Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

Turns out much/most of my life involves trying to fulfill the whims of my offspring. It is made even more urgent when Michael joins in. James said he wanted apple pies. Someone suggested salted caramel (me? Michael? Who is to say.) Hand pies/pastries were suggested. Then James proceeded to bring it up forever until I finally made it happen. And that is the tale of how I was peer pressured into spending one of my evenings after the kids went to sleep making salted caramel apple hand pies.

(Note: in the course of my writing this Michael saw the pictures and said, "Oh man those were so good! We need them again. Look at Rose's sweet face. She's never had these. Don't you think that face deserve them?" So you see what I'm working with.) 

Anyway-this recipe is actually super simple (more so if you buy pre-made puff pastry and salted caramel sauce but where's the fun in that?) and reallllly tasty. Buttery, flaky pastry with a sweet and salty (and gooey) caramel apple filling. You can use whatever apples you like for the filling and can even make the pastries ahead of time (just make sure to refrigerate them until you're ready to bake--the colder the pastry dough the better the end result!) Yummy yum yum! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Another baby/toddler approved recipe--that's also endorsed by the hubby. This oatmeal is awesome because it is super versatile, you can totally play around with it a bunch, and it's healthy AND tasty! And-bonus for a busy parent or any busy adult-suuuper quick and easy to make. You just mix everything together, spread into a pan, and bake!

I love baked oatmeal-I think it's so comforting and tasty and I like that it's not as messy as unbaked oatmeal, lol. James loved this too-it's nice and filling and flavorful. I haven't made it in awhile now and the only reason for that is a current "bopple" (AKA apple) obsession that little man is going through. No apples survive his appetites long enough to end up in anything else. He so much as glimpses an apple and he immediately starts clamoring for "BOPPLE BOPPLE BOPPLE!"

But I swear as soon as I figure out how to successfully hide an apple from his little eagle toddler eyes I will be making this again!

Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

Yepp, my spoiled husband got me to make him more ice cream. And, once again, it's dairy free (and, incidentally, vegan) so that he can eat more of it without worrying about his tummy. AND for all of you peoples with the New Year's resolutions--this is probably right up your alley!

This recipe made me extra happy because it's like healthy ice cream (actually, to be exact, it's sort of like a cross between an ice cream and a sorbet, texture-wise. Not quite as creamy as ice cream, but not quite as icy as sorbet.) It's legit just like strawberries, a liquid sweetener (such as agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, etc.), coconut cream, and non-dairy milk. It's pretty awesome. And Michael looooved it.

I will admit, part of what Michael loved is that I topped the ice cream with homemade magic shell...so it was like a chocolate covered strawberry situation. Still, though. Healthy. He's happy. I'm happy. The only reason we're not happy right now is we finally ran out of it (and this recipe makes a good amount, so it took us awhile) and now he's all ice cream-less and I'm stuck with debating if I'm going to make him more or buy him some or make him just live without ice cream because gosh there's a baby coming and I've got bigger fish to fry than ice cream!

But...I mean...I'll probably just make some more of this because it's awesome. (AND unlike some other dairy-free/vegan ice creams it actually scoops pretty easily straight out of the freezer! WOO!)

Raspberry Pie

Michael loves pie. Like...on ultimate Pi day, a couple years ago, he was sincerely upset that I hadn't made him pie (oops). He particularly likes fruit pies...which is tricky because I don't really dig fruit pies. So I only make them for him on occasion. Thusly, it's a special event when I do.

Sometimes Michael sits around and questions why certain pies don't exist...and then I tell him they do exist. One time that was grape pie (although admittedly it sounds weird, it apparently exists). And then another time he questioned raspberry pie. Before looking it up, I knew that it wouldn't be difficult-it should be the same premise as blueberry or blackberry pie, and of course I was right and I found various recipes online. So I was a nice lady and made him some raspberry pie. And right before this year's Pi day, so he finally got his Pi day pie. 

