley

Meat

1 lb. bulk sausage
2 lbs. cubed steak
bacon
4 to 4 1/2 lbs beef short ribs

Dairy

butter
11 oz. can French bread dough
6 oz. shredded white cheddar

Canned Goods

cream of mushroom soup
30 oz. vegetable or chicken broth
15 oz. solid pack pumpkin
olive oil
beef broth
red wine vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
ketchup

Dry Goods

brown sugar
cinnamon
nutmeg
beef bouillon
chili powder
cayenne pepper
corn meal
flour

Freezer

2 cups corn


Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend!

The Lobster House and Scenery from The Jersey Shore

We've returned home safely from our travels along the Jersey Shore. Not much is cooking in my kitchen yet, I need to make a meal plan and re-stock our fridge and pantry this weekend. While I gear up for a week of some fall cooking favorites, I thought I'd share some pictures from our last days in Jersey.

On Tuesday we departed our Atlantic City Boardwalk hotel room and headed South on the Garden State Parkway for the lovely seashore town of Cape May. With her variety of beaches, whale and dolphin watching tours, Victorian architecture, Bed and Breakfasts, cute shops and eateries, and East Coast Charm, I believe that Cape May truly is the "Queen of Seaside Resorts". Even on a dreary, rainy, Tuesday during the off-season, I found Cape May to be enchanting.

Of course, first on my agenda for the day was lunch. On the way into Cape May we stopped at Fisherman's Wharf on Cape May Harbor; home to The Lobster House and Fish Market. Here you can actually watch the seafood being unloaded from the boats and hauled into the establishment to be turned into steaming plates of your favorite seafood dinner. Talk about fresh! They also have outdoor seating, a walk up raw bar, AND you can eat on a schooner right in the harbor! Not that we did any of these things since the weather was not in our favor, but if I ever get back...

We opted for lunch 1) because we were hungry and 2) because the lunch portions are very hearty and much less expensive than dinner.

A friendly waitress took our order then brought us this delicious loaf of warm bread (excellent flavor, crusty on the outside, super soft on the inside) and a tub of butter.



Because we were "starving", we ordered an appetizer. We went with the calamari. It was pretty good. As we were eating our appetizer we looked around the large, crowded restaurant and noticed that just about everyone had a crock of soup in front of them. Their chowder must be a favorite. Next time, we'll skip the appetizer and order soup. I bet that bread would be amazing for sopping some chowder out of the bowl.



I had every intention of ordering lobster at The Lobster House, but then I spotted a combination platter that would allow me to try the flounder, shrimp, scallops, a crab casserole, and a clam dish. I could try more of their dishes for less than the price of one lobster! Oh yeah! I couldn't resist. All in all, the food was delicious. The shrimp and the scallops were a tad overcooked...but that's better than undercooked, so I'm not complaining. My husband ordered a seafood pasta dish and received a generous portion. Meals come with either a salad or two sides. We both ordered a salad but, even with the lighter choice of sides, neither of us could finish our lunch. We were stuffed!



Satisfied with lunch and the reasonable check settled, we headed out to the pier to check out the fishing boats.




Right at the end of this pier is where The Lobster House unloads the fresh seafood for their restaurant and...



the fish market.



Bellies full, we pushed on to the charming seaside town of Cape May. We parked next to the Washington Street Mall (free parking during the off season!) and window shopped at a number of lovely boutiques and specialty shops. The area was decorated beautifully for the fall season. Lovely atmosphere and fun shops! After we'd seen what the stores had to offer, we walked the streets, admiring all of the colorful Victorian houses, and then made our way to the beach for an afternoon stroll.



Eventually we hopped back in the car to explore the rest of the area. We visited the lighthouse.



And a nearby WWII bunker on the beach.



Then we made our way down to the Southernmost tip of New Jersey, Sunset Beach, where we saw the wreckage of the SS Atlantus, a concrete ship that has been stuck off the coast of Sunset Beach since 1926.



We walked the pebble-laden strip of the beach, doing what many other visitors were doing...



looking for Cape May diamonds. Can YOU spot one?



They look like this:



They're not really diamonds at all, just quartz pebbles that can be polished and cut to look like diamonds. They come all the way from the upper reaches of the Delaware River and the tides eventually deliver them, in abundance, on this beach. It's a journey that takes thousands of years to complete. Not only can you find these quartz pebbles on the beach, but the occasional shark tooth fossil or Indian arrowhead also wash ashore. You can check out Sunset Beach and a review of the other beaches at Cape May HERE.

