Embarrassingly Easy Apple Turnovers

Ridiculously, embarrassingly easy Apple Turnovers

It's officially Fall, with bright leaves, cool air, and rain.  This prompts my urge to bake things.  It's a mixed blessing, because I would much rather try my hand at some odd confection at the spur of the moment than make a meal that will feed my family.  Or I get the urge, as I did last night, to make "something to do with apples" after 9 PM.

So, without a real plan, I started peeling and slicing 2 Granny Smith apples, while helping Lizzie finish her bedtime snack.  Then I dug out some rock-hard raisins and added them to the bowl of apples.  Then I threw them in a small saucepan, and gave Lizzie her toothbrush.  It needed a little liquid--apple juice.  Probably a quarter cup.  And some spices.  Cinnamon.  A tiny shake of cloves.  It smelled too much like apple sauce, so in goes a couple heaping spoonfuls of brown sugar.  I turned on the heat, stirred it so the raisins were in the juice, and put Liz to bed. I kept it low, and stirred a few more times, until the apples were pretty tender - starting to look slightly transparent.  I added a spoonful of cornstarch because it seemed a little too runny.  Stirred and cooked some more.

Apple Turnover Filling

When the apples were done, I poured them into a bowl in the fridge because it was late and I didn't know what else to do with them.  Then I browsed cookbooks for things to put apple into.  I didn't have enough apples to make a pie, so I had to adapt everything.  Fortunately, I had a prepared pie crust in the refrigerator, awaiting some noble purpose. I found it.

This morning a 2 year old jumped on me and demanded that I "det up" and "pum" with her into the "yiving woom."  Since I was up, and in the living room, and the coffee was starting, I decided it was time to finish my apple experiment.

I pulled the pie crust out of the fridge and tended to diapers and coffee while it softened on the counter.  I preheated the oven to 425 F, and laid out a couple sheets of waxed paper and unrolled the pie crust.  Then I cut it into 4 equal quarters, and spread a dollop of apple stuff in the middle of each quarter.  I beat an egg and brushed it onto one straight edge and half the curved edge of the pie crust, then folded one side over the apple, and used the prongs of a fork to seal the crust edges together with the egg wash.  Once they were all folded over and closed up, I brushed them with the egg, then sprinkled them with a pinch of white sugar and a dash of cinnamon, to make them look perty.  I slid them onto an ungreased cookie sheet and into the oven they went, for almost 15 minutes, until they just started to get browned.  Then I turned the oven down to 350 F and baked them for just another 10 minutes, until they were golden and crispy.

 

Breakfast?  Works for me.

Isn't that easy?  Way too easy.  And it is completely delicious.

Adapted from the Joy of Cooking, here is a ridiculously easy Apple Turnover recipe:

(measurements are approximate)

2 baking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/4 c raisins
2 to 4 Tbsp apple juice (could use any fruit juice or water)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch cloves
1/2 to 1 tsp corn starch
2 prepared pie crusts
1 egg, beaten in small bowl
(additional sugar & cinnamon, optional)

Combine everything but corn starch, pie crusts, and egg in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Bring juice to a boil, then simmer until apples are tender and raisins are plump.  About 10-20 min.
Add corn starch, stir until dissolved.
Let apple filling cool.
Unroll pie crusts and cut into quarters.  Place a large spoonful of filling onto each crust quarter, then brush 1/2" with egg wash, and fold over, sealing crust by pressing edges with the tines of a fork.
Brush egg wash over the top of the turnovers.  Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar and cinnamon, and place on an ungreased baking sheet at least 1" apart.
Bake at 425F for 12-15 min, until slightly browned.  Reduce heat to 350F and continue to bake until turnovers are browned and crisp.
Remove from oven and serve warm.  Ice cream wouldn't hurt.


(linked to WFMW here)

New Orleans Beignets

A while back I got a craving for doughnuts.  But not just any doughnuts, I wanted Krispy Kreme.  (I do love that about being pregnant; I don't have to have any reason to crave something like doughnuts.)

No, I didn't make Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but I made something else--something similar--that was amazingly delicious. 

