Apples, Apples & More APPLES!!!

It is officially apple season here in Upstate NY!  I am so thankful for a wonderful season this year, as I am sure the farmers are too!  So far, I have visited Bowman Orchards (www.bowmanorchards.com) and Indian Ladder Farms (www.indianladderfarms.com).  This is my first year visiting Indian Ladder and I will add it to my list for future visits.  There are rows and rows of trees to pick from and the mountains in the background.  Amazing photo ops abound.  Although it is still pretty early they only had two options for us to pick today, Empire (good for baking/cooking) and Kendall (good for eating - similar to a Macintosh).  We picked and picked and picked... The trees were so pretty and inviting!

So now, I have a bushel of apples... A mixed variety of Kendall's and Empire's. Now, what can I do with all these apples?

• I can try to bake... Pies, Crisps, Muffins, and plain baked apples are yummy!
• Make Applesauce (oh yes, my crockpot will get quite a bit of use)
• Eat them plain - Don't they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away? :)
• Juice them - Fresh Juice is the best!  Add some carrots and kale and you have a great fresh green drink!!
• Dehydrate them... Yes, I am pretty sure this will be my next kitchen gadget! 

What are some of your favorites to make when apple season comes around?  Does anyone have any recommendations for dehydrators? 

Share & Enjoy!!

Taco Soup

I have to say, that after searching through what I am quite surprised to be almost 4 years of blog posts, there is no post for Taco Soup!  This is something that I make often, and is quick and easy!  It is a crock pot dish that smells up the house and is warm and yummy!  If you love Mexican food it has all the components! 

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb ground turkey
1 small white onion, diced
1 tsp garlic
2 tbsp. taco seasoning (I make my own)
1 tbsp. dry ranch seasoning (homemade)
1 can Rotel
1 small bag frozen corn
1 can, drained and rinsed Black beans
1 can, drained and rinsed Great Northern beans
1 box, 32 oz of low sodium GF chicken stock
S&P

Add oil, turkey, onion, and garlic to a sauté pan and brown meat.  Add the taco seasoning and ranch.  If you need add a bit of water to incorporate the seasonings.  Add the meat mixture and the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve with chips, cheese, sour cream and guacamole!   Share & Enjoy! 

Buffalo Cauliflower

In the last week, August has changed into September and the nights have cooled off and the trees are starting to change.  Football is upon us and so is my drive for fun foods when everyone gets together to watch the "big" game!  Go TEXANS!!!  The week was crazy busy and in my infinite wisdom I forgot to take out chicken to cook... but, I did have cauliflower I needed to use.  I also recalled that there was a photo titled "Buffalo Cauliflower" on Pinterest.  If you know me, you also know that I was not going to go back and follow the recipe exactly anyways so here is what I came up with.  It came out very well and I think that I will do it again, soon! 

1 head cauliflower, cleaned and cut the florets off
1 tbsp olive oil
S&P
1 tbsp butter
1/4 - 1/2 c Franks Red Hot

Preheat oven to 400.  Place cauliflower tossed in olive oil on baking sheet with salt and pepper.  Roast for 15 minutes on one side.  Stir and then roast 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and add to a large bowl.   Add the butter and Franks Red Hot to a microwave container and heat.  Then pour over cauliflower and serve as Buffalo Cauliflower!  A great vegetarian option with full flavor!!!

Share & Enjoy!!!

Just a few of my Favorite FALL Things...

I realized I was starting this post that the next two things I was going to blog were going to be Buffalo this & that!  It appears as though Fall is here.  If you follow me on Nanny Heather Cooks on Facebook or my personal page you will notice that even though it was only August until this week it did not stop me from posting photos of the leaves changing and going apple picking before September.

FALL!  FALL!  FALL!  Fall in Upstate NY means:

• Apples!
• Pumpkins... painted, carved, glittered and more! (even in Coffee - thank you Dunkin Donuts & Starbucks)
• Perfect clear, crisp, days!
• Leaves changing and falling 
• Buffalo anything... chicken. Cauliflower.  Taquitos.  Wraps.  Salad. 
• Fashion: Sweaters.  Boots.  Scarves.  Leggings. (Yes, I know this is fashion and not food, but it is still part of what I love!)
• Bonfires and Smores!
• Soups!  I can't wait to try some new ones.
• Crock-Pot anything and everything!!
• FOOTBALL!!!  This is not to be forgotten...

What else reminds you of FALL?  Do you have any fall favorites?  Please Share & Enjoy! 

Crock Pot Applesauce

Here comes Fall and with fall comes Apple Season! :)  Since moving here in 2008, I have come to learn that I LOVE APPLES!  This is something very new for me since as a child I did not really like them.  When picking them off the tree, there is something to be said for eating a fresh, juicy apple!  Once you have picked your fill and now have bags, yes, bags, full, what do you do with all of these apples once you get home?  This girl eats at least one apple a day and starts looking for recipes, talking to friends and family and comes up with things to make!  In the past, I have made Applesauce in the oven.  It is a bit more labor intensive and you have to "watch" it so now it is time for a crock pot recipe. 


8-10 Sweet Apples, peeled and cored
3/4 cup of water *
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp vanilla

* Depending on the juiciness of the apples you might want to start with 1/2 cup of water

Peel and core the apples and small dice them into a crock pot.  In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup of water and the cinnamon and vanilla.  Pour over the apples and mix until coated.  Then add the other 1/4 cup of water to the bowl to remove the rest of the cinnamon stuck to the sides (yes, this really happens).  Pour over the apples, add the cinnamon stick and cook on low for 4 hours or until the apples are very soft.  Use a potato masher to make "chunky" sauce or a hand mixer for "smoother" sauce.  My sauce was a bit runny when I started mashing and was very hot.  But once it cooled off (in the fridge) it tightened up to a perfect consistency. 

Please Share & Enjoy! 

** This recipe was adapted from a recipe found from The Frugal Girls online **