Homemade syrup

We have an apricot tree. We love it...that is, when it grows apricots. This year we got NONE. Last year, we got like 200. Utah has crazy spring frosts that can be detrimental to early bloomers such as the apricot tree. So sad.

We were pleasantly surprised when a kind soul brought us a big bag of apricots a couple of weeks ago from trees that had made it through the frost. That meant we didn't have to go without our beloved apricot syrup this year!

If your apricots are naturally sweet, you can really limit the added sugar. I like to add as little sugar as possible so I'm not covering my breakfast with candy. The fruit on our own tree is always very sweet and delicious. We prune our trees and thin the fruit. I have gotten away with adding as little as 1 1/2 cups of sugar to my syrup. Many syrup and jam recipes call for equal amounts of sugar and fruit puree. I think that's insane. If your apricots haven't been thinned or ripened, they might have little flavor and require more sugar. This was the case with the apricots that were gifted to us. I had to use 3 cups of sugar.

This syrup, or you could call it a sauce, is delicious. Enjoy!

THE RECIPE:

6 c. apricot puree
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Bring a pot of water to boil. Set a bowl of ice water nearby. In batches, place whole apricots in boiling water for 1 minute, then remove and place in ice water. This is called blanching. The skins will slip right off the apricots now. They should also break open very easily so you can remove the pits. I never need a knife, but I do get a little messy.

Puree apricots in a blender, then pour into a pot, along with lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. The sugar will dissolve, and the puree will eventually boil up then back down. At this point it starts to look glossy and more syrupy. It will never get really sticky, though, like pancake syrup because I don't add enough sugar for that. That's a good thing. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. The syrup can be canned or frozen.

All the right attributes

Everyone loves this strawberry pretzel Jell-O. It works as a dessert, or it could be a side dish for a holiday cook-out. It has all the best attributes -- creamy, salty, sweet, crunchy. Note that this dish requires several hours of refrigeration time.

THE RECIPE:

2 c. chopped/crushed pretzels
1/4 c. sugar
2/3 c. butter, melted

8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip

6 oz. package strawberry Jell-O
1 c. boiling water
1 c. cold water
1 lb. fresh strawberries, sliced

Chop pretzels in food processor. You'll get a nice mix of chunks and powder. I found about 4 cups whole pretzel sticks reduced to 2 cups chopped. Mix with sugar and butter, then press into 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

Place cream cheese and sugar in dish and microwave until soft so sugar can easily be stirred in. Let stand to room temperature. Stir in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzel crust, ensuring that cream mixture reaches edges of baking dish and seals off access to pretzels. Refrigerate several hours.

Stir Jell-O into boiling water until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water, then sliced strawberries. Pour over cream layer, which should be firm enough by now to handle liquid. Arrange strawberries evenly. Refrigerate about 3 hours, or until Jell-O is set.

Sweet and sour specialty

This is a recipe passed down from my grandma to my mom to me. Everyone enjoys these sweet and sour meatballs. Feel free to make your own meatballs, as long as they are really flavorful, but I just use frozen ones for a quick and easy weeknight meal. My whole family eats this meal like it's going out of style. It's tasty stuff!

THE RECIPE:

14-16 oz. frozen precooked Italian meatballs, thawed
20 oz. can pineapple chunks, juice reserved
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1/3 c. water
1/3 c. sugar
1 green bell pepper, cleaned out and sliced into strips

In a saucepan, stir together pineapple juice (should measure 1 cup), cornstarch, soy sauce, vinegar, water and sugar. Stir while ingredients are still cold, or cornstarch won't dissolve. Over medium heat, bring mixture to boil and stir for a minute, until thickened. Add peppers and cover, cooking until peppers reach desired tenderness. Stir in meatballs and pineapple chunks. Serve over rice.

Creamy, buttery, lemony

This is a lovely pie. Lemon chess pie, as it is called, is a cousin to my beloved chocolate chess pie. It tastes like lemon bars instead of the traditional lemon meringue pie. I will definitely make this again. My family gobbled up this pie in no time. The recipe comes from Cook's Country.

