CARMEL APPLE PIZZA

This is part of a food challenge hosted by Lady Behind The Curtain where each month a different combination of foods and this month it is Apples and Carmel.   For more information if you would like to participate click here.

I made this based on this recipe at Food.com  by Adopted Parisian but have added my own touches. 

Here is the recipe:

-   1 tube of pre-made chocolate chip chip or sugar cookie dough 

-   1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temp 

-   1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

-   1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 

-   1 teaspoon vanilla 

-    2 green apples 

-   1 cup of lemon lime soda (optional) 

-   10 drops of lemon juice (optional) 

-   1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350° or whatever is indicated on the package.  Roll out dough into a large cookie enough cookie to cover a round pizza pan and place on pan (Sorry, picture did not come out for this one).  Bake 8-10 minutes or whatever is indicated on package, then allow it to cool.

Blend the cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla  until well blended.

It should look like this when blended

Spread on cookie

Wash, core and then chop the apple in to thin slices.

Pour the lemon lime soda in a bowl with the lemon juice.  Add apples and toss (will prevent apples from browning)

Place the apple slices on the cookie.

Heat up carmel 30-40 seconds in the microwave and drizzle over the top of the pizza.  

I made my own carmel topping using this recipe, but you could use a commercially prepared topping instead.

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES

This recipe is part the Mom's Crazy Cooking Challenge hosted by Tina where each month a different food is posted and participants make a recipe of another blogger and all are posted at the same time.   For further details, click here.

This month's challenge was chocolate chip cookies and I chose a chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies by Jessica at How Sweet It Is  as the addition of oatmeal makes it sound more healthy than just a regular cookie.
It had a nice flavor and the texture was someone between a cookie and a chewy muffin.

I made larger cookies and it made 15.

Preheat oven to 375.

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 
• 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips, could use
• 1- 2 tablespoons milk (optional if dough is crumbly)

Allow butter to come to room temperature, then cream together until smooth (I don't own a mixer so I used my hand blender, but in the past have used a fork).

 

 This is what is looked like when blended.

Add egg and vanilla for about two minutes or well mixed.

Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, then add the oats.  If it is still crumbly add 1 tablespoon of milk, if needed add 1 more tablespoon of milk.

Fold in chocolate chips.

The original recipe advised refrigerate for 30 minutes, remove and roll into big 1 1/2 inch balls that are 2 inches apart for 9-11 minutes

Instead, I used tablespoons to drop heaping tablespoons on parchment paper without refrigerating and they were done at around 8 minutes, but could vary depending the oven - I would recommend checking at 8 minutes.





Be sure to check out the other participants recipes below.  Next month;'s challenge is mashed potatoes and will be posted November 7th.  If you would like to join the party, visit Mom's Crazy Cooking.

Have a yummy weekend!

Banana Nut Chip Bread

A new twist on an old favorite!   I had several ripe bananas that I needed to use and went in search of a different banana bread recipe and found this one by Ray Lux over at All Recipes http://allrecipes.com/recipe/banana-nut-chip-bread/detail.

 Ingredients

• 4-5 Ripe Bananas
  
• 1 1/4 Cups Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 TBSP Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 Cups Flour
• 3/4 Cup Quick-Cook Oats
• 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 3/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts 
• Non-stick coating spray
  

Makes 2 loaves
Bake time:  50-55 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  2 loaf pans are needed - recommended size is 8x4 inch each.   

Puree Bananas in food processor.  If you don't have a food processor, you could just mash the bananas.














Add the eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla and sugar to the bananas and mix throughly.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg

Add banana mixture to the bowl and mix thoroughly.

Add in the chocolate chips and the nuts

Spray both pans with non-stick coating

Pour batter in the pans.  Since I used disposable pans, I put them on a cookie sheet before putting them in the oven.

Bake 50-55 minutes - until you can put a toothpick or fork in the center and it comes out clean.  Remove and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then serve. 

I am linking this up to Saturday Blog Showcase at http://www.thibeaultstable.com/2010/02/welcome-to-our-5th-saturday-blog.html

Show And Tell over at Blue Cricket Designs -  http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/01/show-and-tell-and-giveaway-blush.html

I am also linking this up to Creative Jewish Mom's Craft Schooling Sundays

http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2010/01/welcome-to-craft-schooling-sunday.html

Click on the hyperlink and go check out all the wonderful creations by others!