Healthy Snack: Baked Beet | Apple | Sweet Potato Chips

Image via: BHG

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Healthy Snack: 3 Baked Chips Recipes

1. Baked Beet Chips

Ingredients

• 2 purple or golden beets
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Parchment paper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

To make this yummy treat preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Peel the beets and cut them into thin slices. It is way easier to do that if you use a mandolin or a hand-held slicer, but a sharp knife will work as well. Use two paper towels and press the beet slices between them to remove any excess liquid. Arrange them into one layer onto the lined baking sheet and sprinkle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the sheet from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes. After that, return the baking sheet into the oven and bake for another 4 to 8 minutes checking regularly so they don’t get over-baked. They are done when the center of each chip isn’t wet anymore. Once done, place them on paper towels and let them cool down for a few minutes before serving.

2. Baked Apple Chips

Image via: Whole Living

Ingredients

• 2 apples, washed
• Brown sugar and cinnamon (optional)
• Parchment paper

Directions

These are as yummy as they are easy to make, but you do need some time for them to bake. So, preheat your oven to about 200 degrees F. Line one or two baking sheets with parchment paper. You can core the apples, but that is not necessary. Next, using a mandolin or a sharp knife cut the apples into thin slices. If you didn’t core the apples, remove any seeds. The thinner you can slice them, the crispier they will get. Arrange the slices in one layer on the baking sheet. If you want, you can now sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon over the slices. Bake them for 1 to 2 hours, flipping them once during the baking process. Turn off the oven and let the slices in the oven for about an hour to get them extra crispy.

3. Baked Sweet-Potato Chips

Ingredients

• 2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• Parchment paper

Image via: The Very Girl

Directions

Sweet potatoes are one of the yummiest and healthiest things out there, so this is a great way to add them to your healthy snack options. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F, making sure that the racks are in the center and lower positions. Slice the sweet potatoes into thin slices, using a mandolin or a sharp knife. Divide the sweet potato slices between 2 lined baking sheets. Drizzle with oil, toss them gently, and spread them in a single layer on sheets. Bake them, flipping once during baking, until the centers are soft and edges are crisp, which should take about 22 to 25 minutes. As soon as they are out of the oven, sprinkle with some high quality coarse salt, and serve.

Make either one of the above baked chips or even make a variety of them to serve at a friendly gathering or a movie night. They can be stored in an airtight container for a couple of days, and if they get soft, just pop them in the oven for a few minutes to get them crisp again.

For more healthy snacks on Stagetecture, click here.

Try this recipe and enter for your chance to win your own below!

I decided to try an apple dessert and chose this Dutch Apple Pudding Cake recipe. Not only did I love how I could start it in the morning and set and forget it, but it made the entire house smell delicious! Here’s how I enjoyed using the slow cooker.

  All images by Stagetecture

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Dutch Apple Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1 20 ounce can apple pie filling
1/2 cup dried cherries, dried cranberries, or raisins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1 1/4 cups apple juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
Chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)
Vanilla Ice cream (optional)

Directions

1. Lightly coat a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray; set aside. In a small saucepan bring apple pie filling to boiling. Stir in cherries. Transfer apple mixture to prepared cooker.

2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter; stir just until combined. Stir in the 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour and evenly spread batter over apple mixture in cooker, spreading evenly.

3. In the same small saucepan combine apple juice, brown sugar, and the 1 tablespoon butter. Bring to boiling. Boil gently, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Carefully pour apple juice mixture over mixture in cooker.

4. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean. Remove crockery liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker. Cool, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, spoon warm cake and its sauce into dessert dishes. If desired, top each serving with vanilla ice cream.

This recipe from BHG was really easy, but what made it better was the ability to set the slow cooker and walk away from it! I left the house, set the timer and when I came back home it had turned off and the house smelled delicious. The spring loaded hinges snap the lid down which I love, and it can be programmed for varying lengths of time. Thanks Hamilton Beach!

‘Pin to Win’ Giveaway

Ready for a chance to win a Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker?

How to Enter Giveaway:

1. Read through the Rafflecopter entry options. This contest wants you to pin your favorite slow cooker recipe image and URL on Pinterest from anywhere on the web onto our shared ‘Thanksgiving in Style” board.

2. Ask to join the Stagetecture group Pinterest board – ‘Thanksgiving in Style” with your email or username on the Rafflecopter entry. We will invite you to the board and then you can pin!

3. Follow all directions on Rafflecopter, including leaving #SlowCookerMeals in your description.

4. Leave a comment here on Stagetecture.com comments area of your favorite slow cooker meal you would make and include the URL for another chance! Need some ideas? Look through Stagetecture’s slow cooker recipes here. ‘IF YOU LEAVE A RECIPE URL, YOU STILL NEED TO ENTER IT AS AN ENTRY IN THE RAFFLECOPTER +1″

5. One winner will be chosen on Saturday, Oct. 25th at 9:00am EST. Check back to see if you won! Winner should fill out contact form to claim prize.