Ideally, we would have watched the sunset from Sunset Beach. According to all of the literature and the locals, this beach offers an unobstructed view of sunsets over the Delaware Bay. Supposedly, atmospheric conditions caused by the inter-action of sea breezes across the bay waters create spectacular colors as the sun sinks below the horizon. Unfortunately, on this blustery day, this one bit of sunshine breaking through the clouds was all we were gonna get.



And so...we headed back to Atlantic City, tempting us with the comfort of our warm, dry room, WiFi and cable television.

Finally, on the morning of our last full day on the Jersey Shore, the sun decided to shine again. I grabbed my camera and spent a few hours walking the pretty beach and collecting an impressive selection of shells and sea glass that the 3 days of storms had dredged up from the depths of the ocean.

Here are some pics that I snapped of the beach at Atlantic City:













Did I mention that there are a LOT of birds in Atlantic City?



And shells...I hauled home a ton of shells for our kiddos.

I just love the way that the sunlight was dancing off the water and shells in this photo...




On our final night in Atlantic City, we hit the boardwalk for some pizza and then the casinos for a couple of hours of gambling. (Excellent restraint on the part of my husband after a week in a gambling town.) When we broke even (or maybe just a little less than even) we cashed out and sought out The Irish Pub again for a bedtime snack.

This is the same pub from my first post about Atlantic City. A super cozy, friendly, oasis just off of the boardwalk, and conveniently right next to our hotel.



Built in 1900 and lovingly restored by the owners of the pub, this place is dangerously inviting. If you look closely, you can still read the old newspaper articles on the papers that were used to cover the ceilings.



This is the place where I met "The Leprechaun".



And our bedtime snack? We split this order of St. James Potatoes, which is really just steak fries smothered in a savory homemade carmelized onion gravy and melted farm fresh white cheddar. All for 4 bucks. Some of the best bar food...EVER!



The next morning we packed our bags, hopped in the mini van, drove across the seemingly endless Pennsylvania Turnpike, and we were hugging our sweet daughters before their bedtime.

It's good to get away, but it's always good to come home.

Thanks for reading about our Jersey Shore Adventure!

Philly Cheesesteak Adventure

Yesterday my husband and I decided to explore The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia is a centerpiece of early American history, and served as the host to many of the ideas and actions that gave birth to the American Revolution and independence. Although the weather yesterday was downright miserable-cold, rainy, and windy, we didn't let it dampen our spirits or amend our planned itinerary.

First stop, Old City where we saw the famed Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, and the birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, Independence Hall.



Oh, and we visited Benjamin Franklin's grave too. Please, don't hate on the poncho. Some of you may opt for the more fashionable, socially acceptable umbrella. But when the rain is coming in sideways and the driving wind is chilling to the bone, the poncho is by far superior...no matter how "dorky".



After Old City, we headed for the Philadelphia Museum of Art- but not to look at the paintings and sculptures, although I am told that the collection at the museum is wonderful. Also, if it's not pouring down rain, the gardens next to the museum and Boat House Row are very nice areas to explore as well. However, my intentions at the museum were purely a pop cultural obsession on our tour of the city. You see, I have watched every single Rocky movie. More than once. Well, the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps are the very same steps that Sylvester Stallone (aka Rocky Balboa) conquered when training for his fights. I just had to reinact that moment on "The Rocky Steps". (In case you've never seen this movie, HERE is that famous scene.)

And so that's just what I did. Can you see me, all triumphant, at the top?



If not, here's a closer look...



I may have been a little too excited about this whole Rocky thing. Just maybe....


After all of the history (and running up steps), we had worked up and appetite. Of course, since we were in Philly, you can bet that we were hunting down some cheesesteaks! If you've seen the coverage on The Food Network or Food Wars on The Travel Channel, then you've heard of the rivalry between Geno's and Pat's which are conveniently located right across from one another at the intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue in South Philly. We parked 9 blocks away and walked through the Italian Market, the oldest and largest working outdoor market in the United States. Pretty much a foodie's field trip dream come true!

With my jeans soaked up to the knees and blisters forming on my heels, we spotted Geno's looking like a neon-lit oasis on the horizon.



This certainly isn't my favorite picture of myself (all rain-sodden and sleep deprived) , but I have to include it, because here I am with Geno himself! Famous as this establishment has become, Geno still hands off the cheesesteaks at the window. Pretty cool!



A fun bit of trivia: Geno didn't actually start Geno's. His dad, Joe Vento started the business back in 1966. As it turned out, there was already a Joe's Steak Place in the city. Joe had to come up with a new name. A neighborhood kid had written his name "Gino" on a back door to the store. Joe changed the spelling to "Geno" and went with it. When Joe's son was born 5 years later, he and his wife named him after the business.

