Maple Syrup

2 parts sugar  (3 cups for us)
1 part water (1 1/2 cups)

Mix in saucepan, stirring frequently over medium heat. Bring to a full boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add drops of maple flavoring until desired flavor is reached. For a rich flavor, add 1 tsp.

Homemade Pancake Batter

2 cups flour
2 Tbs sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

blend dry ingredients together, then add:

2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 Tbs oil (or applesauce)
3 tsp vanilla

Cut back the milk for thicker pancakes or waffles.  Top with homemade syrup. Yum!

Cake mix cookies

1 box cake mix
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
2-3 tbs water
chocolate chips or nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets

Use a liquid measuring cup to measure oil & applesauce, add 2 eggs, then fill to the 1 cup line with water (or applesauce?).

Mix liquids together then add to cake mix. Stir well. Fold in desired fillings.

Scoop the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Variation ideas:
add 2/3 cup oatmeal to any recipe
Chocolate/devils food cake with peanut butter chips
Chocolate/devils food cake, balled and rolled into powdered sugar to make crinkle cookies
Chocolate/devils food cake with mint chocolate chips
Chocolate/devils food cake balled with a rolo candy in the center of each cookie
Lemon cake mix with 1 tsp lemon extract, balled and rolled into powdered sugar to make crinkle cookies
White cake mix with butterscotch chips and toasted pecans
M&Ms
Caramel bits

Apple spice BBQ Sauce

For the original post, go here.

1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 cups brown sugar
6 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (I didn't measure this I just did 6 grinds from my pepper grinder)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

To prepare sauce:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix applesauce, ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, salt, ground black pepper, paprika, minced garlic and cinnamon. Stirring frequently, bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and use to baste the meat of your choice. (The recipe says the applesauce gives the sauce a nice thick texture, and coats well on the meat and that the sweet spicy flavor is excellent on chicken or pork.)

To serve with shredded pork:

1 pork loin (around 3 pounds)
1/2 cup apple juice

Place pork loin in crock pot with 1/2 cup apple juice and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove from crock pot and shred. Remove any juice or fat let in crock pot. Place meat back in crock pot and add prepared applesauce bbq sauce. Heat until warm. Serve over rice or as sandwiches

Caramel Apple Bites

Thanks to Family Fun and EHow.com for this great idea!

You will need:

• Granny Smith apples -One apple makes around 6 bites
• Cookie scoop or large melon baller
• Wooden skewers or lollipop sticks
• Caramel or melting chocolates
• Toppings* such as chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, coconut, crushed candy bars or cookies, etc
  
• Small paper candy cups

1. Melt the caramel in a saucepan over medium heat.

2. Wash off the apples.

3. Cut into the apples with the cookie scoop or melon baller, making circular scoops to create little balls of apple. The peel should serve as a flat base to rest the ball. (But I like the look of them at the top, so you can tell it is an apple) You can get about four to six balls out of one apple.

4. Pat the apples to remove any excess juices from the fleshy part of the ball.

5. Insert the wooden skewers or lollipop sticks into the center of the top of the apple ball. If you're using skewers, don't allow the tips to pierce the skin on the bottom of the apple, or the apple will slide down when it's picked up.

6. Give the apples another pat to dry off any juices that may have run out while inserting the sticks. Dip in powdered sugar, then tap off the excess.
   

7. Dip the apple balls into the caramel, twisting to make sure you cover the whole thing.
   

8. Set dipped apple on paper candy cup. Then place on a dish or tray, and place in the refrigerator for about half an hour. This will allow the caramel to set.

9. Serve immediately. If you are unable to serve the apples right away, make sure to leave them in the refrigerator until you are ready for them. Unlike on a regular caramel apple, the flesh is exposed and so the apple will spoil much faster. Serving them immediately will make sure they are still crisp

*Check out these sites for gourmet topping ideas
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Amy' s Decadent Chocolates

Miss Debbie's Specialty Apples

Zucchini Soup

I think this may be the recipe that appeases my love of zucchini and my husband's love of crumbled bacon! I can't wait to try it. I found the original at The Sisters' Cafe, check them out for more yummy recipes.
1 cup chopped onions
1-2 Tbsp. butter
3 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
½ cup half-and-half or milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, then crumbled

In a large saucepan saute onions & zucchini in melted butter. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender (about 15 min.) Add salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Pour mixture into blender and puree it. Stir in half-and-half (or milk). Return to saucepan and reheat, but do not boil. Garnish with grated cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits. Makes 6 servings.

Breaded Zucchini Fries

I have some serious zucchini love. You have to love it to commit the proper spelling to memory...anyway... I first learned how yummy it could be when my mom made fried zucchini.

Now I still love the stuff, but not the frying it in butter part, so I wanted to share this recipe posted by Erica at Favorite Family Recipes that takes some of the guilt out of this tasty indulgence:


1-2 large zucchini, cut into spears or circles (the zucchini we had was HUGE so we just used one)
2 eggs
1-2 Tbsp. milk
1 c. Italian-style bread crumbs or croutons blended up finely in a blender (we ran out of bread crumbs so we did the crouton thing)
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Butter or cooking spray

First, line a baking sheet with foil and spray evenly with cooking spray. Next, combine eggs and milk in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and salt & pepper. Dip each zucchini piece into the egg mixture, then dip into bread crumbs until evenly coated in crumbs. Place zucchini on baking sheet, spray each with cooking/butter spray and then bake in the oven at 425-degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. For an added crisp, turn the oven to broil and cook for about 30-45 seconds longer (don't let em' burn though, watch them closely). Remove from oven and serve hot with ranch dressing or marinara/pizza sauce.