Note – Only open to continental U.S. residents. Must have a shipping address and not a P.O. Box for Hamilton Beach to mail you the prize if chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent a promotional slow cooker by Hamilton Beach for this post. All opinions, notes, and setup of the giveaway are on my own consent.

For more slow cooker recipes on Stagetecture, try one of these!

Fall Dessert: Sweet Caramel Apple Fantans

Image via:  Southern Living

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Servings: 1 Dozen
Prep Time: 50 min.
Total Time: 2 hours and 45 min

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 cup of Warm Water
1 (1/4 oz.) of Envelope Active Dry Yeast
1 teaspoon of Granulated Sugar
1 Large Egg
¼ cup Granulated Sugar
¼ cup of Butter, melted
1 teaspoon of Salt
1 ½ -2 cups of Bread Flour
1 ½ cups of Whole Wheat Flour
All-Purpose Flour

For the Filling:

9 tablespoons of Butter, softened and divided
3 cups of Peeled and Diced Braeburn Apples (about 3 whole apples)
½ cup of Golden Raisins
¼ cup of firmly packed Light Brown Sugar
¾ cup of Granulated Sugar
1 tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon
¾ cup of Chopped Toasted Pecans

For the Glaze:

1/3 cup of Butter
1/3 cup of firmly packed Light Brown Sugar

Image via:  Tablespoon-Girl Who Ate Everything

Directions

For the Dough:

1. First take the dry yeast, warm water and teaspoon of granulated sugar and combine them in a bowl with a powerful electric stand mixer; let it stand and mix for about 5 minutes.
2. Then stir in the large egg, the ¼ cup of granulated sugar, butter and salt; plus the 1 ½ cups of bread flour. Beat the new additions with the previous mixture at a medium pace with the paddle attachment for about a 1 minute or until the mixture has become smooth.
3. Now, you are going to want to gradually beat in the whole wheat flour and enough of the remaining bread flour to create a soft enough dough to knead.
4. Take some all-purpose flour and sprinkle it over a flat surface, then turn the dough mixture onto to it and knead it until the dough is smooth and elastic which should take about 6-8 minutes. (If you need more flour, feel free to sprinkle as much as needed during this process.)
5. Place the new dough into a lightly greased large bowl then turn it to grease the top of the dough as well then place a plastic wrap on the top of the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm area (preferably 85 degrees F). It will probably take about 45-55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. The area should be free from drafts as well.

For the Filling:

1. In a large skillet, melt the 1 tablespoon of butter over a medium heat. Once the butter has melted add in the apples, golden raisins and the ¼ cup of brown sugar. Let the new mixture sauté for about 4-5 minutes or until the apples have become a crisp-tender. Then let the mixture cool completely for about 30 minutes.
2. Return to the dough and take it out of the bowl, once again on a lightly floured surface place the dough and start punching the dough down. Then with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour, and use it to roll out 20”-X 12”- inch rectangle. Then spread the remaining 8 tablespoons of the softened butter over the dough.
3. Stir together the ¾ cup of granulated sugar and cinnamon; then sprinkle the mixture over the butter and top it with pecans and the apple mixture.
4. Begin to cut the dough into 5 (12”-X 4”- inch) strips, then stack them on top of each other, don’t worry if they aren’t perfect but make sure that the pecan or apple pieces are tucked away between the layers.
5. Take the stacked strips and cut them into 6 (4”-X2”- inch) rectangles, then cut each rectangle in half crosswise to form 12 (2-inch) squares. Then take the stacked squares with the cut sides up and place each square stack into each cup of a 12 cup muffin pan.
6. Cover the pan loosely with a plastic wrap, and let the dough rise again in a warm area 85 degree F, free from drafts for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the rolls rise about ¾ inch above the rim of the pan.
7. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and bake the rolls for about 18-20 minutes or until it is deep golden brown. Then take out of the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes on a wire rack. After cooling period as finished remove the rolls from the pan to the wire rack.

For the Glaze:

1. In a 1-qt. heavy saucepan, bring 1/3 cup of butter and brown sugar to a boil for 1 minute over a medium heat. Be sure that you stir it constantly. Then remove it from the heat and drizzle it over the top of the warm rolls.  Then place the apple fantans on a plate and serve your fall dessert recipe.

