This time of the year,I think apples have a crisper sweeter taste. There are so many ways to enjoy a good fresh apple. How many ways can you name? I’ve come up with a few: An apple with a little salt, apples dipped in caramel sauce, apples dipped in peanut butter and honey, fried apples, apple sauce, apple dumplings, apple pie… Well you get the picture. I’m sure you have thought of some I didn’t. 

In keeping with holiday favorites, I’m sharing a recipe called Spiced Red Apples. The first time I had these was during the holiday season at Sam and Glenda Countiss’s home. Glenda shared this scrumptious recipe with me.

Spicy Red Apples 

8-10 Apples (Peeled and quartered)

1 Large Package Red Hots

3 Cups Sugar

4 Cups Water

2 TBS Red Food Coloring

Bring the last four ingredients to a boil. Then add the peeled & quartered apples in the liquid and bring to a boil. Remove from stove and let steam for 3-4 hours. Place in a bowl with small amount of juice. This can be served room temperature or chilled.

It’s one of my favorite seasons, Strawberry season! This time of the year the strawberries are so sweet. If you enjoy eating strawberries as much as I do, you may want to head to the Strawberry Festival in Stillwaterm OK., on Saturday May 11th.

This week I’m sharing a very special strawberry pie recipe. My sister shared this recipe on facebook last week saying our mother had given it to her. I told her evidently she was mother’s favorite daughter since mother hadn’t shared it with me. My sister was quick to tell me mother had said I had given it to mother. I dont remember this recipe! I’m telling  you this because I really don’t know where it had originated. What I can tell you us the recipe is easy and very good because I made it over the weekend. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did.

Strawberry Pie (Makes 2)

2 Baked and cooled pie crusts

Place your strawberries in the cooled pie crust. Use whole strawberries unless they are very large. Then you may want to cut them in half. After arranging your strawberries, you will make the strawberry glaze.

Strawberry Glaze

In a saucepan combine the follwing :

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Water

1/8 tsp. Salf

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

Place over medium heat and stir until it has thickened

Add:

1 Small package strawberry Jello. Stir unil jello has dissolved. Allow the glaze to cool. Then pour over the strawberries. If desired serve topped with Cool Whip. ENJOY

Hint: I find a small wire whip my best friend when making this glaze.

For some reason Thanksgiving dinner seems to always call for cranberry sauce. I’m not a big fan of cranberry sauce. Laugh if you want, but I just don’t like how it feels in my mouth. I do however love cranberry salad. This week I am going to share my favorite recipe for cranberry salad. After Thanksgiving dinner has come and gone, we’ve even used it on our turkey dishes.

Cranberry Salad

• 1lb Cranberries, ground

• 1 whole orange, ground (I always grind the orange peeling too)

• 1 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 pkgs cherry jello

• 2 cups warm water

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• 1 cup chopped marshmallows(optional, I do not use marshmallows because I don’t like the way they feel in my mouth)

• 1 1/2 cup chopped celery

Directions: Grind the cranberries and orange in your food processor. Pour into a bowl and add the sugar. Mix well. Then Let this mixture set in refrigerator over night. The next day mix gelatin with warm water. Set in refrigerator until it just begins to jell. Once it starts to jell, add pecans, marshmallows and celery. Then add this in the cranberry mixture. Refrigerate until well set.

This creamy cheese dip is quick and easy. It’s good to serve any time of the year. It is good served with chips or crackers.

Confetti Cheese Salsa

Ingredients: 

2 Cups (8oz) finely shredded cheddar cheese

2 Cups (8oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 medium green pepper, diced

1 small cucumber, seeded and diced

1 small onion, chopped

1 bottle (8oz) ranch salad dressing

2 TBS salsa

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Combine the salad dressing and salsa; pour over cheese mixture and gently toss. 

If you like something fast and easy this recipe os for you. It was given to me by my friend, Sue Ann Kid. She and I used to fuss over the name of it. Sue Ann calls it taco soup and I call it tortilla soup becuase my recipe for taco soup doesnt have tortillas in it. No matter what you call it, I promise it is delicious!

Ingredients:

Taco/Tortilla Soup

1 lb. Velveeta Cheese

1 Can Chicken Broth

1 Can Cream of celery soup

2 small cans or 1 large can chicken pieces

1 can rotel tomatoes

Directions: Heat all the ingredients together, and once it has heated add: 1 1/2 Cups Chopped Flour Tortillas.