SaS - lots of APPLES!

It's Thursday, so you know what that means...Share a Spoon w/Think Tank Momma! Head over to link up or to drool over all the yummy recipes.  This week's theme is perfect for the Fall weather we've (finally) been having....Apples!!  Of course, it's supposed to be back to 80 today.  Anyway, I've been an apple cookin' fool....

I started with Apple Muffins

 Recipe can be found here.  They were super moist and I even snuck in a veggie. 

I used canola instead of vegetable oil and replaced the egg w/1 T. vinegar, 1 T. milk & 1 t. baking powder (for my little allergy boy).

Then I made Apple Butter!  This was supposed to be super easy, with everything done in the crock pot.  It didn't quite work out the way the recipe said.  However, it turned out DELICIOUS.

Ingredients

12 pounds Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

3 cups white sugar  *I used 1 cup!

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground allspice  *I did not have allspice and found online that you can use equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper to make allspice!

Directions          *This is where things get interesting

1.Place apples and vinegar into a large slow cooker, and place lid on top. Set on High, and cook for 8 hours, then turn to Low, and continue cooking 10 hours more.

*My 10 hour cooking time was through the night.  Around midnight, my son woke me up crying...when I get up to check on him, I smell something burning.  I go check on the apples in the crockpot, and see that some of the apples were burnt to the side of the pot...I mean, black and cemented to the side of the pot.  So, I let out a few choice expletives and turned the crock pot off.  I did not feel like messing with it at midnight.  In the morning, I decided to try and salvage the remaining "good" apples, added my spices, heated it on low on the stove, and added 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of white.  I also added in a little apple juice b/c it was very thick.  I did not use all the sugar called for, and it is PLENTY sweet.  I did however keep the amount of spices the same.  After simmering on the stove a little while, I tasted it - and it was SO GOOD!!!!  I'm not sure why it didn't work out in the crock pot, but I'm glad all 12 pounds of apples were not ruined!  And, I still ended up with some delicious apple butter.
2.After 18 hours, stir in white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and allspice, and cook 4 hours more.
yeah, see above

So anyway, that was an interesting experience.  I also made some AWESOME Apple and Spice Cookies. 

I changed this recipe up quite a bit, and I thought they turned out really well. 

So did Mr. Terrible Two!  This recipe caught my attention b/c it was egg free!  It calls for walnuts (and would be really good with them) but I omitted them for little allergy boy.

They may not be the prettiest cookies, but they were REALLY good!!

Apple and Spice Cookies - original recipe from allrecipes.com

 Ingredients

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour  I used 1 cup whole wheat and 1/2-3/4ths cup all-purpose

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves  I used 1/2 teaspoon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup shortening   I used 1/4 cup Smart Balance Light 50/50 butter and 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar  I used 1 cup loosely packed brown sugar

1/3 cup apple juice  I used Motts for Tots Apple Juice - it's all I had!

1 cup chopped walnuts  omitted

1 cup chopped apples

1 cup raisins  used combination of dried cranberries, cherries and blueberries - 1/2 cup

1/2 cup toffee bits

1/4-1/2 cup mini chocolate chips-b/c I had them!

Directions

1.Cream together shortening and brown sugar. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and spices until dampened. Stir until smooth. Mixture will be very thick.  *I mixed my dry ingredients together, my wet ingredients together, then added wet to dry.

2.Stir in nuts, apples and raisins/dried fruit

3.Drop by tablespoon 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in a 400 degree F (205 degrees C) oven. Let cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet. 

I told you I made a lot of changes!  I will definitely make these again. 

So, how did ya like them apples?!  I still have apples to use up, and a couple more recipes to try - plus, I know I'll have a few more ideas after I check out the other recipes!!  So, head over and link up!