Apple Pies.... Sarah's Best Apple Pie (with Crumb Topping) and Maple Bourbon Apple Pie

We made two apple pies, one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. Both were very different -- and neither memorable in taste though they looked nice. I'm including them here so we remember them and can compare them to future apple pie recipes.

Maple Bourbon Apple Pie

Better Homes and Gardens, Nov 2021, p. 95

1st photo

I don't remember tasting much of the bourbon. The lattice was fun to make -- well, my sister, did that part! In reviewing the recipe again, it's odd that there were no spices mixed in with the apples, perhaps so that the bourbon and maple could shine through, but they didn't.

Ingredients: apples, all-purpose flour, sugar, butter, maple syrup, lemon juice, bourbon, egg white, Demerara sugar

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Sarah's Best Apple Pie  (with Crumb Topping)

Martha Stewart Living, Nov 2021, p. 58

2nd photo

I thought this would be a hands-down amazing pie coming from Martha Stewart's magazine, but it was average, fine, ho hum. I'm looking for an ah-maz-ing apple pie recipe.

Ingredients: apples, all-purpose flour, apple cider vinegar, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cardamom, ground cloves, butter, black pepper, Kosher salt

Crumb topping ingredients: all-purpose flour, quick-cooking oats, light brown sugar, butter, baking powder, Kosher salt

Recipe: New Mexican-Style Breakfast Burritos

New Mexican-Style Breakfast Burritos
Bon Appetit Magazine, Oct 2021, p.78
4.6 stars

Potential ski-trip breakfast recipe! This is similar to what we make when we're skiing -- a hearty burrito, except this recipe definitely has a "New Mexico" taste/flair to it because of the New Mexico chiles in the sauce.

Sauce Ingredients: New Mexico chiles, garlic, Mexican oregano, all-purpose flour, Kosher salt

Burrito Ingredients: tortillas, sausage to your liking, eggs, cheddar, russet potato, New Mexico green chiles, unsalted butter, garlic powder, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips:

• Used plant-based sausage
• Couldn't find New Mexico chiles so used New Mexico chile powder
• Added white onion to the sauce
• Couldn't find New Mexico green chiles so used a can of hot Hatch green chiles
• Cooked the potato, plant-based meat and Hatch green chiles together
• Made "tacos" instead of a burrito

Recipe: Spicy White Bean Casserole with Calabrian Chiles

Spicy White Bean Casserole with Calabrian Chiles

Better Homes & Gardens, Dec 2021, p.172

5 stars

This was so surprisingly good! To be honest, we had put off making this recipe because it said the total time to make it (including baking was 1 hr 20 min). It took just an hour.

While we're eating and leaning toward more vegetarian/plant-based, this recipe did have a little bit of pancetta for umami which was necessary (just 3 oz).

Ingredients: cannellini beans, broccoli florets, panko, pancetta, yellow onion, Calabrian chiles or peppadew peppers, chicken broth, heavy cream, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, olive oil, lemon, garlic, dried oregano, basil, red pepper

Tips:

• Used 1.5 lbs (a bag and a half) of frozen broccoli. Note: Try using non-frozen broccoli next time which may make the dish less "soupy"
• Couldn't find Calabrian peppers so used red pepper
• Substituted vegetable broth for the chicken broth

Recipe: Creamy Baked Tortellini with Spinach

Creamy Baked Tortellini with Spinach

Martha Stewart Living, Dec 2021

4.8 stars

Really easy to make for a nice, flavorful weekday dinner. We made this vegetarian by not adding the ground turkey.

Ingredients: cheese tortellini, marinara, ground turkey, cream cheese, spinach, panko, Parmigiano-Reggiano, lemon zest, all-purpose adobo seasoning, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt

Tips:

• Had to go to a couple of places to find adobo seasoning (not canned chipotle in adobo) which I found in the spice aisle at Kroger
• Used double the spinach (about half of a large box of spinach)

Recipe: Cheesy Stove-Top Barley and Swiss Chard

Cheesy Stove-Top Barley and Swiss Chard
MarthaStewart.com, Nov 2021

4.8 stars

I forgot to take a photo of this one! Easy hearty weeknight dish that goes well with a small side salad and bread.

Ingredients: barley, diced tomatoes, shiitake, Swiss chard, Gruyere or white cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, lemon juice or red wine vinegar, basil, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• The sauce was a little acidic for me so would recommend trying lemon zest instead of the lemon juice or red-wine vinegar next time
• Top it with melty cheese!