It's actually fitting that I share this recipe today, because I'm spending the whole week with Michael while he's on spring break (and he took off from work today-Friday). I so rarely get to spend this much time with him, between work and school (and the fact that on the weekends I am usually working) so this is a special treat! Just like pie :D

Anyway, more about this actual pie. It's my first time making a lattice top crust-I thought it turned out pretty well! You do not have to do a lattice, you can kind of do whatever you'd like. The lattice is so evocative of a classic berry pie though, you know? And I used my favorite butter pie crust recipe which was flaky and delicious. The filling has a pleasant tartness and lots of pure raspberry flavor-I mean the ingredient list for the filling is beautifully short. It's essentially just raspberries, sugar, and cornstarch. I love that, it really let's the raspberries true flavor shine through. Michael was super super happy about this pie, and I bet you will too!

Glazed Lemon Blueberry Scones

When we made our move, Michael's mom brought some lemon blueberry scones to snack on. Nobody ate them sooo we had leftovers and Michael had them for breakfast on weekday mornings. After they were gone, he requested I make him a homemade version. And it had been SO LONG since I'd last made scones-so of course I agreed!

One thing that was a must was that these scones MUST not be super dry. Michael likes a moist (ew I knew everyone hates that word) scone. And this recipe definitely fit that bill! They have a beautiful crumble but aren't all dry and...well...crumbly. The glaze also helps add extra insurance against over-dryness.

So yeah...pretty petty scones with a zesty sweet lemon glaze. The perfect thing to serve for brunch or breakfast or to gift to people you like! Or love...like your hubby. As was my situation...and it was less of a gift and more of a fulfilled request...but...you get the idea.

And guys...IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS. And I hear that Santa thinks these scones hit the spot after a night of delivering presents. So...yeah. Maybe be cool like Santa and eat scones Christmas morning.

Quick Raspberry Ice Cream

I'm sort of in love with the pretty pretty shade of pink this ice cream is. Like...the pictures don't even do it justice. It's LOVELY. And it's all just from raspberries-no artificial coloring or anything like that. Speaking of ingredients, this recipe only uses SIX ingredients and it's completely no cook, no churn, and egg free! It's insanely quick and easy and you'll never believe HOW GOOD it is.

The ice cream is super creamy and silky and deliciously refreshing. I made the ice cream for Michael (because it's raspberry, so of course it's for him). It always makes me giggle when we order at restaurants and-with dessert for example-Michael usually orders something pink (strawberry or raspberry) and I usually get something super rich and decadent, and they always try to bring us out each other's food. Apparently I eat like a man and my hubby likes pretty pretty girly food :P

The point of the story is...Michael love love loves this ice cream. In all it's pink glory.

Look....all you have to do is blend together a few ingredients, then whip some cream, fold it all together, freeze it, AND THAT'S IT. Now you have this dreamy ice cream for yourself. It's pretty much the perfect thing to enjoy on a hot summery day. 

Strawberry Recipes Round-up for National Strawberry Month

Did you know that May is National Strawberry Month? And strawberries are one of mine and Michael's favorite fruits! Which is why I felt like I needed to share all of the strawberry recipes from this blog with you, to celebrate! xoxo

Strawberry Tartlets

Strawberries & Cream Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {Easy, No Cook, Egg-free}

Strawberry Lemonade {from-scratch}

Strawberry Cobbler

Frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pie

NY Cheesecake with Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Popsicles

Red White and Blue-berry Shortcake Cupcakes

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Mixed Berry Milkshake

Freezer Strawberry Jam

Strawberry Tartlets-Joanne's Virtual Baby Shower!

You guyyyys!! IT'S A BABY SHOWER for Joanne of Eats Well With Others!!! You may remember when I participated in a virtual bridal shower for Joanne over a year ago (and also remember when she shared these ahhhmazing savory waffles with us before that?) so of course I had to be a part of the celebration for Joanne as she prepares to welcome her sweet little baby girl into this world!

