Thanksgiving Holiday Ginger Spice Apple Tart

This Ginger Spice Apple Tart made with Lucky Leaf Premium Pie Fillings

Apple Topping is "wonderful".

It's easy! Which is the best part and that is what I am all about!

It actually took me less than the 25 minutes prep time to prepare, but cooking is what I do. So it may take you the full 25 or less.

Ingredients:

• 1 Package refrigerated, unbaked pie crust (2 crusts)
• 2 - 21 ounce cans Apple Lucky Leaf Premium Pie Fillings (or any pie filling if you don't have Lucky Leaf, I recommend theirs)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped crystallized ginger
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla
• 1 -1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp sugar

Optional:

• whipped cream topping or vanilla ice cream for topping
• additional chopped crystallized ginger

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare Tart Pan: Spray with nonstick cooking spray (butter flavor if you have it).

Defrost crusts according to package instructions.

Combine sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in small dish, mix and set aside for later.

On lightly floured surface roll out one crust to a 13" to 14" circle to accommodate the tart pan (which is larger than a pie pan). Lay crust into prepared pan.

Using a cookie cutter cut shapes (stars, hearts, Holiday shapes) out of the second pie crust. 5 to 6 cutouts should work. Set off to the side.

In a large saucepan combine pie filling, butter, 1 tablespoon crystallized ginger, vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh ginger. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted gently stirring frequently.

Pour apple filling into your crust in the tart pan. Lay the cutout pie crust on top of the pie filling. Trim crust to edge of tart pan and gently press together to seal; crimp edge as desired.

Place the cutouts on top of the tart careful not to cover the openings.

Lightly coat the tart with non stick cooking spray; sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture over entire top of tart.

Bake for 40 minutes on a cookie sheet (to prevent browning cover edges with foil or a pie ring). After 40 minutes remove foil and continue to cook for 10 more minutes until tart is golden brown.

Cool on rack for one hour. Serve warm and top with whip cream or vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

The Thanksgiving Essentials

Guest post written by Mitch Carlson

There are just certain things that you have to eat or it isn't really Thanksgiving. Or at least according to me. I've had alternative Thanksgivings with my friends before and even though they were fun it just wasn't the same, no matter how much I love Indian food or Mexican food. So this year even though I'm having Thanksgiving with my friends, I'm making sure that we at least have some traditional Thanksgiving food.

I've been emailing everyone back and forth to figure out with my CLEAR TV Bundle to see who's bringing what and make sure that we have all the essentials.

Now, none of my friends are really great cooks, so we're trying to be creative in what we do so that it tastes good. I'm handling agreen beans dish that is pretty easy to fix, or at least my brother says that it is and I can cook better than him. But even if the food isnÕt that great I think that weÕll have a really good time together because weÕre all so close that weÕre practically family anyway.

Green Beans with Balsamic Roasted Shallots
Adapted from The Bon Appetit Cookbook

6 large shallots
4 tsp olive oil, divided
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 1/4 lb. green beans, end trimmed

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Peel and cut shallots in half through the root, leaving the root intact. Place the shallots in a medium bowl and toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the shallots, cut side down, on prepared baking sheet and roast until the bottom side of the shallots are deep brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

While the shallots are roasting, pour vegetable or chicken broth into a large skillet. Set over medium-high heat and boil until the chicken broth reduces to 1/4 cup, 5 to 6 minutes. Add granulated sugar and balsamic vinegar, bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the roasted shallots to the chicken broth mixture, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer about 5 minutes, until the sauce coats the shallots. The shallot mixture can be made up to a day ahead, then gently reheated over low heat before serving.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add green beans and cook until the green beans are tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Drain immediately. Toss the green beans with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Arrange on a serving platter and top with roasted shallots. Serve.

Serves 4 as a side dish.

Starbucks Drinks

What's your favorite Holiday drink from Starbucks?

I love Peppermint Mocha Latte!

Let us know what yours is click here: http://lx.im/v/6IX4

I Love Blue Sea Online Seafood Market

If you are a fan of Seafood and order fresh fish online here is a company i love blue sea that supports "Sustainable Seafood".

What does that mean? Sustainable Seafood means that they make sure there will be enough fish to catch! They are very careful to fish only the abundant species and not over fish the species that are in danger of surviving.

