Apple Pie Bars (gluten free)

Crust (makes 2 9x9 inch crusts)

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter

10 tablespoons ice-cold water

1  3/4 cups gluten-free flour blend (I used Bob Mills 1:1 that contains xantham gum)

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons sugar

Cut cold butter into cubes and set aside in the freezer. Add ice cubes to a glass with a few tablespoons of cold water.

Combine the flours, salt and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough blender. Mix until the dough resembles coarse meal with pea-sized pieces of butter.

Add 1 tablespoon of ice-cold water at a time, until the mixture starts to clump together. If you’re able to press some dough together and it holds, you’ve added enough water. Don’t over-add water.

Take the dough and divide into two. Place each ball of dough on wax paper, and press down to form two disks. Wrap in remaining wax paper and chill for 1 hour.

On wax paper, and plastic wrap, roll out the dough to pie size with a rolling pin. Carefully remove the top sheet of plastic wrap and transfer into a 9-inch pie plate. Push the dough very gently down so it lines the bottom and sides of the pie plate. If the dough splits or breaks apart just press it back together.

Filling:

5 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. Almond Extract

1/2 tsp. Ginger extract

½ cup all-purpose gluten free flour

½ cup granulated sugar

⅓ cup packed brown sugar

1½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

 

 Place diced apples in a large mixing bowl. Add extracts and toss to coat. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour flour mixture over apples and toss until evenly coated.

Assemble the pie: Divide pie crust dough into 2 equal portions. Roll first portion into a 9x9" rectangle  on a lightly floured surface. Transfer 1 portion of dough into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9" baking dish by placing a rolling pin in the center of the dough, folding one side up over the pin, then folding the other side on top. Carefully dump apples over the crust and spread them evenly in the dish. Roll out the 2nd dough portion in the same manner  Transfer dough over apples and tuck sides of dough down into the baking dish, sealing the apples inside the crust. Cut a few slits into the top crust and sprinkle Combine the Turbinado sugar on top (optional). Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 1 hour on a baking rack before cutting into squares.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons melted or softened butter

½ teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ginger extract

2 tablespoons whole milk (more to thin, if necessary)

Make glaze.  Combine sugar, softened butter, vanilla and milk until smooth, adding more milk if necessary for consistency.  Spread glaze over top of crust after the pie has cooled with an offset spatula and let glaze set and harden.  Cut into 9 portions.

 **May add raisins this next time**

Adapted from 

https://lovegrowswild.com/2014/07/apple-pie-bars/

https://thehungrybluebird.com/apple-slices/

https://amotherworld.com/food/best-flaky-gluten-free-pie-crust/

Bahn Mi Rice Bowls

I had a friend post a similar recipe and I wanted to make this pronto. Great for people who have food allergies. 

Slow Cooker Bahn Mi Rice Bowls

 Prep Time-15 minutes

 Cook Time-6 hours

 Total Time-6 hours 15 minutes

 Servings 4

 

Ingredients

Pork

1 pound pork tenderloin

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

3 cloves garlic crushed

1 fresh jalapeño pepper sliced (optional)

Pickled Carrots and Radishes

6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup shredded carrots

2 radishes cut into match sticks

3 cups cooked brown rice cooked with Ginger knobs

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 cup thinly sliced English cucumber

1 small fresh jalapeño pepper thinly sliced (on the side)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

For the pork: Season the pork with the salt and pepper and place in a slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and jalapeño. Pour the mixture over the pork.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, until the pork is very tender, turning once halfway through, if desired. Transfer the pork to a large plate and shred with 2 forks. Reserve the sauce.

For the pickled carrots and radishes: In a medium glass bowl, combine the vinegar, granulated sugar, and salt and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the carrots and radishes, toss well, and let sit for about 30 minutes. Drain well and refrigerate until ready to use.

To serve, place ¾ cup rice in each of the 4 serving bowls. Top each with one-fourth of the pork and drizzle each with 2 tablespoons of the sauce from the slow cooker. Top each with ¼ cup shredded cabbage, ¼ cup pickled carrots and radishes, and ¼ cup cucumber. Divide the sliced jalapeños and cilantro among the bowls, and serve.

Bloody Mary Salsa

 Recipe Adapted from https://noteatingoutinny.com/2007/09/17/bloody-mary-salsa/

Summer Camping is a real thing and I love to find new creative meals to make for my camping group. I chose to make this with cheesy eggs and the salsa was immediately requested to make another appearance in future camping meals.

Bloody Mary Salsa

(makes about 6 cups)

4-5 ripe red tomatoes, finely diced

1 cup yellow grape tomatoes, quartered (optional, mostly for color)

2 stalks celery hearts plus leaves, very finely chopped

1/4 cup red onion, very finely chopped

2 scallions, both white and green parts, finely sliced

1 jar pimentos

1/2 cup Spanish pimento olives, rinsed, dried and sliced

juice of 2 lemons and 1 tsp of zest

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 Tb prepared horseradish (mild)

1-2 tsp Tabasco or Franks Hot sauce

2 tsp salt

1 tsp celery salt

1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning, such as Old Bay

1 shot vodka (optional)

Combine everything in a giant bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving ( I did it overnight) with chips so that the flavors have had sufficient time to bind.  Keep up to one week covered and refrigerated.