I had the fabulous opportunity to see some former (I will not use the word “old,” as we aren’t old, yet) classmates this past week. The girls were still beautiful, smart, funny! I thank them for including me. Nancy lives in Pennsylvania now, but still gets our column and enjoys it. I hope she sends us some of her favorite recipes to share with us. So great to see you all! Shout out to Carol, Nancy, Rhonda, and Sherry.
I had a request a while back for a recipe for Hermits. I gave him our favorite. Since that time, we found another one we like. With apples readily available all year round, this one can be made any time. However, with apples coming into season soon, this might be great time to try this Apple Hermit. Apples are looking great this year and if you have a favorite recipe, we would love to have it.
Apple Hermits
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped apples
1 cup raisins
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon milk
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Mix in sugar and egg. Stir in flour mixture, and mix thoroughly. Fold in nuts, apples, and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto prepared cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on wire rack. In a small bowl, mix confectioners’ sugar with milk to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over cooled cookies.
Apple Streusel Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped apples
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Stir in apples, and gradually blend in the flour mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pan.
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing muffins from pan. Cool on a wire rack.
I really enjoy this time with you each week and would love to hear from you. Do you have any requests? Is there a recipe you have been looking for or remember from your younger years? Can I help you find it? Do you have any recipes that are special to you that you could share with us? Please contact me at susieqcooking@ainop.com or c/o Pioneer Times, P.O. Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