Sooooo a bunch of Joanne's bestest bloggy friends are getting together for a spring themed baby shower--because Joanne is ALL about seasonal foods! I could not be more excited for her or about all the delicious spring eats that we're sharing with her and all of you today!

When I think about foods that are seasonal in spring (and...ok...summer) strawberries are always a favorite. Especially for my fella-he love love looooves any excuse to eat strawberries so I knew I needed to incorporate them into what I shared today. And, I don't know if it's too on the nose but...I love mini desserts for baby showers. Because...ya know...babies are mini. So I decided to break out my mini pie pans to make strawberry tartlets! (Admittedly...these are not that mini. But they're smaller than a full sized tart or pie sooo....they're mini? Mmkaaaay?)

For the crust I used a pâte brisée recipe--which is essentially a very firm and buttery tart dough. Michael said it was possibly his favorite part because it is sturdy and buttery and just faintly sweet (there is not sugar in the dough itself but I sprinkled some around the edges of the crust prior to baking). And then for the filling I made a cream cheese whipped cream-which has SUCH a lovely texture and is somehow both light and luscious, and has just a hint of that tangy cream cheese flavor. And then-of course-top the whole thing with beautiful red strawberries. Mmm mmmm mmmm!

Michael is obssessed. So shall you be-a must make for any baby shower, barbecue/family get-together, or just a warm spring afternoon. :)

Joanne, I hope you like these and your shower and I can't wait for you to have your little baby-nugget so I can oooh and ahhh over how cute she is!!

Be sure to check out the rest of the shower menu!

Orange Ginger Spritzer from The Lemon Bowl 

Asparagus and Pea Puff Pastry Tarts from Belly Full

Blood Orange Doughnuts from Cook Like a Champion

Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Cups from Keep It Sweet Dessert

Meyer Lemon Soufflé from Blahnik Baker

Strawberry Tartlets from The Cooking Actress

New York-Style Rhubarb Crumb Cake from Warm Vanilla Sugar

Berry Fool Tarts from Bake or Break

Lemon Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Baker Chick

Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes from Baker by Nature

Strawberries & Cream Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {Easy, No Cook, Egg-free}

This ice cream is extra special for a couple reasons.

1. Michael requested it as his birthday treat.
2. It was my first time using my ice cream maker!
3. It's insanely easy and super pretty and was the perfect way to finish out summer (mind you--I don't care that it's October. Strawberry ice cream should be enjoyed all the time.)

I'm so glad this was the recipe I started with for my first foray into real ice cream--it was kind of insanely easy. Like...you blend a bunch of stuff together and then you put it in the ice cream maker. Then you add in some mashed strawberries and chocolate chips and...yeah. The end! And seriously...how pretty is it? No food coloring here-just naturally pink strawberry-liciousness! It's also super creamy, thanks to the cream cheese. I will make a small note that if you freeze this extra long/store it in the freezer-it does get quite hard so I suggest taking it out for a bit to soften prior to serving (unless you gobble it all up straight out of the ice cream maker, that's cool too!) Also, this recipe doesn't make a bunch but I actually made another batch almost immediately after-so you can totally double the recipe if you have a hungry Michael type person in your house.

It's ok if that hungry person is you. It means we'd probably be friends. #facts

Ginger-Nectarine Galette-Guest Post with The Spiffy Cookie

Hallo again my friends!! I've got another awesome guest post for you today! Erin of The Spiffy Cookie has guest posted on here before and she's one of my best blog/real life buds--she recently moved to Ohio and it's so awesome to only be 2 hours away from each other! Because then if I see her post a particularly delectable treat I know I can just hop into the car to go beg her for some...that's logical, right?

Enough rambling, over to Erin!

Why hello there Cooking Actress readers! My name is Erin and I blog over on The Spiffy Cookie, but don't let the name fool you, there's far more than cookies and desserts. Of course I say that right before diving into a dessert recipe, but I digress. I'm super excited to be here today and consider myself lucky to not only know Kayle through the blogging world, but in real life as well.

