Apple Crostata

This month for our Secret Recipe Club reveal, I was assigned a blog named

Join Us,Pull Up a Chair.

I spent an evening with my iPad in my lap browsing and pinning, trying to decide on what I wanted to make.

My family LOVES apple pie, so when I happened upon Heather's Apple Crostata, I knew I had to try it.

I have seen others post recipes like this, and have always thought they were so pretty.

If you have been with me for a while, you will have heard me say once or thirty times, that I am kind of a pie girl.  I mean, I love to make cakes and cupcakes, but to me, pie is where it's at.

I love the crust... just like pizza, its my favorite part.

I will warn you, if you and I ever find ourselves enjoying our favorite pies of choice over coffee and conversation, and you leave your crust on your plate, I am going to eat it.

Don't say you weren't warned! ;)

Look at those spiced apples ... I bet you can almost smell it, can't you?

Well, what are you waiting for?

Go make one!

They look so pretty and they're so darn easy!

I only changed Heather's recipe a touch, by amping up the spices a little bit, and using a tarter apple.

Apple Crostata

adapted from: Join Us, Pull Up a Chair

1 1/2 pounds of apples, I used Granny Smith, about 3 large 

1/4 cup flour

1/4 sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspooon nutmeg

4 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, sliced into small pieces

1 refrigerated pie crust, or your own homemade

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, roll your crust on a lightly floured surface, then transfer to you baking sheet.  I used my pizza stone.

Mix flour, sugar, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside. 

Peel,  core and slice your apples and lay them in the center of the crust leaving a border about 1 1/2 inch big.

With a pastry blender, or two knives, "cut" the butter pieces into the flour mixture, mix until crumbly.

Sprinkle evenly over apples.

Fold edges up and pleat to hold filling in.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender.

Cool slightly. You can serve warm or cold, but may I suggest warm with a scoop of ice cream?

Trust me, I'm a Pie Girl.

To See Other Great Recipes from the Secret Recipe Club Check Out the Links Below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Brownie Bites with Rolos

I am so excited to post my first recipe as a new member of The Secret Recipe Club!

They made my time as a "first timer" an easy one when they gave me a fabulous blog called

Deb's page is one tummy rumbling, lip licking recipe after another.

I have to say, it was hard to choose!

I already have plans to make her Irish Cream Flavored Popcorn as well as Lemon Supreme Desserts,

but of course when it came right down to it, Chocolate was the direction I went in!!

We are BIG fans of brownies around here, and when I saw these with Rolos? I said Oh Yeah!

I'll let you in on a little secret.  I had been wanting one of these pans, and this was the PERFECT reason to treat myself! 

mmmm... the inside

Brownie Bites with Rolos

Cooking on the Front Burner

Brownies:

1 box brownie mix

package of Rolos, I used mini baking ones

Frosting:

3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons melted butter

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons warm water

1/2 Teaspoon vanilla

Caramel Sauce for drizzling

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prepare brownie pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Prepare brownie mix according to box instructions.

Fill sections about 2/3 of the way full, and place a Rolo in the center.

Mine made about 18, so I baked these and then when they cooled made another batch. (yay for me!)

Bake for about 25 minutes or until done.  If you use the toothpick inserted in the center trick, avoid that gooey Rolo! ;)

Cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then on a rack the rest of the way.

Make your frosting, and dip the tops of the brownies into the frosting, and place on a rack or waxed paper to set.

Drizzle with caramel sauce.

Enjoy!

I didn't have any caramel, so I made my own Salted Caramel Sauce and it was perfect on them!

An InLinkz Link-up