Apple Dumplings.....YUUUUM!

This week, I have a wonderful dessert to share. A friend of my mom's gave her this recipe and we tried it this weekend. It was wonderful! Not only is it great to serve at a potluck, but we made this without any dairy and even the non-food allergy people loved it. Kevin has already asked me to make this again. Try it and let me know what you think.

Apple Dumplings

2 pkg crescents (we use Pillsbury...just check the label for allergens)

4 Granny Smith apples....cored, peeled and cut into fourths

1 stick soy butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 can (12 oz) Mt. Dew (my mom used Diet and it was just as good)

Unroll crescents and separate into the 8 triangles. Place one apple piece on crescent and roll around, completely covering apple. Pinch sides to close (do not leave any apple showing). Place in an ungreased 9 x 13 glass dish. Space evenly, but its ok if they touch.

Melt butter, sugar and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over the top of apple-crescent bundles.

Pour Mt. Dew over top of this.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Once removed from oven, spoon some of the excess sauce from around the bundles on top and let sit. Let cool slightly before serving, as sauce and apples will be VERY hot!

Makes 16 servings.

New Year....New Resolutions!

So, this year, besides the same ole "I'm going to exercise more" or "I will lose 10lbs", I have decided to spend more time on my blog. I have had so many people ask for recipes, that I have used Facebook as my blog instead. I want to shoot for a new post each week. I will include any new recipes I have come across that my family has deemed "Great!'. Of course, as I sit, staring out the window at the snow for the 7th day, I am going out of my mind. So, this should be an escape from that. Hopefully when the snow disappears, I will still have this same drive.

I've sat here, trying to decide what recipe I should post. Should I post something great for a cold winter's night? Or should I post something that will remind me of summer? Or...maybe I will post something that I have made this past week. Yes, that's what I will do.

This is a recipe that my young son absolutely loves! He loves chicken, but most of all, he loves to dip his chicken in something. Besides the typical honey mustard or AF ranch dressing, I have a recipe that both kids and adults will enjoy. It is called Tomato Basil Aioli Sauce. It is very east to make, and adds just the right flavor to chicken.

As for the chicken, all I do is sprinkle several boneless skinless chicken breasts with salt and pepper. I then place them in a hot cast iron skillet that has a little bit of olive oil in it, set on high heat. You just want to brown each side. Then put the whole cast iron skillet in a 450 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until juices run clear.

While chicken is in oven, time to make the sauce:

Tomato Basil Aioli Sauce

1 cup Vegenaise (an egg-fee mayonnaise spread)

1/4 cup dried basil

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.