Caramel Apple Muffins

Fall is just around the corner, or so I am told. You can't tell here in Florida where it stays hot until December.  But school is starting tomorrow so I am breaking out a fall recipe.  I can pretend I live somewhere else, where the nights are starting to get cooler and there is a briskness in the air.  A wonderful place where the leaves will change to gorgeous hues of of red and gold. Someplace, I can go for hay rides and pick apples off of trees. Someplace. . . . Oh Sorry I got lost in my fantasy for a little bit. You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't the Jersey out of the girl.

This is very simple recipe that turns a favorite fall treat, caramel apples, into a suitable breakfast option. My family loves these muffins and asks for them often.  I hope you enjoy them too.  After you're done checking out the recipe, why don't you leave me some love and tell me what fall treat you are most looking forward to.

Ingredients
1 box apple muffin mix  (I use Jiffy)
Milk & egg according to box directions
1/4 - 1/2 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
1 Apple (I prefer a Gala apple)
2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pat of butter




Directions

Melt butter in a small pan. Add peeled and chopped apples and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Saute until tender.




Prepare muffin mix according to package directions, adding in the cooked apples.




Mixing together the ingredients add in the caramel bits.




Pour into muffin tins. Pay no attention to my Christmas themed liners.




Bake according to package directions. And Voila! You have Caramel Apple Muffins. It couldn't be any easier!

Apple Dumplings

Fall is in the air, or so everyone keeps telling me. I live in Florida, and this past week the temperature has been in the nineties.  So I have to live vicariously through my northern friends who brag about the cooler weather and having to put on a sweater. Michael would say we are the lucky ones since we are still running around in shorts and flip flops, but I miss autumn. I miss the cooler weather, the leaves changing colors and the briskness in the air.  The only reason I really know it is fall is because the fall TV season has begun. My old friends are back and I get to check out some new ones. We are television junkies in my home.  My favorite show is Bones, but that is starting later in the season. Sarah Michelle Gellar is back in a new show called Ringer. Buffy is one of my all time favorite TV shows, so it is great to have her back on TV.

Anyway, you didn't come here to have me ramble on about TV. I'm sorry I am easily distracted. Don't ever wave anything shiny in front of me.

Apples are the fruit of fall and today is National Apple Dumpling Day so I thought I would try to make some.  Most of the easy recipes I found online used crescent rolls, I decided to used cinnamon rolls. They are a little bit messier to work with, but I think the extra cinnamon flavor really works for the apple dumplings. Plus the scent of them baking is better than any potpourri.

Ingredients
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Sugar
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
2 tbsp Butter
1 can Cinnamon Rolls (5 count)
3 - 4 Apples
3-4 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg



Directions

Add the sugar, butter, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small saucepan.



Bring to a boil.



Remove from heat and set aside.

In a small bowl combine 3-4 teaspoons of sugar, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg.



Peel, core and chop apples. I love my apple peeler that removes the core at the same time.



I placed apples in a bowl with water and a little lemon juice to keep from turning brown.



Next it is time to prepare the dough.

Take a cinnamon roll and flatten it out. I started out using the rolling pin, but I decided it was much easier to use my fingers.




Add apple pieces and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.



Fold up sides and seal.



Drizzle sauce over dumplings.



Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

I had extra sauce and apples, so I added apples to the sauce and let it simmer while the dumplings baked.



Serve warm. It tastes great with vanilla ice cream.



I poured the extra sauce and apples over the vanilla ice cream.

Fried Apples

Every year in August my extended family has a family reunion in South Boston, VA. I wasn't able to go last year and I won't be able to go this year due to my job and I am very sad about this.  Growing up we would make the 8 hour drive from New Jersey to my grandma's house, leaving middle of the night, so us kids would sleep the entire road trip.  This would ensure that we would always arrive just in time for breakfast.  I could always count on my grandma or one of aunts to make me some fried apples when we arrived (and every other morning we were there).  This wasn't a dish that my mom made so it was definitely a special treat.

Some of my best memories growing up are from the family reunions.  Having all of the cousins under one roof. Eating watermelon in my grandma's yard during the day and chasing fireflies at night. It truly was the best of times.

Since I will not be able to go this year, I was feeling nostalgic and decided to make some of grandma's fried apples for breakfast this morning.  They aren't as good as grandma's but they satisfy the craving.  This is a versatile dish, you can make it for breakfast. it also makes a great side for ham or pork dinners.  It is absolutely delicious over vanilla ice cream.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 3

Ingredients
6 Apples
1/2 cup Butter
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 pinches nutmeg
3 tbsp Granulated Sugar




Directions

Core, peel and slice apples into a bowl.



Combine sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg in a separate bowl and set aside.



In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.



Add the apples and sprinkle with sugar mixture.





Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally.





Serve warm.



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