While searching for a method for stir-frying some vegetables and tofu for dinner, I got side-tracked in The Joy of Cooking.  I found myself in the "Doughnuts, Cruelers, and Pastries" section, debating whether or not I could make beignets.

I had never eaten a beignet before in my life.  But I'd heard good things about them, so it was worth a try.  (The stir-fry?  Yeah, whatever.) I ended up using the recipe from the Joy of Cooking.  It is very simple, and uses only minimal ingredients.  The dough is essentially a sweet yeast biscuit.  Fried.

It requires a bit of advanced planning, in that you mix the dough up the day before, and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. 



The next morning the hardest part is rolling the cold dough onto a floured surface while you wait for oil in a heavy pot to get hot enough to fry.  Even I can handle that.

One of the highlights of this experiment is how I discovered that the easiest way to cut the squares is with a pizza cutter.  Some people have biscuit cutters, but I'm not that fancy. 

It is super fun to watch them cook. They puff up while they cook, so they're almost like little doughnut balloons.  (That means fewer calories, right?  I mean, since they're mostly air . . . .)

Another highlight:  It's really no more labor-intensive than making waffles.  Of course, waffles don't involve deep frying, but can you imagine if they did?  Are the wheels turning in your head, too?  We may be on to something.

It only takes a matter of minutes for the dough to become delicious puffed fritters.  About 3 minutes for each batch.  If you're having a brunch, this would be a super impressive, and quick to serve, part of your menu.

 

Another thing I learned:  If you use a cheap candy thermometer, make sure you have it tied securely.  The string I was using rebelled and untied itself, so my thermometer went swimming in 300+ degree oil.  It took me a minute to figure out how to get it out (with tongs, then it was transferred to a big wad of paper towels).  Apparently the top of the thermometer was not meant to be submerged in oil.  Go figure.

That thermometer did sacrifice for a worthy cause.

See that section at about 2-3 o'clock?  Yeah, I ate those before I took the picture.  And then I ate several others.  They taste kind of like funnel cake.  Only, more delicious.  And you don't have to wait for the fair.

Have you ventured into trying something new?  Do tell!  Link up with Alicia's Try New Adventures, too!

Today in La Cocina de Chen

It's not often that I roll out not one but two restaurant-quality meals in one day.  It all started by my telling Sam, "I have steak, and we can either have it for lunch or for dinner, and I don't have 2 meals in me today, so choose when you want a good meal."  However, inspiration apparently struck.  I should have taken pictures.  I'm going to have to recreate these one day--soon.

We had steak for lunch.  Our afternoons tend to go much better if we're all well fed with a good lunch.  If only I had it in me to make a great lunch every day.

Skirt steak, seasoned with salt & pepper, cooked (in a glob of butter) on the cast iron skillet, served with:
Red onion marmalade: one red onion, thinly sliced, sauteed until tender, then cooked for just a few minutes with equal parts sugar and red wine vinegar (about 1 T each).  Trust me, it's an amazing garnish for steak.  And just about anything else you might want a sweet pickled vinaigretted (I just made that word up) onion flavor on.
Yellow rice (in the rice cooker: rice, chicken broth/water, a spoonful of ground turmeric, and a dash each of: oregano, coriander, and cumin), with the addition, when finished, of:
microwaved peas & carrots.

It was the most delicious and colorful and easy meal I've made in a long time.  The colors were remarkable.  The whole plate was beautiful. 

And for dinner, I wasn't feeling like making dinner, and our refrigerator had a strange hodge-podge of ingredients:
A somewhat questionable package of baby spinach, 5 eggs, half a package of bacon, half a package of hash browns and 3 overripe bananas.  Plus the leftover sauteed onions.

Brinner!  Of course!  No, there's no of course about it.  I was grasping at straws, and got lucky.

I mixed up a dozen banana nut muffins, omitting the nuts, and instead adding oat bran for a portion of the flour.  While those cooked, I threw bacon on a skillet and let it do its thing on low heat.  You can never go wrong having bacon cooked.
In the meantime, I browsed cookbooks.  There's not much to be made with the remaining 3 eggs.  So, one egg per person, and it has to count.
Once the bacon was done, I used the same pan (and the grease; don't judge me) to fry the hash browns.  Which were originally shaped like tater tots, but I overcrowded them and they fell apart, so they became hash browns.  Amazingly, the timing of everything came together at the end.

