October 30, 2014

Spooky chocolate chip spider cookies

Plate of chocolate chip spider cookies.

It's almost Halloween and you still have time to make a creepy and fun treat like these chocolate chip cookies infested with chocolate spiders inspired by the idea at Real Simple magazine

October 16, 2014

Honey-sesame cashews

Bowl of honey sesame cashews.

Cashews are roasted and coated in honey, vanilla, and sesame seeds to make a sweet and delicious snack. These make a lovely snack to have with some drinks or to set out at a party. 

October 13, 2014

Apple ring pancakes

Serving plate of apple ring pancakes.

I warned you that apple recipes would be coming since we recently picked a bushel. I canned a few batches of applesauce and we've been eating them with our lunch every day, but it still leaves plenty for cooking with as well. One thing I've been waiting for apple season to make is these apple ring pancakes. 

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I got the idea from my Pennsylvania Dutch cookbook (which I love - there's been a free e-cookbook on Amazon for a while now. I have two different print versions and this one may be different as well). 

However, this recipe was for deep-fried apple fritter rings and while that sounds delicious, it wasn't quite what I wanted for breakfast. So, I decided to dip them in a spiced pancake batter instead. Served with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon, some real maple syrup, and a couple breakfast sausages made these a perfect weekend breakfast. 

I must say that these three turned out the nicest, that's why they are in the photo. Most of them were a little messier, but they were still delicious!

Pouring maple syrup onto apple ring pancakes.

October 9, 2014

Sweet potato and chocolate swirl bread

Sliced loaf of sweet potato and chocolate swirl bread.

Sweet potatoes and chocolate come together in this swirled quick bread that is perfectly delicious all fall and winter long.

October 2, 2014

Pan-fried finger dumplings


October is here! This kicks off the start of my favorite two months of the year (October and November) - Halloween, Thanksgiving, apples, pumpkins, winter squash, grapes, cool weather, colored leaves, wedding anniversary - yay! October also means that we have at least one German "Oktoberfest" dinner, including some delicious fall beers. Last fall my husband and I went to a German restaurant for our anniversary dinner and I chose finger dumplings as one of my side dishes. They looked pretty much like what I made here and reminded me of a large Spaetzle. I looked in my German cookbook to see if there was a finger dumpling (or similar) recipe. I didn't find one, so I adapted the Spaetzle recipe. If you have any interest in German cooking, I highly recommend The German Cookbook. It's not fancy, but it's full of traditional German fare and is a great book.

This recipe will make two hearty servings. Serve these finger dumplings with German sausages such as a bratwurst, applesauce, and some German Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage or sauerkraut for a perfect Oktoberfest dinner (don't forget the beer). You may also like these hot and cold versions of German Potato Salad.