German Apple Pancake

I know it's been too long since I blogged on here when I have to look back at my pics to see what I cooked...and then SEARCH for the recipe. I don't remember what I served this with!! I was super excited to get to cook with my cast iron pan, which I've only used when we went camping (once). The recipe is from allrecipes.com.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 large tart apple - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, blend eggs, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Gradually mix in milk, stirring constantly. Add vanilla, melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Let batter stand for 30 minutes or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
3. Melt butter in a 10 inch oven proof skillet, brushing butter up on the sides of the pan. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over the butter. Line the pan with apple slices. Sprinkle remaining sugar over apples. Place pan over medium-high heat until the mixture bubbles, then gently pour the batter mixture over the apples.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for 10 minutes. Slide pancake onto serving platter and cut into wedges.

So, I'm not really sure what I expected this to taste like, but I was pleasantly surprised. That said, I don't think I'll be making it for guests, unless they've had it before, and liked it. It tasted like an apple custard...reminded me of the Jello "American" custard that you can buy in the little box. My mom used to make it and sprinkle it with nutmeg, so it was kind of nostalgic. I loved how it puffed up in the pan!

Crabapple Jam

I posted awhile ago about my "discovery" of canning. So, I'm at it again! Anyone who's been in my back yard has probably noticed that I have a big crab apple tree. I'd love to have it removed b/c it's not very pretty and it drops apples all over the yard, but we live in military housing, so that's not even an option. So...this year I decided to put the apples to use by making some jam. I even got my 3 year old involved helping me pick and wash them. I made 5 jars using the recipe below, and then I added 3 diced jalapenos that I had boiled in a small amount of water prior to adding them.

Ingredients:

• 5 QUARTS CRAB APPLES, REDUCED TO 7 CUPS PULP
• 2 CUPS WATER
• ¼ CUP LEMON JUICE
• 1 CUP APPLE JUICE
• ½ CUP WATER
• 1 PKG. PECTIN
• 1 1/3 CUPS HONEY

Directions:

1. Cook crabapples in 2 cups water until they begin to pop (about 20 minutes).
2. Press the cooked crabapples through a sieve or food mill.
3. In a large saucepanb or kettle, combine pulp, lemon juice, apple juice and water.
4. Slowly add pectin.
5. Stir until dissolved.
6. Add honey.
7. Bring to a rolling boil; boil 1 minute, remove from heat.
8. Pour into sterilized jars, seal, and process 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

So...the jam with the jalapenos is pretty spicy, and I haven't tried the plain jam yet. I'm planning to use the jalapeno jam over cream cheese for a tasty appetizer. I'm just psyched that I did something with those darn apples...and I also grew the jalapenos, so it's all from my back yard!!