You want to make sure that when you find a online fish market that the fish comes in fresh "sushi grade" prior to ordering. It's easy to do, just do your homework! If your ordering on line already you have the capability to check the company out before ordering.

i love blue sea a online fish market also featured by The New York Times, TLC, NPR, The Huffington Post and Mother Jones is a company that truly believes in Sustainable Seafood No Red Lobster here.

Happy Cooking ;)

Sustainable Seafood

How To Make Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza At Home Easy!

Family Pizza Night is always a fun time to get together and make a homemade pizza! You can make a Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza at home and it's easy!

Make a pizza dough, use a box or now you can purchase right from the Deli counter at your favorite market that sells fresh pizza's. You can get one 18" for around $2.00.

Spread prepared dough into pizza pan leaving an extra inch or so over the edge of the pan.

Take Mozzarella cheese sticks and cut in half length wise.

Bend and place around the outer edge of the pizza dough. Fold the crust over the cheese and press to seal in the cheese.

Add sauce and your favorite toppings and bake per instructions or if you don't have instructions bake at 450 for 12 to 15 minutes (on lower rack) until crust in golden brown.

Enjoy!

Holiday Dinning Table Decorating Ideas And Tips

With the Holidays now just right around the corner it's time to freshen up your Holiday Table Decorations.

Fall screams for Fall Harvest table scape's with tons of sun flowers, gourds and pumpkins. Early Winter gets the Thanksgiving mood moving. Don't get rid of those pumpkins though use them right through Thanksgiving.

Some tips and ideas are keep your staple items neutral and just change out some pieces for the changing Holidays. Purchasing drop leaf tables is also an important tip. It gives flexibility for additional seating, large or small buffet dinners the list goes on.

Place a large center piece on the buffet table with your neutral greens and add seasonal fruit, berry branches and or ornaments.

Tips:

• Take oranges, apples, small guards or pumpkins and pierce with a BBQ skewer, slip into the neutral greens.
• Pull out one color from the centerpiece and add dinner napkins of the same color to the table as an accent.

If your having a sit down dinner, make sure your centerpiece is low. Not to block out the person sitting across from you or your guests. There is nothing more annoying than having to lean over to be able to talk to someone across the table.

Tips:

• Provide ample seating room for your guests always expand your drop leaf tables.
• Alternate lighting, dim overhead lights or side lamps. Add candles for ambiance lighting alternating tall tapers and votive's.

Also, prepare in advance! Enjoy your guests don't spend all your time in the kitchen. Come back for more helpful decorating tips and ideas for the Holidays!

Enjoy!

Halloween Ghost White Chocolate Truffle Cake Balls

This recipe is so easy a child can make it!

The trick is keeping the chocolate warm and the truffle cake balls cold ;)

Ingredients:

• One baked cake
• One package of Candy Chocolate Coating
• One and 1/2 cans of prepared frosting.

Here I used a chocolate cake, dark chocolate and fudge chocolate frosting. I like the dark chocolate taste, it adds more flavor than just using the fudge chocolate by itself.

Bake the cake per the instructions on the box. Break up and let cool.

Mix the cake with the frosting in the mixer on low speed. Then chill cake mixture.

Scoop into balls with a scooper, then roll in wet hands into a perfect round ball, place on tray and chill about 40 minutes.

Melt chocolate in double boiler stirring until smooth. If you need to thin the chocolate add solid Crisco, one tablespoon at a time and stir in. Do not add oil, butter, or cream.

Drop chilled balls into chocolate and lift with fork, tapping on side of mixing bowl to remove extra chocolate, place on rack to set.

Place cake ball in liner and decorate with a spooky face!

Enjoy!

Eat For Your Type Healthy Eating

Treeliving.com has a Food Section loaded with Healthy eating tips and ideas. You can read about eating for your body type. The site also has many other helpful hints and tips to help make your home and life a bit greener.

How to eat for your type and other healthy tips under "Food" Treeliving.com

http://www.mylike.treeliving.com/

Happy Eating Healthy ;)

Out Door Grilling Is Back!

Out Door Grilling is Back!

Guest post written by my buddy Judy Guerrero

Whenever I think of fall I immediately think of outdoor barbecue. I know a lot of people like to do it in the summer or spring. Well, I do too! However, there is something to be said about grilling out when the air is cool, but not cold. I love the feel of a nice fall breeze as it wafts the scent of burgers and ribs all across my yard. Throw in a few changing leaves and some great tunes and it's a party.

That's what fall is to me. It's party season. I mean when I'm not grilling out or playing some backyard football I love to check out the new fall lineup on my satellite TV from www.directstartv.com. Either way I'm golden. I can watch some good shows inside and cook some killer steaks while it happens.