THE RECIPE:

5 eggs
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. cornmeal
1/4 tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 9-inch pie shell, well chilled
1 tsp. sugar

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon zest, juice, cornmeal and salt. Whisk in butter. Let stand while pie shell cooks so cornmeal can soften.

Poke pie shell all over with fork. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position. Bake shell about 8 minutes, then remove from oven. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees.

Whisk filling briefly to recombine. Pour into pie shell and bake until surface is light brown and center jiggles slightly when shaken, about 45 to 55 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Cool for 4 hours on wire rack before slicing into pie. Refrigerate leftovers.

Secret layer of deliciousness

This was my first time making banana cream pie. I did it for Thanksgiving for my auntie, who said it was her favorite. It turned out awesome! I was so excited when it got rave reviews. The success came because I made something called a black-bottom banana cream pie, which has a layer of chocolate right above the crust. Score! I don't think I could ever eat it any other way now.

I made my own custard, which isn't difficult at all. Any kind of crust will work, but I think the crunch of a chocolate or graham cracker crust is divine.

THE RECIPE:

1 prebaked crust
3 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 c. whole milk
3 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 oz. semisweet chocolate
1/4 c. cream
1 or 2 Tbsp. sugar
2 ripe but firm bananas
1/4 c. orange juice
2 c. sweetened whipped cream*

In a bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar and salt. Whisk in cornstarch thoroughly. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm milk until almost boiling, stirring frequently. Drizzle hot milk slowly into egg mixture, whisking the whole time. If you do this very patiently, you will temper your eggs gradually and prevent them from scrambling.

Return combined mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Cool for a few minutes, then place plastic wrap directly onto custard to cool completely. The plastic will prevent the custard from forming a skin.

Combine chocolate, cream and sugar, and microwave in small increments until smooth. Let cool completely, then pour into pie crust. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Cut bananas into 1/4-inch slices. Toss with orange juice, then drain and pat dry with paper towels. Fold bananas into custard, then spread into pie crust. Pipe whipped cream on top as desired.




*Whipped cream doesn't hold up long, so if you need to make this pie in advance, or if you need it to hold up for a long time through a party or extended refrigeration, you should consider stabilizing your whipped cream. This way it will hold up for days. See recipe below.

Stabilized whipped cream:

4 tsp. cold water
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
1 c. heavy cream
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Place cold water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top and mix in. Let stand for a minute to thicken. This process is called blooming. Microwave gelatin in small bursts, stirring each time, until melted into a translucent liquid.

Start beating cream, sugar and vanilla with mixer until cream starts to thicken. Pour in gelatin and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Makes 2 cups.

Fresh and healthy

Making applesauce from scratch was one of the most satisfying things I've done in the kitchen. It was so fun to know we grew the apples in our own yard, then slow-cooked them into this delicious, healthy puree. It was by far the best applesauce I've eaten in my life. Halfway into the cooking, your house will smell like a cider factory.

This is beyond easy! You can make as big or small a batch as you want. Use naturally sweet apples whose flavor you love, and you won't have to add a single bit of sweetener. I used honeycrisp apples from our tree, which we have been told are some of the best apples people have ever eaten. They made the sweetest, most flavorful sauce. I am excited to make this pie with it.

THE RECIPE:

Apples
1/2 c. water

Peel and core apples before slicing into eighths. It doesn't matter if the air turns the apples a little brown while you're working. Fill Crock-Pot with desired amount of apple slices. A full pot will cook down and make about half a pot of applesauce. Pour 1/2 cup water over apples. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, or low for 8 to 10 hours.*

Puree apples to desired consistency. An immersion blender is fantastic for this. A regular blender works as well, or if you like a chunkier sauce, use a potato masher. Eat your applesauce warm, right out of the pot! Refrigerate leftovers. (Applesauce is also great for canning.)



*I do high for 6 hours, but every Crock-Pot is different, so you'll have to figure out what's best for you. I have two Crock-Pots, and one of them has a tendency to burn the top edges of food, so I spray the sides of that one with cooking spray before I put apples in it.