With the Fall season under-way, invite it into your home from the place that everyone enjoys- the kitchen.  A recipe can always be a way to bring the family together and enjoy food.  Most people love desserts, something about the sweet tastes that they bring makes one just go crazy.  The Sweet Caramel Apple Fantan Fall dessert recipe, is one that will do just that in all of the right ways.  So what are you waiting for get up and get to baking this dish for your family to love.  Also, Stagetecture readers, do you have any fall recipes that you bake to help bring in the season if so we’d love to hear about them?

For more dessert ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy Sunday Brunch Day! Is it time to eat yet? If you are like me it doesn’t matter what time of day it is – breakfast and lunch combined into Brunch is always perfect! Today Betty Crocker has a delicious take on bread pudding, but for brunch. Try this Bacon, Cheddar and Apple Bread Pudding recipe and tell me you couldn’t eat this for at least 2 weeks straight!  Let me know how you like it. For more brunch recipes – try these.

Bacon Cheddar & Apple Bread Pudding 

Image via: Heather & Light

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (3 cups)
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
4 cups cubed firm bread
1 pound bacon, cooked and chopped
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
2 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon ground mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
5 eggs

Image via: Betty Crocker

Directions

1. Grease 2-quart casserole. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook apples in butter 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir in brown sugar; reduce heat to low. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.

2. Layer half each of the bread, bacon, apples and cheese in casserole. Repeat with remaining bread, bacon, apples and cheese.

3. Mix all remaining ingredients; pour over cheese. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Want more brunch ideas on Stagetecture? Click here.

Autumn is the perfect time for taking advantage of crisp apples in recipes. Whether you like to cook fresh baked apple pies or you’d like a fresh way to eat crisp raw apples, this Heath Candy & Autumn Apple Dip recipe is for you. This dip is delicious with your favorite fruit and makes a wonderful gift! Put in jars this season for great Autumn gifts for friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Heath Candy & Autumn Apple Dip

Image via: Just Helen

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Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients:

8 ounces softened cream cheese

½-teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 jar marshmallow crème (7 ounces)

Heath candy bar broken into small pieces

Apple wedges

Image via: Pemberely Bake Shoppe

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, pumpkin spice, and peanut butter until smooth.

2. Slowly fold in marshmallow crème and add Heath Candy bar pieces into dip mixture.

Refrigerate. Serve with apple wedges.

For more food recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

I just got back from a brisk, early morning walk and noticed the crunch of the first few leaves under my feet. Fall is the time of year most of us relish! The squash, pumpkins and apples are almost ripened and ready to pick. So, with that in mind, here is a Fall recipe courtesy of Cooking Light that highlights two Fall favorites – apples and pork!

Skillet Pork Chops with Apple and Onion Glaze

Image via: Pinterest

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions, thawed

2 cups  Gala apple wedges

1 tablespoon  butter, divided

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

4  (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (about 1/2 inch thick)

Image via: Frugally Foodulent

 Preparation

1.Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Pat onions dry with a paper towel. Add onions to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring once. Add apple to pan; place in oven. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until onions and apple are tender. Stir in 2 teaspoons butter, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add pork to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove pork from pan; keep warm. Combine broth and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.

4. Add broth mixture to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook 1 minute or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in vinegar and remaining 1 teaspoon butter. Serve sauce with pork and apple mixture.

For more recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Are you in a rush for a unique sandwich recipe or just want a twist on a childhood favorite sandwich? Whether it’s for a breakfast or snack, the all-time favorite sandwich should satisfy your appetite. A tasty sandwich comes in handy and easy to consume. The fillings of the sandwich can be done in so many ways. You can always have it done according to your preference.

If you’re in a rush but don’t want to compromise the taste, try making a gourmet grilled cheese and apple sandwiches. It’s so easy to prepare and quick to make. The blend of grilled cheese and apple makes it so rich in flavors and sweet aroma. This is a perfect mixture for a sandwich filling that you surely want to eat.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese & Apples Sandwich

Image via: The Endless Meal

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Ingredients

• 8 teaspoons honey mustard
• 8 hearty whole grain bread slices
• 8 sharp Cheddar cheese slices
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
• Vegetable cooking spray

Image: Foodess

Procedure

1. Spread about 1 tsp. mustard on the side of each bread slice.
2. Place a slice of cheese on each of 4 bread slices and top it with apples.
3. Top with remaining cheese and bread. Mustard sides down.
4. Coat both sides of sandwiches with cooking spray.
5. Cook the sandwiches in a preheated Panini, press 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Wrap it up and you’re good to go. The whole ingredients should make at least four delicious grilled cheese and apple sandwiches. You will definitely have enough for the whole family. It’s a great tasting sandwich that you want to do all over again.

The grilled cheese and apple sandwiches is not just for a typical day but can also be served for gatherings. It’s a nice addition to your menu. This is one of the sandwich recipes that deserve to be in your list of favorite menus.

For more recipes on Stagetecture, click here.