"Red Hots" Applesauce

Here is an easy sneezy recipe for dads and kids. Your kids will love applesauce with Red Hots. Such a fun fall activity after apple picking.

BTW....this is how you make regular apple sauce. You can also just add cinnamon to make a simple cinnamon apple sauce for your kids lunches.

Ingredients

8 -12 large apples peeled and chopped. (Apple Peeler From Christmas Tree Shop is Amazingly quick)

1/2 Cup sugar

1 cup water

1/4 cup Red Hots Cinnamon candy

Preparation

In a 4-6 quart pan, place the cut up apples, sugar and water together. Over a low medium heat, cook for about 20mins. Check periodically, as you want to be able to mash the sauce similar to a consistency of mashed potatoes.

When you get the consistency you want, reduce to a low heat, add the red hots. Stir until completely dissolved. Set aside and refrigerate. Oh my....sooooo GOOD!!!

Apple Crisp Made Easy

Fall is a such a great time to take the kids apple picking. This year was a bit rough in Upstate NY as warm weather in March and a late frost in April damaged most orchards. However, we found some wonderful apples and made Apple Crisp this weekend. The entire house is warm with smells that delight the mind and spirit. (I highly recommend you buy an Apple Peeler from the Christmas Tree shop)

Ingredients. (Makes 2 9x13 pans)

4-5 pounds 10-15 apples peeled

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup uncooked rolled oats

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into small pieces, plus more for coating the dish

Grease the pans with butter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, add the apples. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Layer the bottom of the plan with the apples. Next, in a sealed container, add all the ingredients including the cold butter(cut in small cubes). Shave vigorously. Top the apples with the mixture. Distribute evenly to ensure proper baking. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes. At about 45 minutes, check the mixture, and stir with a spoon as needed to ensure a proper consistency.

Pull out of the over, serve warm with ice cream. Enjoy!

Hamburgers - Fresh Versus Frozen

The secret to a great hamburger is a fresh patty. Even the best frozen burgers will not compete with a freshly made burger. One of the biggest reasons is that commercially made Hamburg's are compressed so that they can be processed in a box. A fresh burger (like Red Robins) are easily better because of the consistency is different. Every patty is unique in texture and size. Another benefit is a patty with a raised center allows for the juices to be self contained, and the flavors within the homemade patty will be more succinct.


Ingredients

2 lbs ground hamburger (80-20)

2 eggs (scrambled)

One onion finely diced

2-3 tsp of Garlic Pepper

2 tsp of cracked sea salt

2 tsp of cracked pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp of teriyaki sauce

1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs

In a bowl, first mix the hamburger and egg together. Next, mix the rest of the ingredients together. This will require numerous times of kneading and mixing until the correct consistency. On a plate, place a sheet of wax paper. Make 1/3 - 1/2pd patties for the grill.