Family, friends and fun, grilling out is where it's at! Just yesterday I threw on some chicken breasts and slapped down some foot long hotdogs. This weekend I think I might just cook a whole hog and make some pulled pork. My cousin Fred said he was up for it and if he's coming he almost always brings the booze. I love to get my grilling in before winter sets in and it looks like it will be one kickass end of the year series of barbecues after another. I hate grilling when its cold, but right now it is just right.

Taking My LIttle Monkeys To The Fair For Deep Fried Bananas

Guest post written by Charlaine Smith

My kids are at the age where they just can't sit still. But that's okay with me because I like to stay pretty active and I don't really like to sit around all the time and watch TV like some people prefer to do. So I'm always on the lookout for fun stuff to take the kids to do and knew that going to the fair would be a great thing to do.

I started planning a while back for this and made our reservations to go to the fair a couple of weeks ago. When I was doing that I saw an ad online for a new internet service and I decided to click now and switch my internet provider over to it.

They ended up loving the fair and I think we went on every single ride that they were big enough to go on. Then they also begged to go on some other rides that were too big and dangerous for people their size. But their favorite part was when we got some deep fried bananas and ate them.

Ingredients:

• 2-6 Bananas
• Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle mix
• frying oil
• sprinkle of ground cinnamon
• sprinkle of sugar

This is simple as making pancakes.

First, slice up the bananas into quarter pieces. Combine pancake mix with water or milk, whichever you prefer.

Dip bananas in batter and fry in oil until golden brown.

Lastly, while still hot, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over cooked bananas.

Enjoy ;)

Karen B's Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds

Fall is here and the Holidays are right around the corner.

We will be carving pumpkins, baking squash and baking pies.

Inside these amazing vegetables grown with Mother Natures loving care are an abundance of little healthy tid bits.... the seeds!

These seeds are actually a very healthy snack.

Click here for my recipe for Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds:

Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds

Have the entire Family help!

Enjoy ;)

Karen B's Fall Apple Crisp Made Easy!

It's Fall! The Apples are ready!

Anyone can make this easy Apple Crisp in minutes!

The great part about this recipe is you don't have to mix the apples with anything just put them in the pie dish, the buttery spices will melt and season the apples as the topping get crisp. The aroma that comes from this wonderful dish while it's baking is so amazing it will fill your kitchen with a warm fuzzy feeling ;)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound apples about 4 to 5 (any type is fine)

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup oatmeal (not instant)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup flour

1/4 tsp nutmeg (or any other yummy Fall Holiday spices)

Peal and slice apples, arrange in glass pie dish.

Melt butter, add sugar, oatmeal, flour, cinnamon and spices.

Mix until crumbled up.

Sprinkle topping mixture over apples.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.

Serve hot out of the oven with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, or let cool a bit and top with whip cream!

Enjoy ;)

Tip Of The Day: How To Sprinkle Goat Cheese Without The Mess!

Goat Cheese is a wonderful addition to any dish. However, trying to get this soft cheese where you want it can be difficult at times. Here is a simple quick tip on how to sprinkle Goat Cheese say on top a salad.

• Prepare your salad as shown here.
• Take some scissors and cut the end off the tube of Goat Cheese
• While holding over the salad or dish, take a dinner fork and dig out the Goat Cheese in a shredding motion.
• The Goat Cheese will fall onto the salad in perfect pieces with out getting your hands or knife messy!

Come back and leave us a comment on how it worked for you!

Enjoy ;)

Childrens Wooden Kitchen Accessory Set

We received this adorable Wooden Kitchen Play Kitchen Accessory Set by Melissa & Doug from:

Pretend Kitchens

I have actually sat down and played with this adorable set with my Son. It was so cute watching him doing his own Food Network cooking show. Adding Lego's as ingredients, it was a hoot!

The product is very well made and just the right size for your little tykes! The set comes with two sauce pots and lids, one fry pan, wooden spoon set and a red and white checked hot pad (do not use on a real stove!) They were so creative in the packaging you can use the box for the little stove if you don't own the larger version from

I only promote items that I love! Christmas is right around the corner. I would recommend this little Kitchen Accessory Set as a great gift for that special little cook in your life ;)

Thank you Pretend Play kitchen Shop for sending it over!

Here is their link, hope on over to play kitchens see all their other fabulous fun items!

Happy Play Cooking ;)

This Product Was a Free Giveaway