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I haven't left you, I've just moved down the street!

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Happy eating!
Laurel

2 Apple Recipes

 Happy Tuesday!

I have embarked on the 30 Before 30 adventure (see the tab to see my updates), and it's been a great challenge to fit in these little goals in between a hectic season at work and in life. :) But it's happening!

And there's nothing more comforting, home-y and delightful on cold winter days and nights than apple treats. I have 2 for you today, and they're not my original recipes but * of course * I modified them a little for you. One is TOO EASY, a dessert, can be made with FOUR ingredients, and is great for your family or a last-minute dinner party. The second is hearty, healthy and really delicious (ignore the word BRAN, one of the ugliest words in the English language, ha). This can be a breakfast food, snack or dessert and freezes beautifully for keeping on hand. Let's bake!

Apple Pie Pull-Apart Bread with Vanilla Glaze
From The Comfort of Cooking

Yield: Makes 1 loaf (serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

For Apple Pie Pull Apart Bread:
Nonstick cooking spray
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1 (16 oz.) tube Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Biscuits
1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced

For Vanilla Glaze: (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk, any kind
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Mix sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a shallow dish and set aside.

Step 2: Remove biscuits from tube and slice each in half, creating 16 rounds. Coat each round and each apple slice with the cinnamon-sugar mixture and layer in the loaf pan, alternating biscuit rounds with apple slices. Begin and end with the biscuit rounds on the ends.

Step 3: Bake for 40 minutes, or until bread is fully baked throughout.


For Vanilla Glaze:
Step 4: Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and drizzle over warm bread.

 
Eat with vanilla ice cream and an extra drizzle of glaze on top!

Apple Almond {Bran} Muffins
From The New Laurel's Kitchen 

Bran. The word just sounds like eating cardboard. But these muffins are so not cardboard. You'll want to grab a piece of cardboard to make a big, colorful sign proclaiming your love for these {bran?} muffins. They're just that tasty...with a surprising orange flavor and filled with lots of apple-y goodness, these muffins will be a hit with all haters of bran. Serve for breakfast, a snack or as dessert.
Makes 12 muffins, easily doubles

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the following using a fork:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

  

  So many apple bits inside!

• 3/4 cup wheat bran
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons grated orange rind (or 1 orange)
• About 1 cup chopped apple (1 medium apple)
• 1/4 cup chopped almonds (or other nut)



No, I did not write a cookbook. But this is a fun one. :)

• 1/4 cup raisins (optional)

 
Step 2: In a second bowl, combine the following:

• Juice of 1/2 orange (eat the other half!)
• 7/8 cup buttermilk or sour milk (skim milk + 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar did the trick)
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon oil

Step 3: Stir the "wet bowl" into the "dry bowl" with a few swift strokes. Pour into greased muffin cups (at least 2/3 full cups) and bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy the bran.


Happy apple-ing!
Laurel

Happy New Year!

My sister-in-law, Maura, & me on Mt. Hood (new place in Oregon...check!); Jake (bro in law) the "bear" in the background

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it's 2014? It's a big birthday year for me so, to get ready for it, I've decided to step out and try some new things. I'm going to be brave, messy, and pack in some adventure before turning 30. To do such, I'll do 30 things before 30...

30 Before 30

1. Read 30 classic children's books
2. Bake 30 breads/pastries/new recipes.
3. Write a letter/note to 5 great people.
4. Write a song...and share it.
5. Assemble a model of something (car?).
6.--10. Watch 5 children's movies I've never seen.
11.--15. Visit 5 new places in Portland.
16.--20. Visit 5 new places in the U.S.
21.--22. Make some plans for the next 5 years.
22.--26. Read 4 books.
27.--30. Workout 3X a week for 6 weeks.

  

So, as you can see from the list, there are more than 30 things total here; however, I tried to break it down into 30 manageable tasks to accomplish. Sure, it's a little scary, and I'm not known for taking on "too little." :) But I'll do my absolute best to finish these in the next 50 days (I started on Sunday.). Wish me luck!

Do you have any goals that you've been working on? Is it time to set some? If we're not moving, we've chosen to sit still, and there's too much research and evidence to show that setting goals is important for mental/physical/emotional/spiritual/relational health. Why not try to set some reasonable goals for yourself? And please check in with me here on Memoir Munchies to see how I'm doing (the "30 Before 30" tab at the top).

 Much love, peace and baking! And safe travels for my MIL and her friends, going to Hawaii for a yoga retreat today (How do you spell j-e-a-l-o-u-s??). I hope it's relaxing and amazing for her soul.  :)

-Laurel