Apple Ricotta Puff Pastry Tarts

It must be fall because the air is crisp and I'm baking up these tasty apple treats :)

This recipe has been tweaked from the October issue of First Magazine.

1 box of frozen puff  pastry defrosted (17 oz)
8 gala apples
1 lemon juiced or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup honey, divided
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
a dash of nutmeg (1/8 tsp is too much)
1/8 tsp. of cloves
2 Tablespoons of apricot jam (I used peach)
2 Tablespoons apple cider

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Gently roll out puff pastry so it is flat then with a paring knife cut out apple shapes, stems and leaves.  Make apple shapes with apple, stem and leaf, then place on parchment lined cookie sheet.

Combine leftover dough, roll, then use a cookie cutter to cut small flowers. Place small flowers on separate parchment lined cookie sheet (they will cook faster), and chill all shapes for at least 10 minutes.

Slice apples into 1/8 in half moons. Place slices in bowl and toss with lemon juice and 1/4 cup honey.

In separate bowl mix ricotta, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Place 1 Tablespoon of ricotta mixture onto each apple pastry leaving a 1/4 inch border. Arrange slices on top, skin side up. Bake 20 minutes or until golden.  Bake flowers 10 minutes or until golden.

In microwave, heat jam and cider until warm, mix then brush on cooked apples, garnish with flowers.


Notes: To cut apple shapes in the pastry, cut an apple in half, then with cut side down cut your pastry 1/4 inch bigger around the apple. My puff pastry came with 2 sheets and I was able to cut 6 apple shapes from each sheet of pastry.

Slime Recipe

My grandaughter lives about 10 hours away so in my granny attempt to make Facetime a wee bit more fun and engaging, we made slime together.  This was a fun activity we both enjoyed, especially when some toys got stuck in the slime!

Slime 

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp. Borax 

1/2 cup Elmers white school glue

1 cup warm water

2 containers, I used a large disposable cup and a plastic bowl

Make it:

In the large cup mix 1/2 teaspoon borax with 1/2 cup warm water

In the bowl mix 1/2 cup glue with 1/2 cup warm water

Gradually add the borax water to the glue mixture until the desired slime consistency is reached.  (I used about 1/2 of my borax water)

Note: I've used this recipe with Elmers school glue and also Elmers clear glue.  I have NOT tested this recipe with unbrand glue.  You can add glitter and food coloring.  

How to Cook a Beef Tenderloin

My husband and I perfected this tenderloin cooking method over several years of experimentation; the result is the best, most tender roast ever!  This tenderloin is oh so good, it's one of our go to recipes for special occasions, holidays, celebrations, or just for a super nice family dinner.

Make your tenderloin a uniform size by trussing it.  Truss the tenderloin by folding over the thin part and secure with twine.  This will make your roast about the same circumference.  If you skip this step, the thin part of the roast will overcook.

Rub the side of the tenderloin without fat with A1 steakhouse marinade.

Flip tenderloin so fat side is up and rub it with the marinade.

Place fat side up on foil lined cookie sheet.

Insert an oven cooking thermometer into the the middle, thickest part of the roast.

Broil on high with oven door cracked for 20-30 minutes until slightly burned, cut off the burned fat, flip the roast, return to oven and broil another 15-20 minutes (until the roast starts burning slightly).

Reduce heat to 400 and cook until oven thermometer reaches 125 degrees F.

Note: the roast will continue to cook while it is resting to a temperature of 135.

Banana Nut Protein Muffins

A healthy muffin that tastes good too!

Banana Nut Protein Muffins

In a bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the following ingredients:

5 ripe bananas smashed, about 2 1/2 cups
2 cups flour
2 scoops vanilla flavored protein powder
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans or ground almonds
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup water

optional: 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Place paper cupcake baking cup liners in a cupcake tin, spray liners with spray butter. Pour or spoon batter into each cupcake liner until full.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes, remove from pan and allow to cool.

Note: Makes 18 muffins.  Muffins will puff up then deflate while cooling, this is normal.

Best Ever Beef Brisket in a roaster oven

Preheat roaster oven to 350 F degrees.

5 pound beef brisket
2 cups beef bone broth

In a small bowl mix the rub ingredients:

2 Tablespoons chili powder
2 Tablespoons salt
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon black pepper
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 bay leaf crushed

Season the brisket with the rub on both sides. Place roast on a rack in roaster oven and cook uncovered for 1 hour.

Add the broth and any water needed to bring the juice level to just touching the bottom of the brisket. Place cover on roaster oven and reduce heat to 225 F. Cook 4-5 hours until fork tender.

Trim the fat and slice meat thinly across the grain.  Use a fat separator to remove fat from pan juice then top meat with juice.