How About Them Apples!

This past weekend, we made our annual visit to a local apple orchard to pick more apples than we know what to do with, and to stuff our faces with those deliciously fresh apple cider donuts.  And mission accomplished; a couple bushels of apples, and a dozen donuts later, we rolled back to the car and made our way home.

Although I was beyond full, on the drive home I still managed to put some thought into what to make with all those apples.  Naturally, apple pie was front and center, but I started thinking about how I could pay homage to the apple pie without making an apple pie.  I wanted to make a couple things that tasted just like an apple pie, but was another dish entirely.

So, I started with the simple and classic Caramel Apple. Like most caramel recipes, a tad bit time-consuming.  Waiting for the caramel to come up to a 248 degree temperature took about 40 minutes, but the end result is knock-your-socks-off good.

The next dessert I made was an ice cream that I make every fall, Apple Pie Ice Cream.  This ice cream is one-stop-shopping.  It’s where apple pie and vanilla ice cream live happily ever after.  And, as if Apple Pie Ice Cream isn’t good enough on its own, it sure is delicious served on top of a warm slice of apple pie.  That’s like a double dose.  Plus, this ice cream can take you all the way through fall, and would be a great addition to your dessert table on Thanksgiving!

Both the caramel apples and apple pie ice cream are delicious, but the piece de resistance is the Be Fed Again take on the Hot Apple Pie Cocktail.

Years ago, I was out visiting some friends in the Bay Area, and we went sailing on a windy and freezing cold day.  At the end of the day, we went out to eat, and my friend ordered one of these hot apple pie drinks.  It was heavenly, and I’ve thought about it ever since.  So I thought, no better time than the present to make a Be Fed Again version.

There is no better way to top off your brisk fall day, than to sit with dear friends around a glowing outdoor fire, sipping on a Hot Apple Pie Cocktail.  It’s heaven in a mug, I tell you.

I hope you make and enjoy these recipes.  They all are certainly a delicious way to welcome fall.