Crispy, buttery crumbs

The recipe for this plum tart comes from Ina Garten. It was very easy to make, and the crust was divine. You can substitute peaches or nectarines for the plums, which I will definitely be doing now that my nectarine tree is ready for harvest!

THE RECIPE:

2 c. flour
3/4 c. finely chopped walnuts (not ground -- leave a little texture)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
12 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 egg yolk
2 lbs. plums, pitted and quartered (for me, this was 8 plums)
2 Tbsp. sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, nuts and sugar, then add butter and egg yolk. Mix with a pastry blender or fork or food processor until crumbly. Press 2 cups of crumbs into bottom of 9-inch springform or tart pan.

Arrange plum quarters, skin side down, in pan. Make a ring of plums around the outside edge and work inward. Sprinkle sugar over plums, then sprinkle remainder of the crumbs evenly over plums. Bake about 40 minutes, or until tart is golden brown and juices are bubbling. Cool, then serve with vanilla ice cream.

Below is a picture of a pastry blender. It's a great tool to have for cutting cold butter into flour:

Beautiful blueberries

For Mother's Day breakfast, we ate this blueberry strata, which I got from the Kraft website. It's a breakfast you assemble the night before, and it's a snap to throw together. It was good, and we were all happy to have something new, but I have to say it wasn't as flavorful as I expected. We couldn't really taste the cinnamon and syrup added into the egg mixture. The blueberry syrup poured on top, however, made the dish worthwhile.

I would make this again, but I might fiddle around with the recipe. Let me know if you have any suggestions! By the way, my young family only needed half the recipe.

THE RECIPE:

12 slices white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries, divided
8 oz. cream cheese
8 eggs
2 1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 c. maple-flavored or pancake syrup
1/4 c. packed brown sugar

Spread half of the bread cubes onto bottom of greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with blueberries. Pinch off small chunks of cream cheese and sprinkle around, then top with other half of bread cubes.

Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, syrup and sugar. Pour over bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake strata, covered, for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 to 35 minutes more, or until center is set. Pour blueberry syrup on individual servings.

Blueberry syrup:

2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 1/3 c. maple-flavored or pancake syrup

Combine blueberries and syrup in small saucepan and bring to boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour over blueberry strata.

A pound of perfection

This pound cake is absolutely delicious. Top it with fresh whipped cream and your choice of fruit. We even eat it by itself with a glass of milk. Its sweet, buttery crumb is addictive. I got the recipe from my sister Laura, who has graced many happy family gatherings with its presence.

THE RECIPE:

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sour cream
2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix ingredients and pour into greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake for 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool, then turn onto serving platter. Garnish as desired.

*I am at a high altitude, which may make my baking times different from yours.

Fruit dip

I love dips and sauces. I guess everything is more fun when it's gussied up. My friend Natalie introduced me to this yummy fruit dip. It tastes perfect on apples. Strawberries are a little too juicy and cover up the dip's flavor. Or you could just eat the dip with a spoon...

THE RECIPE:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
6 oz. yogurt, any flavor
7 oz. marshmallow cream
4 oz. Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese and yogurt with electric mixer. Add marshmallow cream, then Cool Whip. Store in refrigerator. Makes enough for a party.

*Note: I used reduced-fat ingredients.

An apple a day

When my 7-year-old was little, she used to tell people, "We're apple farmers!" She was right alongside us when we planted our apple trees, and in the past couple of years she has helped thin and harvest. This season, we have been enjoying huge and sweet honeycrisp apples. These babies are 4 inches in diameter. My husband's favorite way to eat them is just plain, off the tree, in all their glory. But, sometimes it's fun to do something different. How about a crunchy, tangy Waldorf salad? Yes, please.

THE RECIPE:

1/2 c. mayonnaise*
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. salt
3 apples, cored and chopped
1 c. diced celery
1/2 c. chopped walnuts, toasted if desired
1/2 c. raisins or dried cranberries

Combine ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.