My husband and I split a Whiz (that's Cheese Whiz, folks) wit onions. No, I didn't mis-spell "with". That's the way you say it in Philly.



Then we crossed the street for Pat's King of Steaks. Definitely less flashy, but don't let that fool you. Pat's claims the title of "the originator of the steak sandwich". Straight from their website, "Pat's King of Steaks® was founded by Pat Olivieri in 1930. Pat had a modest hot-dog stand at the base of the famous Italian Market in South Philadelphia. One day he decided to have something quite different for lunch, so he sent for some chopped meat from the butcher shop. He cooked the meat on his hot dog grill, placed the meat onto an Italian roll, and dressed it with some onions. Just as he went to take a bite, a cab driver who ate a hot dog everyday asked what he had there. Pat said that it was his lunch. The cabbie insisted that Pat make him one. The cabbie took one bite and said to Pat, "Hey.....forget 'bout those hot dogs, you should sell these." The steak sandwich was born. As the years passed, both employees and customers alike demanded change..cheese was added."



Pat's actually posts the rules for ordering outside of their establishment. Hey-the lines can get pretty long...no time for debate or fumbling for change at the window! I had been warned of ordering procedure by some native Philadelphians that I met in Atlantic City this week, so I rehearsed the order in my head while my hubby counted out our cash before we approached the window!



Cheesesteak in hand (ordered exactly the same as the one we consumed at Geno's) we located a table. Note: there is only outdoor seating available at both establishments.



The verdict: Both cheesesteaks were pretty similar in taste...but my husband and I agreed upon a winner....Pat's King of Steaks!



Now for a more detailed analysis:

Admittedly, both cheesesteaks are pretty similar in taste. The biggest difference: the way that the meat is sliced. At first I was trying to put my finger on it, then I read this article on Associated Content stating the following:

"Both establishments use the same ingredients; however the way they prepare the meat is different. Geno's on one hand slices their meat in the fashion gyro meat is sliced. Pat's on the other hand, slice their meat like what you would expect in any cheese steak. The taste is not affected by this, but the tenderness is."

Honestly, my husband and I both preferred the texture of Geno's meat. Pat's meat definitely had more of a "steak" texture, but for me that meant one or two bites had chewier meat (and maybe even a bite of fat). Still, as we hovered over Pat's sandwich...about 2 bites in...I said, "I think that this one has just a little more flavor." To which my husband responded, "I think you're right."(Oh how I love those 4 seldom heard words!) Another edge in the Geno's vs. Pat's rivalry: My husband (being a connoisseur of hot sauce), used the hot sauce offered at each establishment to top his half of the cheesesteaks. I tasted a sample of each hot sauce from his sandwiches. We both agree: Geno's hot sauce was a bit overwhelming heat-wise, while Pat's hot sauce had more depth of flavor and added to the sandwich. Instead of hot sauce on my sandwiches, I opted for cherry peppers (complimentary toppings at both restaurants). These were same-same. My tip: If you crave a little more heat on your sammie, bite open a pepper and then either drip the pepper juice directly onto your sandwich or squeeze it onto the paper for dipping.

The bottom line is that both Geno's and Pat's serve a delicious cheesesteak and you can't go wrong with either, but yesterday, for us, Pat's won!

We're not the only people that hold this opinion. As proof, I conclude this post with a funny Atlantic City story: After a cold, rainy day in Philly, we sought refuge in that cozy Irish Pub back in Atlantic City that I mentioned in my last post. We bellied up to the bar for a nightcap next to a short, burly, red-headed man with what I can only describe as unruly mutton chops. He struck up a conversation with "How was your day?" or something like that. We ended up telling him where we'd been and started talking Philly cheesesteaks...which eventually led to the fact that I am a food blogger. "Oh, so did you go to culinary school?" the stocky fellow inquired. I explained my background and then he shared that he had attended cooking school in Philadelphia. Next, I stated a question/observation, "So you're a chef?" I was certainly not prepared for his response: "No. I'm a leprechaun." I tried very hard to keep a straight face as I proceeded with my next line of questioning (which I won't burden you with here). Bottom line: the man is a leprechaun. A professional (and even successful) leprechaun. 34 years running. Famous, even. I don't know why I doubted him, he certainly looked the part. He even showed me print ads of his work. Willie the Leprechaun. Wow. You can bet that I'm really kicking myself for dropping my camera off in the room before heading to the pub. I would love to provide proof. It's certainly not everyday that one meets a leprechaun.