I met her for the first time while visiting NYC 2 years ago and then guest posted for Kayle when she was in the process of moving to Ohio. Little did I know at the time that I soon would join her and live just 2 hours away! We've already reunited once and have plans to visit the KitchenAid experience center here in Ohio after she's done getting hitched. Hurry up and get married already!

But enough about our shenanigans, I know that what you really want is a slice of this galette. To me, galette just means a fancy looking, yet lazy free-form pie. You don't even need a pie pan or rolling pin, just toss the fruit with the seasonings, unroll a package or refrigerated pie crust onto a baking sheet (or okay, be fancy and make one homemade), spread out the fruit, and fold over the edges of the pie crust. Viola!

The best part is that if you do decide to make your own pie crust, you don't have to worry about it being perfectly symmetrical or having smooth edges because we're going for a more rustic look anyway. And those nectarines dotted with pieces of ginger will steal the stage no matter what it looks like. But in case your galette is feeling self-conscious, I covered the edges with sliced almonds.

Thanks Kayle for having me today. I'm so happy for you and Michael to be married! You two are the absolute cutest.

NY Cheesecake with Strawberries

So....I don't like cheesecake. (I knooow, I'm crazy.)

But even I can tell that is is one DANGED good cheesecake.

New York, New York...one of the things I miss most about you is your food. Mostly the pizza. Ah...the pizza. But I also know that their cheesecake is pretty danged awesome (Michael certainly loved it.), so when Michael's birthday snuck up on me this year, I knew the perfect treat would be a NY style cheesecake---with strawberries...because he loves 'em.

Apparently 1 whole cheesecake is a bit too much for my boy to polish off on his own, though, so we shared some pieces with my mom and his family as well. And from all these sources, the reviews came in: this is a DANGED good cheesecake. All you have to do is look at it to see the amazing texture (and, boy, does it smell great), and I've been told it tastes silky and tangy, yet sweet.

And making it is surprisingly easy (time consuming, but easy)--I didn't even need to do a water bath and it didn't crack (mind you, I've made this once. Perhaps it will crack for you--I do not know for sure.) This was my first full-sized cheesecake and it went so smoothly. And you get a total sense of accomplishment saying to yourself, "I just made an amazing cheesecake. GO ME!"

And soon you'll make this and I can say, "GO YOU!"

Nut Butter Banana Oat Smoothie

I've been meaning to make smoothies more often. My brother's consistently healthy diet totally makes me want to be better. So, in the efforts to bring myself and you more smoothies--I froze some bananas and put 'em in the freezer. Because in my world every good smoothie begins with frozen bananas.

And, obviously, the point of these smoothies is to try to get some healthy stuff up in my system. So I also put some nice oats and flaxseed meal in there (they also help keep ya full! So you don't overeat later!), milk for...whatever milk does...and nut butter for protein! Yayyy!

Fun story related to my brother and trying to get into shape: Josh came over and we went to my fitness room (finally) and he proceeded to help me do a "Kayle version" of his workout regimen for the next hour. At the end of that hour Josh was like "Eh, not the best workout but it was better than nothing." and Kayle was like "Uh...I cannot walk. My legs hurt super duper bad."

Technically the next 2 days were where the pain set in but...I fel wiped out from that workout. And I know it shouldn't have been that hard. But ugh, man oh man...I am NOT in shape. Plus-I have never done any kind of weight training and Josh had me using all the weights and stuff (admittedly mostly the 8-10 lb. weights but...still.)

Moral of the story is: I need to get my act together. And I started yesterday--I am going to try reeeeally hard to start working out on the regular. Here we go! Keep me honest, guys!

But enough about my weak out-of-shape-ness.

Smoothie time. It's all thick and kind of gritty (but like...in a good way? Makes ya feel healthy.) and it tastes super yummy. All nutty and banana-y. As a smoothie should be.