*I used the reduced-fat olive oil kind.

Creamy goodness

For the Fourth of July, we had to have some red-white-and-blue food. But these yogurt Jell-O cups would work for any party or holiday. Just change the colors and toppings according to your preference. They taste creamy and delicious, they are very cute, and they are beyond easy to make. Next time, however, I won't use paper muffin liners. They weren't firm enough to make a good mold. I will either try the foil liners or just put the Jell-O in individual clear glass dishes for serving.

THE RECIPE:

1 6-ounce package Jell-O, any flavor
1 32-ounce container low-fat vanilla yogurt
12 muffin tin liners
Homemade whipped cream
Berries

Combine dry Jell-O powder and yogurt in microwave-safe dish. Microwave 2-3 minutes, or until powder is completely dissolved. Spoon mixture into muffin tin liners or glass dishes and refrigerate several hours. Decorate as desired.

Tropical summer treat

A great way to end a summer dinner is with a refreshing bowl of pineapple sorbet. It's light and sweet and delicious. It's very easy to make, especially if you have an ice cream maker. If you don't, you'll probably have to partially freeze it, then blend it again, then freeze it again, to create the necessary air bubbles.

THE RECIPE:

1 fresh, ripe pineapple
1/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Remove pineapple skin and core. Cut pineapple into chunks and place in blender or food processor, along with sugar and lemon juice. Puree thoroughly. Pour into ice cream maker's can and place in freezer for an hour or whatever -- until well chilled but not frozen. Then place in ice cream maker and follow your appliance's directions for churning. Enjoy the results!

Cinnamon meets salad

How about a cinnaberry salad for your next family gathering? You can adjust the salad ingredients to suit your fancy. The cinnamon dressing adds a fun and delicious twist. We think berries and cinnamon make a great pair.

THE RECIPE:

1 head romaine lettuce
2 c. packed fresh spinach
1 c. sliced strawberries
1 c. raspberries
1 c. blueberries or blackberries
1 c. sliced almonds, toasted under the broiler
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese (optional)

Cinnamon dressing:

1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
Shake of onion powder
1/2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1/2 c. canola oil

Mix ingredients in food processor or blender, adding oil last. Pour over salad just before serving.

Berry delightful

Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits. They're sweet and beautiful. This summer strawberry cake is a great use for them. My whole family and our guests loved it. It's kind of like a cobbler and would be fantastic served with vanilla ice cream. It's a Martha Stewart recipe I got from Smitten Kitchen.

THE RECIPE:

6 Tbsp. softened butter, plus more for greasing pan
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan or a 9-inch springform pan. (A standard 9-inch pie pan is too small.)

In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In larger bowl, beat butter with 1 cup sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pan. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter as closely as possible in a single layer. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries. Bake for 10 minutes, then leave pan in oven and reduce heat to 325 degrees. Bake 50 minutes more, or until tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan on rack.

Blueberries are in season

My husband made these blueberry-cornmeal pancakes for breakfast a couple of weekends ago. We really liked them. There's only a hint of cornmeal, but somehow it gives a nice touch. And you can't go wrong with fresh blueberries. The recipe comes from Better Homes and Gardens.

THE RECIPE:

1 c. flour
2 Tbsp. cornmeal
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 beaten egg
1 c. buttermilk or sour milk*
2 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Combine dry ingredients, then make a well in the center of the mixture and set aside. In another bowl, combine egg, milk and oil. Add mixture all at once to dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Gently fold in blueberries.

Cook over medium heat on lightly greased griddle or skillet until golden brown. Pancakes are ready to flip when their surfaces are bubbly and their edges are slightly dry.

*Place 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar in measuring cup. Add milk to make 1 cup total liquid. Let stand for 5 minutes before using.

Little red jewels

This is a fun new twist on an old favorite. Pomegranate guacamole is a concept my lovely cousin Kristy introduced to me. I make it differently every time, according to what I have on hand, and you can do the same. You can add tomatoes, but I kind of like to let the pomegranate go solo. I just always make sure to include the coriander, because its fruity undertones complement the pomegranate nicely.

