Sunday, October 5, 2008

Caramel Apple Crumb Pie

What pie better represents fall like a Caramel Apple pie? (Ok, ok, except for pumpkin pie...)

Caramel Apple Crumb Pie

from CookingLight.com, the picture is their's also.






Yield
10 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)


**A few of the reviews on CL's website mentioned buying a pre-made crust if you are in a time crunch, I probably will do that....and I'll probably double the topping suggested since I like mine super crunchy on top!

Ingredients
Crust
:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon ice water
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
Butter-flavored cooking spray


Filling:
1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
9 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apple (about 2 3/4 pounds)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons lemon juice


Topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup fat-free caramel sundae syrup




Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare crust, lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup flour and salt in a bowl; cut in 2 tablespoons butter and shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle surface with ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time; add vinegar. Toss with a fork until moist and crumbly (do not form a ball).


Press mixture gently into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap; cover with additional plastic wrap. Roll dough, still covered, to a 12-inch circle. Freeze 10 minutes or until plastic wrap can be easily removed.


Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap; fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap. Fold edges under; flute. Line bottom of dough with a piece of foil; arrange pie weights (or dried beans) on foil. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until the edge is lightly browned. Remove pie weights and foil; cool on a wire rack.


To prepare filling, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and cinnamon. Add sugar mixture and apples to skillet; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in 3 tablespoons flour and lemon juice. Spoon into prepared crust.


To prepare topping, lightly spoon 1/4 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a bowl; cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.


Drizzle syrup over apple mixture; sprinkle topping over syrup. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack.


Nutritional Information
Calories: 277 (27% from fat)
Fat: 8.4g (sat 4.2g,mono 2.4g,poly 1g)
Protein: 2.1g
Carbohydrate: 50.1g
Fiber: 2.4g
Cholesterol: 16mg
Iron: 1.3mg
Sodium: 109mg
Calcium: 33mg

Friday, October 3, 2008

Last Day to Register!

If you live in Washington State (like I do...), Saturday October 4th is the LAST day to register to vote for the upcoming elections! (In WA the cut off date is 30 days prior to election day, which is November 4th)


Doesn't matter if you like McCain or Obama, just go register and vote.
I'm super excited because this will be the first election I get to vote in! (Wasn't registered for 2004.)

Now without getting all politic-ky on you, here's some links:

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx

https://secure.johnmccain.com/ActionCenter/registertovote/information.aspx

http://www.voteforchange.com/

I did it online, printed it out, and mailed it in. Bam!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Quick & Easy Recipes

Since I've been living on my own for a few months, I've noticed I don't cook as much anymore, and I LOVE to cook. However, I feel somewhat "guilty" for cooking myself a full dinner meal, when I'm the only one eating... (Kona my kitten doesn't count.)


So I decided in order to not only save money (frozen dinners add up), but also to help my waistline (frozen dinners add up there too), I'm going in search of some quick and easy dinner recipes. I can't guarantee this will be a weekly blog post theme, but I'll try my best!!


Tenderloin Steaks with Red Onion Marmalade:

(this is derived from Cooking Light's myrecipe website, so is the picture)


Serves 4, 1 steak and 1/3 c marmalade


* I know I know, why would I need 4 servings if I'm the only one eating?? I will cut the recipe in half, make 2 steaks and 1/2 the original sauce, then have lunch for work the next day.... Yes I am a genius*



Ingredients
Cooking spray (like Pam)
1 large red onion, sliced and separated into rings (about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks, trimmed (1 inch thick)



Preparation
1. Preheat broiler. (I love that this is a broiler recipe, since I live in an apartment and do not have a grill to bbq on!)
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion to pan. Cover and cook 3 minutes. Add vinegar, honey, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to pan. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 8 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally.
3. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, thyme, and pepper evenly over beef. Place beef on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray (I will probably use foil to cover my broiler pan so its easier to clean later); broil 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with onion mixture.


Nutritional Information (Cooking Light gives you this info for every recipe, love it!)
Calories: 289 (36% from fat)
Fat: 11.4g (sat 4.3g,mono 4.3g,poly 0.4g)
Protein: 32.5g
Carbohydrate: 12.6g
Fiber: 0.8g
Cholesterol: 95mg
Iron: 4.7mg
Sodium: 369mg
Calcium: 25mg

Sunday, September 21, 2008

EtsyRain Handmade Arts SHow!



Hi Everyone!

September's been a busy month, with personal things (I'm taking a Chemistry class at the local college! This is one of the pre-reqs I have to finish up!), Etsyrain things (Puddle zine we are making, October show, local meetups), and of course trying to figure out why my computer won't let me load photos to Etsy... *sigh*
Mainly I'm stoked about our EtsyRain Handmade Arts How that is in EXACTLY 3 weeks! October 12, 2008 which is Sunday (and two days after my birthday...ahem) we'll be at St. Edward's State Park!





I'm really excited because this is my first craft show, not including the farmers markets.
There will be a Bake Sale going on, and all proceeds from that will help benefit the VSA Arts of Washington (which is a non-profit that helps bring the arts to people with disabilities), not to mention the INCREDIBLE Swag Bags that the first 50 people that walk thru will get for free! These nifty swag bags will include mini samples of all the shops that will be at the Handmade Arts Show.
And did I mention that I'll be BAKING stuff for the bake sale? I'm a good cook, so that's more then enough reason to show up....
Feel free to come on by if you are in the nieghborhood on October 12! (St. Ed's park is located in Kenmore, WA off of Juanita Dr and next to Bastyr University) Admission is free!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Ladybugs...

Posted some new 3" ladybug keyfobs on the Etsy shop :)

How cute are the ladybugs???

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Happy Belated Bday EtsyRain!

So yesterday was my local street team's 1st birthday, and I'm a nerd and totally forgot to post about it! *sorry!*


Happy Birthday EtsyRain!


We are a wonderful group of crafters in the Seattle metro area who all discuss, talk, share, play, craft, and hang out together.


One year ago it all started with about 20 members, but as of yesterday, we are closing in 400!!!


Yowza!


Just to brag about how awesome EtsyRain is....


We are a very active street team, who fully supports one another. We are having our own EtsyRain craft show on october 12, 2008 (two days after my birthday I might add), so feel free to come on by! It will be at St Edward's State Park in Kenmore, WA.


For our birthday celebration, we decided to do a reverse birthday gift and send a big ol' box of etsyrain gooies from various shops to the Etsy Admins back in New York! We included a disposable camera so they could take pics of themselves while opening the gift and trying things on ;) We all hope they really enjoy our gift, and see just how talented the Seattle EtsyRain team is!!


EtsyRain has done a few shows already this year, and I can't wait for the October one!

Whoo hoooooo!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

I won something:)


Whoo hoo! I won a print from the lovely and talented Jessica Doyle of her blog! I think this is what I won, but even if it's not her work is AMAZING and I'll be stoked with whatever she sends me!