If you have spinach, I suggest you throw some in. I was out so...I couldn't. But you totally should.

(Side note: I convinced my brother to start putting spinach in his smoothies. He was suspicious but I reassured him he wouldn't taste it. He then returned to me and was like..."Dude...you don't taste it. That's awesome. Spinach in all my smoothies from now on."  But I digress.) 

PB AND BANANAS FOREVAHHHH

Evolution Fresh Juices #MC #Sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Millennial Central for Evolution Fresh. I received coupons for Evolution Fresh juices to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Have you heard of Evolution Fresh yet?? Ooooooh are you in for a wholesome, delicious, treat! Evolution Fresh offers a huge variety of juice flavors that help quench that summer thirst-while keeping you bikini ready and feeling good! 

Evolution Fresh peels, presses, and squeezes raw fruits and vegetables (even though the fruits and veggies used in the juices are raw--the juices are technically not). After chilling, blending and bottling their juices, they use High Pressure Processing (HPP) to help protect flavors and nutrients.(Click here if you want to watch a video showing how the process works.) 

If you check out the Evolution Fresh site you can find a verrryy long list of different juice varieties-however I was only able to sample what was available at my local store (although note that I REALLY want to try the organic orange juice, tangerine, and apple berry!) Although each variety I sampled was super flavorful and tasted extra healthy-our favorite to drink straight was the organic strawberry lemonade! Michael and I would grab a couple bottles to take with us when we hit the pool. And you know how quickly you can feel overheated, worn out, and dehydrated on a hot summer day at the pool? Our little lemonades helped keep us feeling refreshed and happy!

I found that for the Organic V, Essential Greens, Super Green, and Protein Power they were best used (for our pickier palates) in smoothies or....POPSICLES! (Side note: my brother flipped his lid for these! He's super into fitness and health lately so when he came over and found these in my refrigerator he immediately asked permission to make a smoothie. He then sang the praises of Evolution Fresh and asked where he could find some!)

Here's my little non-recipe for the popsicles, but really...you can just make popsicles out of any variety you want, with or without blending anything else in!

Freezer Strawberry Jam for #StrawberryWeek

For once I just shut my mouth and followed directions. I made my mom's recipe. 

Which is the Sure-Jell (pectin) recipe. 

And you know what? It rocks!

I guess some things shouldn't be fiddled with.

My poor mom. Sometimes I'm a bit too hard on her. When she told my brother that we were going to make this jam he scoffed at her, saying, "Kayle probably won't want to make your jam, she'll want to make her own!"

Because I'm a snobby meanie pants.

But this time that was not going to happen! I trusted in my family and their time-honored tradition of making this recipe, and it was totally the right choice.

Mom and I made this jam together, as a team. So I'm pretty sure we put some magical mother-daughter bonding love in there. Which is probably why it tastes so amazing. Plus all the sugar. Yeah. It's probably both.

Michael took one bite of a piece of toast loaded up with this jam and he said, "THIS is what strawberry jam should taste like!"

Recipe could not be simpler. You just mash some gorgeous strawberries, add in some sugar, cook a little pectin, mix mix mix, let sit, then freeze! DONE. Super easy. My mom made like a triple batch so we ended up with a ton of jam! It got given to aunts, uncles, grandma, etc. So we spread the love via spreading the strawberry jam!

This was the first strawberry recipe I made and now it is my final post for #StrawberryWeek-how perfect! Ending it the way it began.

Mmmmm mmmm mmm.

Fresh Strawberry Pie for #StrawberryWeek

I finally did it! I was a good fiance' and made my Michael a strawberry pie. Michael loves pie. Like...looooves it. It might have something to do with the fact that, when he lived at home, if he was feeling down his mom would make him a pie. Actually...from what I understand...she just makes a lot of pie in general. Anyway, Michael also looooves strawberries. Like-if he sees a strawberry item on a menu he gets crazy excited. So, I dedicate #StrawberryWeek to Michael!