The assembled meal was such:

Spinach on plates.
Bacon crumbled (or not) on the spinach.
Onions on the spinach.  With, or without, salad dressing.
One egg, fried to order (or as it comes off the frying pan, and scrambled for the tot), atop the spinach.  (The tot's plate was sans spinach.  She did try it.  For a second.)
Hash browns on the side.
Amazing banana muffins to polish it all off.

Seriously, I've eaten 2-1/2 of the muffins.  They are that good.  I can't wait to be hungry again in the morning.

Sugar, coffee, cupcakes, and meal plan

We are completely out of sugar.  Completely out.  All gone.  We have honey, brown sugar, and confectioner's sugar, but none of those seem quite right to put in coffee.  And while pregnant, I need to have a bit of sugar in my coffee--the sugar cuts through the acidity and lets my stomach accept it.

We do, however, have sweetened whipped cream. Therefore, I am thoroughly enjoying my coffee today.

Last night we were at my parents' house to do our family birthday celebration (3 out of 5 of us have birthdays within a three-day spread in February).  It was fun, and I made the most amazingly delicious cupcakes ever.  If the camera battery were not completely dead, I would put a picture up.  But here is the recipe for Black Bottom Cupcakes from the Joy of Cooking. 

We didn't get in the car to go home until a little after ten PM, and within minutes Lizzie was out cold.  She slept while I got her out of the seat, woke up for a few seconds when I told her I would get her baby and her blanket (to which she said, "Please"), and didn't make a peep when I put her in the crib and removed her shoes.  Let me tell you, that has not happened in ... I would venture to say a year.  She slept all night long.    We had a full day yesterday, and she had no nap. 

My menu planning concept has been lost recently.  Sam working afternoon/closing shift more days than not has confused me when it comes to dinners.  It seems futile to make an entire meal for myself and a somewhat particular toddler.  Yet, having fewer real dinners makes for considerably fewer leftovers for him to eat for lunch before leaving for work.

So, this is the plan:
Real dinners:
- Baked Ziti
- Steak w/ marinated onions
- Pork chops w/ cabbage
- hamburgers/sliders
- something out of the freezer
- drive thru/out

Lunches:
- leftovers
- sandwiches (with some homemade bread?)
- quesadillas (I've been craving refried bean and cheese quesadillas almost daily lately!)

Breakfasts:
- waffles
- egg/sausage or Canadian bacon/cheese bagel sandwiches
- eggs, cereal, oatmeal... the usual.

Easiest Microwave Applesauce for One (or one and a half)

That one bruised apple

Around here, there is always at least one apple that has been thrown or dropped or gnawed on, that you don't want to toss out, but can't quite present it as a lovely specimen of fruit, either.  I almost called this "That One Bruised Apple Applesauce" because that's the true origination of this recipe.  That, and on PBS Kids several times this week Sid the Science Kid was learning about "change" and "irreversible change"--for example, when you cook an apple, you can't change it back to a raw apple.  Like when you make applesauce. 

So, guess who suddenly craved applesauce after watching Sid?  Yep, and Lizzie thought it was a great idea, too.

Total time: 5 minutes.
Cleanup requirements: virtually nothing to clean up
Difficulty level: if you can nuke it, you can make this

Well, you peel the apple.  The easiest way is to lob off the top and bottom, then slice down the sides.

Then you cube it, so each piece is approximately the same size - I did dice-sized cubes.  Throw the cubes in a microwave-safe bowl.

Then you add a dribble of water.  I've done this with and without water, and it works out about the same either way.

Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high.

(Or 1:54 minutes, but that's up to you.)

 (Actually, if you use more than one apple, or if it's a big baking apple, like a Granny Smith, for instance, you may need to let it cook a little longer.)

While you wait for the microwave to ding, sing a silly song.  (optional)

Mash the cooked apple cubes with a fork, and add a dash of cinnamon. 

 

Once it's cool enough to handle, serve at once to your young scientist.

Enjoy!

