Apple Crisp

We had another family dinner this past Saturday night and since we had yet to make a trip to the grocery I had to come up with something that included ingredients that were currently awaiting use in my pantry. I stumbled across this one and I am so glad I gave it a chance. You will see the few changes I made listed next to the ingredients.

Apple Crisp I
Compliments of Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and sliced ( used 6 granny smith apples)
  
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 packets instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal ( I only used 2 and used what I had on hand that had cinnamon in it, cinnamon roll and cinnamon and spice)
  
• 1 pinch salt ( I omitted)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts ( I used about a 1/4 cup of pecans, it was all I had)
  
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place apples in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Stir in flour, instant oatmeal and salt. Fold in walnuts. Sprinkle oatmeal mixture evenly over apples. Drizzle with maple syrup.
3. Bake in preheated oven 50 to 70 minutes, until apples are tender and topping is golden.

This was really good and I wish we would have had some vanilla ice-cream to go along with it. It would have also been much better with more pecans...I forgot just how good pecans are in things. This is definitely one to try out during your fall festivities, I can see it now, getting fresh apples from your local orchard and then sitting around a nice campfire as you eat this with a nice warm mug of apple cider. Can you tell fall is my absolute favorite time of year??

Basil Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Since I find myself wanting to get back in the kitchen and cooking again, Thursday afternoon I sat at work wondering what I could pick up at the store for dinner that night. I stumbled upon this recipe over at Cassie Craves so I figured I would make it with a few changes of my own. I thought it was yummy and so did Daniel, he is eating his as I type this (leftovers).

Basil Pesto Chicken Sandwich~
Makes 4

Ingredients:
3 lg. chicken breasts
3 tbsp. Good Seasoning Garlic and Herb
extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. mayo
1 tbsp. basil pesto
2 roma tomatoes
8 slices provolone cheese
4 hoagie buns

Directions:
1.) In a large skillet add a few drizzles of extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat.
2.) Sprinkle your garlic and herb seasoning generously over your chicken breasts and add to skillet. Brown on both sides and then continue cooking in a preheated oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for twenty to thirty minutes.
3.) In a small bowl mix mayo and basil pesto and set aside. Slice tomatoes.
4.) Pull chicken back out of the oven and begin building your sandwich. Slice each piece of chicken on the diagonal and layer first, top with two pieces of cheese, three slices of tomato, and then on the opposite side of the bread slather on your basil pesto mayo.
5.) Place on a baking sheet and put back in the oven until your cheese has melted and the bread is slightly toasted.

I served ours with french fries and it was yummy in my tummy.