Due to my fiddling with this recipe and using some honey in place of the sugar, and just in general it not being his mom's pie, I was a liiittle nervous watching Michael eat it. Hoping, praying he would like it. He took a bite, made a sound of "mmm.", nodded his head, and said "It's really good".

HOOOORAYYY! I felt like I was in that commercial, "Hey Mikey-he likes it!"

I can really appreciate how pretty this pie is. Aesthetically speaking...I LOVE it. Red is my favorite color and I love the vibrancy the strawberries give to it! Michael always complains that all the foods I like are shades of brown. He's not wrong. My foods aren't pretty like his!

Most strawberry pies that I've experienced are made with Jell-O. Which I am not knocking. But I just adore the simplicity of this recipe. It's just a few real, pure ingredients coming together and creating a lovely, classic, rustic pie that I feel like my great-grandma could have made. Sometimes the old fashioned way is the best :) And it honestly takes, like, no extra effort! You make crust, you bake crust. You slice strawberries and put them in the crust. And you make a quick and easy strawberry sauce, pour that over, chill it and-DONE!

Fresh, refreshing, comforting, fruity, wonderful. Strawberry season being used to its full potential.

Ah I love summer!

Strawberry Lemonade {from-scratch} for #StrawberryWeek

Welcome to Strawberry Week! It's a week...declared as such by me....because I went strawberry picking...and then made a bunch 'o' strawberry things...and thought it would be fun to post all the recipes back to back...and give it a hashtag...and thusly....#StrawberryWeek. And it's summer. Which means it's strawberry season. Which means a happy happy Kayle and Michael! 

These are some of my favorite pictures I've taken. I attribute this to:

1. my new photo set up. 
2. fruit is photogenic.
3. I don't know. Luck?

Making this strawberry lemonade is slightly complicated, messy, takes a bit of time, a good amount of ingredients, and just...is obviously not as cheap or easy as buying it.

But is it totally worth it? YES!

At the end of it you have a gorgeous, refreshing, summery drink that would be a BIG winner if you served it at a party. Michael really loved it (in spite of requests for more sugar, which is not unusual for my sweet-toothed boy) and agreed that I should definitely make it sometime when we have a get together/party. 

Fruity, pretty, tart and sweet at the same time...what more could you ask for from a summer drink?

Strawberry Picking at Waltz Strawberry Patch + Announcing #StrawberryWeek!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

What's more American than strawberry picking, rigggghttt?

My mom is adorable. She was so excited to take me strawberry picking and to then make strawberry jam together. She's adorable. We planned on a day to go strawberry picking and then...the place wasn't open yet (even though they had said they would be). So my mom did some research and found Waltz Strawberry Patch and it worked out wonderfully!

We pulled into this gorgeous farm that had strawberries as far as the eye could see...

We decided to each take a large bucket (I don't remember how much that equaled...a lot) and then we split up and went down our assigned lines of strawberry picking. I was AMAZED at how beautiful these strawberries were!

Before I knew it my bucket was filling up with lush, juicy, red strawberries!

The whole thing was so beautiful and picturesque, it was just crying out to be photographed!

Even with my frequent photo breaks, I managed to fill up my bucket faster than my mom (although some of that may be attributed to the allergy attack I was suffering at the time, and my desire to finish up and get the heck out of the nature lol).

Strawberries are just so pretty!

We were super choosy about which strawberries we picked, because we could be! 

Just look at how perfect they are!

We both filled up our baskets, paid, and headed home.

And I took a strawberry selfie for good measure.

After this awesome day, I made strawberry jam with my mom, and then I took home a bunch more strawberries. Which I proceeded to make things with. And thusly, next week is #StrawberryWeek! I'll be sharing the 3 recipes that were made with the fruits of this day's labors and it'll be sweet, juicy, and pretty-as these strawberries deserve! So come back Monday for the strawberry fun!