Sischuan Spicy Eggplant

 

"It tastes just right." Be still my beating heart! It is intimidating to cook Chinese food for my husband, raised by a Chinese mother who can cook the socks off anyone I know. For him to tell me it tastes just right is gratifying to the Nth degree.  It's truly one of the finer things in life.

This particular recipe is modified from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook (found it on clearance years ago at a Ross store) called Savoring China. I originally made it when I had an eggplant in the refrigerator, and no distinct plan. I also had ground pork, garlic, and tofu.


Don't let the tofu scare you. It used to scare me until I realized that it tastes super boring unless there is a great sauce on it. It is all about the sauce.  Tofu is an inexpensive protein, lasts for quite a while in the refrigerator, and gives you a good amount of calcium and iron!


And don't let the "spicy" scare you. The spice is all in the sauce ingredients you use; you can control the heat, and I'll tell you where to adapt the sauce. Ready? Let's go!


(Note: This recipe is done in 2-3 phases, which you can think of as annoying because you have to go into the kitchen twice, or as a blessing because you can get all the cutting done ahead of time. 

Sischuan Spicy Eggplant


Eggplant, Tofu and Pork stir fry with garlic, ginger, and Hoisin sauce


Ingredients:


Stir fry:
1 medium eggplant, or 4 small Asian eggplants (about 1 pound total weight)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) vegetable oil
~~
1 14 ounce package firm or extra firm tofu
1/2 pound ground pork
1/4 cup (about 6 cloves) minced garlic
2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger
~~
Sauce:
2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
3-4 Tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon sugar
sauce, part 2:
1/4 cup chicken or beef stock, or water
1 teaspoon corn starch
~~
Garnish:
1/2 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts) (optional)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)


Serve over hot rice.

Method:

You may use the thin Asian eggplants, or the standard water-balloon-shaped eggplants.  Last week Kroger had these for $1 each, so I picked one up.

First, slice (peel, if desired), and cube the eggplant into bite-sized pieces. 

Bite-sized as in, the size of eggplant piece you would like to have in your mouth, rather than something that can fit in your mouth.  Remember, the skin can be somewhat leathery.  

I chose to peel half the eggplant, and left the skin on the other half.

Then, cube it into bite-sized pieces, and place it in a colander. 

Sprinkle the eggplant with the salt, and let it rest for 30 minutes.  While it rests, you can proceed to the next steps, or peruse unread blogs.  I'll be right here.

The salt draws out any bitterness in the eggplant.

Tofu is an unsung hero of Asian cuisine.  It is inexpensive, healthy, and flavorless.  The flavorlessness is what got it into trouble in American cuisine, because it tastes like bland vegetables.  Besides, who wants to eat something otherwise called "bean curd"?  But its bland flavor is what allows it to be added to just about anything without changing the taste significantly.

 Cube the tofu.
(I tend to start cutting it while it's in the box, then roll it out onto a paper towel to make the last cuts.)

Let the tofu drain, also.  Here are the eggplant and the tofu hanging out in the sink together, getting acquainted.

If you're like me, you forgot to defrost the ground pork until just now.  Get that going.

The original recipe only calls for 1/4 pound, but with a carnivore for a husband, there's no point in putting only 3 ounces of meat in a meal.  Even if he was raised on tofu.

After 30 minutes, thoroughly rinse the eggplant, and pat it dry with paper towels.  
It is ready to go in its oil bath. 

Heat about a cup of oil over high heat, until the oil starts to ripple.

If you want to reduce the amount of oil, you can, but it will take a little longer to cook the eggplant and you will have to stir it more often, which may cause it to begin to disintegrate.

Once the oil is hot, toss in the eggplant. 
Stir it for about a minute, then turn down the heat and let it cook for about 5-6 minutes; long enough for it to be sufficiently cooked, but before it starts to discolor and fall apart.

 It sizzles beautifully. 

Here it is getting darker, toward the end of the cooking process.  The purple and green are coming out.

Remove from the heat, then drain the eggplant and the oil into the original colander, and allow it to drain for another 30 minutes.  This is where you can start the rice, finish chopping, whip up the sauce, and set the table or make a side, like sauteed kale (I promise I'll post my easy recipe and link to it soon!).