Anyhow, while I was talking Philly Cheesesteak and the fact that we thought that Pat's had slightly more flavor with "The Leprechaun", the bartender jumped in with, "Pat's definitely had more flavor!" After a few more observations from the bartender, it was clear that he had picked a favorite: Pat's King of Steaks.

So, that's my funny Atlantic City story, we spent last evening in the company of a leprechaun. I haven't gambled here yet, but let's hope some of his luck has rubbed off!


Hope you are all having a wonderful week! And if you ever get the chance, visit Philadelphia and do the cheesesteak challenge for yourself!

Gluttony in Atlantic City

I'm sitting here typing and watching the angry Atlantic crash against the beach and roll almost all the way up to the slippery boardwalk on this stormy fall night. This is such different scenery from the Midwestern suburbia backyard backdrop that I am accustomed to taking in as I look up from the laptop screen when I write a post. My husband and I are vacationing in Atlantic City, NJ. It's a little like Vegas...you know, because of the casinos. But in my opinion, that's where the similarities end. For example, rather than being smack in the middle of a desert, Atlantic City is a beach town. Instead of the strip, there's a boardwalk. Instead of taxis, there are push carts (kind of like a rickshaw). I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I found this post about Atlantic City on Littleviews travel blog that shows pics of the pushcarts and other Atlantic City Boardwalk scenery.

Luckily, Atlantic City lends itself to a good deal of walking (much needed exercise after the amount of junk that I have consumed in the past 24 hours!) My husband and I slapped on our running shoes and hit the beach and boardwalk for almost 2 hours yesterday afternoon (while the weather was still beautiful here). Of course, we reversed the benefits of all of that healthy activity as we split a GIANT slice of Buffalo Chicken pizza and an order of cheesy fries from the food stand next to our hotel. This may be the least healthy dinner that I have ever consumed. Unless you can count the hot peppers used to make the wing sauce for the pizza, there wasn't a veggie or fruit in sight!



After a late night out, we rolled out of bed and headed for a breakfast buffet. Actually, we strategically planned our buffet visit, showing up just as breakfast was ending and lunch was beginning, thus enjoying both meals in one sitting. Aren't we savvy? My husband loves a buffet and I do not. In my opinion, quality loses out to quantity on most buffet lines. Still, we each got to choose one "big" meal for this trip and this was his, so I didn't complain for a second. I have to say that Caesar's casino does the buffet right. Sure, I could find fault with the powdered eggs and over-salted gravy, but with most selections on their expansive buffet, Caesar's has found a way to achieve quality AND quantity. Kudos to them. Here is my (first) plate. Mostly breakfast stuff, plus some sesame noodles and fried chicken. Subsequent plates included a variety of seafood, lamb with a rosemary gravy, veal, and Asian selections- everything from steamed dumplings and shumai to fried rice. Serious gluttony.



The highlight of the buffet for me was the visually tantalizing dessert bar. The display was well done and absolutely decadent!



Just check out these cupcakes and pastries!



I might be proud that I exercised some restraint when it came to dessert, settling for a tiny scoop of bread pudding, a shot glass of tiramisu, a lovely little pistachio pound cake with pistachio frosting, and a black forest chocolate mousse, but the truth is, I just didn't have room in my belly for more. In fact, after a bite or two of each, I wastefully pushed my plate aside and considered unbuttoning my jeans to create room for the ol' muffin top.



After a miserable walk back to our room, I fell into bed for 3 whole hours! Food coma. Then I got up and hit the gym. Actually, I first attempted to walk the beach, but after I fought my way through the blasting wind and the driving rain and stood at the edge of the beach, I realized that the water was so high that there was no place for me to walk. I gladly hit the warm, dry fitness room.

It's hard to believe it, after the massive quantity of food I consumed at the buffet, but I was hungry again at dinner time. Last night, my husband and I discovered an Irish pub, right next to our hotel. It's warm and cozy and friendly. The food is really good and fairly cheap. I had their meatloaf special with caramelized onion gravy for dinner and I was both impressed and stuffed when I waddled out the door. Two of us ate and drank for about 20 bucks tonight! Can't beat that for good food, service, and atmosphere. They also have a really nice patio with a bistro menu. If you're ever in Atlantic City, The Irish Pub gets my recommendation. They also have an inn above the pub. During the week, you can stay for just $55 a night. Not too shabby!



Tomorrow we're heading in to Philadelphia, so look for my quest for the best of those notorious Philly Cheesesteaks coming soon!