Apples, Apples Everywhere!

School and Fall are definitely in the air! I have been slammed with teaching the boys and have been a bit slack on posting. But I am never too busy to enjoy the crisp change in the air, the leaves starting to fall and the fact that it is apple season! I love Autumn - and we have yearly traditions of picking fresh apples from the orchards and attending local apple festivals and of course, cooking, baking and eating every variety of apple we can get our hands on. Enjoy these easy and delicious recipes using Wildtree's Pumpkin Cheesecake Blend.

Apple Crisp

• 5 McIntosh apples, peeled and sliced
• 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Blend
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup flour

Arrange the apples in a buttered 8x8 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Blend. Combine the butter, sugar and flour in a bowl and mix well. Spread over the apples. Bake at 350ºF for 30-45 minutes or until the apples are soft and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream.

Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins

• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Blend
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup date sugar (or brown, if preferred)
  
• 1/3 cup Natural Grapeseed Oil
  
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 425ºF. In large bowl combine wheat germ, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices and Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Blend. In a separate bowl, beat the egg with date sugar, grapeseed oil, applesauce and milk. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until just moistened. Stir in nuts. Spoon into greased muffin tins. Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on top of muffins before baking. Bake for 15-17 minutes.

Apple Slaw

• 1 pkg. Coleslaw Blend
• 1 bottle Wildberry Dressing
• 2 medium Granny Smith or any tart apple, cubed
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; toss to mix. Add dressing to taste.

Crock Pot Apple Butter

• 8 cups of unsweetened apple sauce
• 3 cups honey
• 4 TBs. Cranberry Spice Blend
  

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and cook uncovered on high for nine hours. No need to stir.

Bayou Slaw

For all those grillin' adventures, try this "slaw with a kick" as your side! Great on top of burgers or as a side salad with corn on the cob and baked beans. The secret ingredient is Wildtree's Bayou Blend, adding a zesty boost of cayenne, black pepper and bay leaf. It's a new twist to a Southern classic!


*1/2 head of red cabbage
, shredded*
*1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded*
*1/2 cup shredded carrots


*1/3 cup light brown sugar

*3/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar

*1/3 cup olive oil mayonnaise
*1/3 cup Natural Grapeseed Oil

*1/3 cup slivered almonds
*1 TB Wildtree Bayou Blend



Whisk all the ingredients together until smooth, pour over cabbage, carrots and almonds, then chill one hour before serving.

* To save time, you may also use two of the pre-shredded cabbage bags from the refrigerated section at the grocer, instead of shredding your own.