THE RECIPE:

3 ripe avocados, mashed
3 Tbsp. lime juice
1-2 Tbsp. finely diced red onion
1 clove garlic, pressed (add another if you like spice)
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
Seeds from half a pomegranate*

Whip together thoroughly first six ingredients, then stir in cilantro and pomegranate seeds. Refrigerate about an hour so flavors can mix.

*Click here to learn how to seed a pomegranate without a mess.

Don't skimp on shrimp

Do you like grapefruit? We do. And we really like this fun and unique shrimp salad with grapefruit. It might sound like a crazy mix, but it is delicious. After his first bite, my husband started nodding and said, "Yep. You can make this any time."

Note that the dressing recipe makes a lot. (The measurements are easier this way.) You could probably halve it. Or double the salad.

THE RECIPE:

1 1b. shrimp, cooked (veins and tails removed)
6 oz. spinach
1 grapefruit, peeled, sectioned and cut into chunks
Sugar (optional)
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese OR desired amount of crumbled feta
1/2 c. walnuts or pistachios*

Place grapefruit chunks in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Set aside while assembling remainder of salad ingredients. Toss in grapefruit. Pour dressing over individual servings as desired.

Dressing:

1/3 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. grapefruit juice
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. poppy seeds
1/2 c. oil (I used canola)

Mix first five ingredients, then add oil in thin, steady stream, whisking as you go.

*I used walnuts and toasted them under the broiler.

Hidden treasure

I have been meaning to post this recipe for a long time. This is a unique pie that got high praise from people who tried it. I have to say it is one of the best I've ever tasted. It's a mixed berry pie, using fresh boysenberries and strawberries from our garden, and here's the surprise: The sweet berry filling is swirled with chocolate! That's why I loved it so much. I'm not normally a big fan of baked fruit. I don't like the chunks, and I don't like tartness. But chocolate makes everything worthwhile!

I made this pie more than once, adjusting the fruit amounts according to what I had on hand. You can do the same. Below, however, is the recipe with the ratios I liked best.

THE RECIPE:

2 c. blueberries
2 c. strawberries, halved
1 c. boysenberries
1/3 c. flour
2/3 to 3/4 c. sugar, depending on tartness of berries
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 to 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips*

Gently mix berries with flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Allow to sit while making crust dough. Stir in chocolate chips, then pour filling into bottom crust. Make lattice-style crust on top or whatever design your heart desires -- something that allows ventilation. Brush top crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Line outer edges with foil if needed to prevent burning. I didn't need to do that. Let cool completely on wire rack before eating.

Crust recipe:

2 1/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
1/3 c. cold butter
8 to 10 Tbsp. cold water

Stir together flour and salt, then cut in shortening and butter with pastry blender until you have pea-sized crumbs. Mix in water until dough forms. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. You'll need two 12-inch circles for a 9-inch pie pan.

*I made it both ways. I liked it with more chocolate, and my husband liked it with less -- he loves baked fruit, though, so he wanted the fruit to shine with just a hint of chocolate. I wanted chocolate in every bite.

French perfection

Crepes are amazing, aren't they? You can make them sweet or savory and serve them for breakfast, dinner or even dessert. I am in love with them. I am imagining the crepe pictured above drizzled with chocolate sauce. Oh my heavens. Below is Julia Child's recipe. Plan ahead, because crepe batter is supposed to be refrigerated before use.

THE RECIPE:

1 c. cold water
1 c. cold milk
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. flour
4 Tbsp. melted butter

Whisk together ingredients, then refrigerate at least 2 hours. Preheat wide nonstick skillet to medium heat. Stir settled batter before ladling into pan. Swirl pan around until batter has spread out into a wide, thin circle. You can either flip the crepe or leave it. It's thin enough to cook through. They only take a minute or two to cook. Flip cooked crepes onto plate to cool.

We stuffed ours with our neighbor's homemade strawberry jam, our homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. We topped them with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Another option is powdered sugar, strawberries and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You can't go wrong.