Liberty Tree Tavern's Apple Cobbler

Disney Apple Cobbler

Thank you for coming back to yet another week in our Challenge! In choosing this recipe, I knew I wanted to do something that was baked, and that I had never attempted before. I found the cobbler, and not only did it sound delicious (I will admit to never trying the Liberty Tree Tavern, but I definitely will now!), but I would get to learn how to make a pie crust! It turned out delicious (though I would make a few, minor, changes), and reminded me of something my Grandmother would have made.

Pie Crust Dough:
3 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter cut into ¼ inch pieces
4 tablespoons Crisco – Vegetable

Start by pre-heating the oven to 300 degrees. Then, sift flour, sugar, and salt into a bowl. Using hands, add the Crisco (personal choice is Butter Flavor) and butter and work everything together until it is coarse and crumb-like. Add 2 tablespoons (may require more) of ice water and continue to mix with hands until dough forms. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Once it is at desired length/width place in a greased 13*9 pan.

Dry dough ingredients

Dough after water has been added

Roll out enough dough to cover the bottom of the pan

Cover only the bottom

Apple Filling:
4 pounds Baking Apples – Golden Delicious
½ cup Sugar
1 ½ cups Brown sugar
½ teaspoon Nutmeg – ground
½ cup Flour

Cut apples into thin slices (suggestion that has been made is to peel the apples as well), and fry in a pan for 2-3 minutes. Sift the sugar, brown sugar, nutmeg, and flour. Mix in with the apples, and cook until apples are soft. Chill the mixture, and then place on top of the dough

Apples with sauce

Apple mix on top of dough

Cream Cheese Filling:
8 ounces Cream cheese – softened at room temperature
1 each large egg
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Mix all ingredients together and pour on top of the apple/dough combination. Slightly swirl the filling in.

Oatmeal Streusel:
¾ cup All –purpose flour
½ teaspoon Cinnamon – ground
½ cup Brown Sugar – packed
¾ cup Rolled Oats (I used regular oatmeal)
½ cup Butter – Unsalted

Combine all ingredients together and, with hands, crumble until a course mixture. Sprinkle on top of the apple/dough/filling combination and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the center of the oven.

Cream Cheese Filling with Streusel

Finished baking and ready to serve!

Serve with ice cream and enjoy!

Join Krystal tomorrow for the next 365 dining recipe at www.magicaldismom.com

Jiko Macaroni and Cheese

This week I decided to prepare some Jiko's Macaroni and Cheese. I have never had it before, but the recipe sounded so good (huge cheese lover here) and like the perfect bit of comfort food my family would need with our hectic life pace. The recipe did not disappoint - it has such a unique blend of cheese flavors, and a wonderful creamy texture. I hope you all give it a try!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 quart whole milk
1 1/4 cups Quattro Fromage (4-cheese mixture of asiago, provolone, fontina, and gruyere cheeses)
2 tablespoons white wine (any will do)
2 pounds elbow macaroni (I should mention this is 2 pounds cooked macaroni, a big mistake I made)

Prepare the macaroni according to the directions on the box - I always like to boil mine with some pepper and garlic salt. While macaroni is boiling, start grating cheese for the sauce, and extra to bake on top (I grated an extra 1 1/4 cups).

Macaroni with seasonings

Cheese for topping

Combine flour and butter in a pan over low heat to form a roux. Make sure to stir continuously so the roux does not burn (even slight burning ruins the taste) until a pale brown. At the same time, bring the milk to a simmer. Once this has been done, and the roux is complete, stir the roux into the milk. Then, add in the cheese, wine, and any wanted seasonings and pour over the macaroni.

Roux ingredients

Finished roux

Milk and roux

Complete with topping and seasonings

Place the macaroni in the oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes to warm through, and melt the cheese topping. Plate with a favorite veggie dish and bread, and enjoy!

Comfort food dinner!

Make sure to continue our dining journey with Krystal at www.partnersbehindthemouse.com