Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

5 pounds apples, I used a half and half mix of McIntosh and Honeycrisp and it was the perfect balance
Grated zest of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg

For the topping:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 pound cold unsalted butter, diced

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×13 baking dish (or 2 8×8 pans like I did!)

Peel, core, and cut the apples into large wedges. I peeled the apples and then used a handy apple slicer tool to make quick work of this. Combine the apples with the zests, juices, sugar, and spices. Pour into the dish.

To make the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Scatter evenly over the apples.

Place the crisp on a sheet pan and bake for one hour until the top is brown and the apples are bubbly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce if you’re really feeling sassy.

Chicken and Wild Rice

Ingredients: 

1 box wild rice with seasoning packet (4.3 oz)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can water
1 small can mushrooms, drained
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, uncooked
1 cup slivered almonds 

Directions: 

1. Mix together rice with seasoning packet, both cans of soup, and water.  Stir in mushrooms.
2. Pour in to 8X8 freezer dish, I use the foil pans.  Top with 6 chicken pieces and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
3. Double wrap in heavy duty foil, label and freeze.
Cooking Instruction: Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour until chicken juices run clear and rice is tender. 

I like to serve this dish with a side of broccoli and fruit.

Greek Turkey Sliders

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs. 93% lean ground turkey
• 1/2 cup zucchini, grated and drained well
• 1 slice bread
• 1/8 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 3/8 cup red onion, grated
• 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
• 1/8 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh spearmint, chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 8 pita halves

Directions:

Wet bread with water, squeezing excess out. Tear into small pieces and place in large bowl. Combine with turkey, egg, zucchini, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, spearmint, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Using a 1/4 cup measure, form each slider. Preheat grill, clean grill grate well, and spray with olive oil spray. Grill sliders on low until cooked through.  Serve with pita bread halves.

Freezing Directions:

Place a piece of wax paper between each burger, place in freezer bags, seal, label and freeze. Place pita bread in separate gallon freezer bag and freeze alongside burgers. To Serve: Thaw both a burger and a pita bread for each serving.  Grill as directed above.

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dishes
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound penne rigate
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (8 ounces each), halved horizontally
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups whole milk
• 10 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups shredded provolone (6 ounces)
• 1 cup finely grated Parmesan (4 ounces)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400. Butter two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta, and return to pot.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Halve each piece lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
3. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Off heat, gradually stir in provolone and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
4. Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes; sprinkle each with cup Parmesan.
5. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note

To Freeze: Prepare through step 4; let cool. Cover tightly with foil, and freeze, up to 3 months.

To Bake From Frozen: Preheat oven to 400, and bake (still covered in foil) on a rimmed baking sheet until center is hot, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove foil; bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.