Dice the garlic. 

Did you know that I love garlic?  That's why 1/4 cup of garlic is delicious to me.  You don't have to use this much.  The first time I made this, I only used about 3 cloves and it tasted fine.

Also, I keep a ginger root in the freezer, a la Rachael Ray, and keep a peeled, fresh ginger root in my freezer.  I have no idea when I bought this one, but it's been my companion for quite a while. 

As it was still frozen, I really couldn't chop it; rather, I nearly shaved pieces off the ginger root.

 Dice it finely, so it's about the same size as the garlic pieces.

I found these sauces in the "ethnic" section of the grocery store, so they shouldn't be too hard to find--
therefore you, too, can make this dish!

The Hoisin sauce is mildly sweet.  The soy sauce adds salty flavor.  The sesame oil gives it a distinctive Asian flavor--be careful because even a drop goes a long way.  Sugar reduces the acidity.  Vinegar takes the sweet down a notch and gives it a little more interest and bite.  LaYu (hot chili oil) makes it spicy--just add a drop or two, if you're interested in heat.  Or substitute a pinch of crushed pepper flakes.  

Mix up the sauce.

The original recipe used unusual spices, and gave it a lot of heat.  This version is tangy, but not what most people would call "spicy" or "hot." 

Taste the sauce before you pour it in.  The adjustments you will make will probably come in the form of adding more vinegar or more sugar.

Add oil (if necessary) to the pan to have about 2 teaspoons.

Stir fry the ginger, garlic, and ground pork, until the pork is cooked.

Add the eggplant and tofu.  The eggplant will start to fall apart, and that is OK.

Pour the sauce into the pork, eggplant, and tofu.  Stir and let it cook for a minute.

Mix up the broth and cornstarch mixture; you can use the same cup. 

Then add the cornstarch and broth to thicken the sauce. 

Stir gently and cook for about 1-2 minutes.

If you choose to garnish, here is where you sprinkle the chopped cilantro and/or green onions over the top.  I did not have either on hand, so it is not as colorful as it could have been.

There you have it!  Sischuan Eggplant is delicious over rice, and tonight I served it with sauteed kale. 

I am going to try to post recipes more often, and I have several other authentic Chinese dishes to share.  Please check back for new ones!

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Sischuan Spicy Eggplant

Eggplant, Tofu and Pork stir fry with garlic, ginger, and Hoisin sauce

Ingredients:

Stir fry:

1 medium eggplant, or 4 small Asian eggplants (about 1 pound total weight)

1 Tablespoon salt

1 cup (8 ounces) vegetable oil

~~

1 14 ounce package firm or extra firm tofu

1/2 pound ground pork

1/4 cup (about 6 cloves) minced garlic

2 Tablespoons minced fresh ginger

~~

Sauce:

2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

3-4 Tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

3/4 teaspoon sugar

sauce, part 2:

1/4 cup chicken or beef stock, or water

1 teaspoon corn starch

~~

Garnish:

1/2 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts) (optional)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

Serve over hot rice.

Method: 

Cube (and peel, if desired) eggplant, and place in colander.  Sprinkle with salt, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Cube tofu, pat dry with paper towels.

Heat oil in wok or 4 quart saucepan over high heat, until oil ripples.

Rinse eggplant thoroughly, and pat dry with paper towels.

Carefully place eggplant in oil, stirring gently for 1-2 minutes.  Reduce heat and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Drain eggplant and oil into colander over sink.  Let rest for another 30 minutes, up to 4 hours.

Dice garlic and ginger.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in pan over medium heat.

Add ginger, garlic, and ground pork, stirring until pork is cooked, about 2 minutes.

Mix together sauce ingredients, adjusting to taste.

Add eggplant and tofu to pan with pork, stirring gently.  The eggplant will start to fall apart here.

Pour sauce into pan with eggplant, etc.

Dissolve cornstarch into broth, then add to eggplant, etc., to thicken the sauce.  Stir for 30-60 seconds.  Add the green onions, if using.

Serve immediately over rice or noodles.  Garnish, if desired, with chopped cilantro.