Thursday, October 16, 2008

An Apple a Day, Right?

This morning, my angel Tristan shouts out "Mommy, everybody wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to go now." I laugh & smile because I hear Kenny's video playing that song. That's right, baby, that's right.

So, until then, here's some heaven right here on earth. 2 apple-y recipes today! I made these Apple & Thyme Martinis, from Giada, for my parents when they came over on Sunday. My Dad was good at one but Mom & I had a couple. They are very unique & I loved the earthiness to it from the thyme. I should call these Apple & Thyme Will Tell because we couldn't stop gabbing.


APPLE & THYME MARTINIS

Ice
10 ounces vodka
6 ounces apple juice
1/4 cup thyme syrup, recipe follows
1 large apple, peeled
4 fresh thyme sprigs

Fill a shaker with ice. Combine the vodka, apple juice & thyme syrup. Pour over ice & shake for about 10 seconds. Divide between the 4 chilled martini glasses. Use the melon baller to scoop out small balls of apple. Place 3 balls of apple & 1 sprig of thyme in each glass for garnish. Serve immediately.

Thyme Simple Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
5 large sprigs fresh thyme

In a saucepan combine sugar, water, and thyme over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Click Here for Printable Recipe


GRILLED APPLES WITH BACON & CHEDDAR


My best friend Tammy, who I am so blessed to have living a couple miles away, told me about these cute little things from Rachel Ray. I told her to make them first & let me know. She brought me some & I LOVED them. The sweetness of the apple with the saltiness of the bacon coupled with the savory cheese is a beautiful wake up call to the tastebuds. You must try these. The kids might love 'em too!

3 large, firm apples, such as gala, cored & sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
Juice of 1 lemon
1 pound bacon
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 bunch scallions, green parts only, chopped

Preheat a grill or grill pan. In a resealable plastic bag, combine the apples & lemon juice.

In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels, then coarsely chop.Grill the apple slices until grill marks form on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Flip & top each slice with bacon, cheese & scallions. Cover & grill until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.

To reheat leftovers, I suggest microwaving for a few seconds just to get the chill out from fridge, then placing under broiler until browned & sizzling.

Next time I may thinly slice cheddar from the cheese blocks sold in the supermarket, just for easier handling.

Click Here for Printable Recipe

89 comments:

Lula! said...

Once again clicking for a printable recipe!

tiarastantrums said...

yum yum looks good - only if I drank!

Anonymous said...

Oh yum yum yum yum!!!! Now that I have discovered the goodness of martinis I will certainly be trying this! And the grilled apples - can I just say I am salivating right now just thinking about it!

Anonymous said...

Actually, I think it'll be 2 apples today.

Thanks a lot again CW. Why must you do this to me and my sorry ass?

Lo said...

Oh, Yum.
I now officially have TOO many autumn apple recipes to possibly try :) Not that that's a BAD thing.

Kacey said...

Oooh I am loving this. And grilled apples? Who knew?! I like the new "Loving" and "Reading" section. :o) I love Giada too especially how she can be talking like us and then throw that perfect italian flavor onto a word like rigAToniiii. I want to speak Italian. Hee hee.

Unknown said...

Love the name for the martini's! You are so creative : ). You totally make me smile daily! The apple grill things look interesting. Too bad I don't have a grill. Now would be the PERFECT time to buy one since they would all be on clearance. Who has the money though? : (.

Unknown said...

Love the name for the martini's! You are so creative : ). You totally make me smile daily! The apple grill things look interesting. Too bad I don't have a grill. Now would be the PERFECT time to buy one since they would all be on clearance. Who has the money though? : (.

Ritch in Love said...

One of my favorite snacks to munch on is apples and cheese. Add bacon to that---OMGosh!!!

Carrie said...

How about Apple & Thyme Secret Spilling-tinis?? haha

Apples and Cheddar are my favorite!! Does anyone remember Apple Grandes from Taco Johns??

They are a crispy flour tostada sprinkled with cinnamon sugar topped with apple pie filling, shredded cheddar, and crushed RedHots! They are SOOO delicious! It's probably a good thing the nearest Taco Johns is 400-some miles away!

scargosun said...

This is my impatience kicking in but when I was reading the grilled apple one, I saw "juice of 1 bacon". he he he

sassy stephanie said...

Ooooh I love apple and cheese combos. Yum.

FROGGITY! said...

hi! thanks for the well wishes. she is feeling a little better... ironically she has been asking for appies (apples)! how weird is that? :) AWESOME looking martini! mmmm

Coco said...

I am new to this sight, over from Froggity, and I am hooked.

And I am going to get fat.

Michelle said...

Yum on both accounts!

Jen said...

Now that sounds like the perfect way to get an apple a day.

Unknown said...

Oh! The fried apples and cheddar looks good!

Maria said...

Great ways to use apples!! They are so versatile!

Anonymous said...

I've never thought about apples and bacon together. Looks delicious!

Jamey said...

wow that is different, I will have to try this!

Carrie and Jim said...

Grilled apples yum-o! Great ideas.

Tiffany said...

Oh girl.

DELISH!!!!

Tabitha Blue said...

yummo!!!... As Rachel Ray would say. These look so good and I think I just drooled on my keypad!


Oh, and I always try to vacuum, but that doesn't mean that I get it accomplished...

Unknown said...

Good eating. I'll be waiting for the fried chicken recipe. My favorite. I can eat them in a house, with a mouse, with a spouse. Just make sure it's enough for me to get full.

Claremont First Ward said...

Those grilled apples are making my mouth water.

Lump said...

Ok I KNOW I can make those martinis! :)

Erin said...

Your recipes actually made my mouth water...I love the grilled apple idea! We sometimes make panini's with the apple, bacon, cheese, and turkey and it is so great!

Wendy said...

Or maybe "Apple and Thyme (Out) of a Bottle" ? "Apple and Thyme Out!"
Sounds yummy.

katydidnot said...

apple thyme martinis? will you be my very best friend?

please?

Suzann said...

how about we have an apple-tini party? I can definitely do more than two. You game?

Tam said...

OOOO it all sounds like Heaven to ME! HOW is the Shack Coming along? MY BFF read it and LOVED IT! Have a great great Friday!

Unknown said...

Wow.. this flavor combo sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing this one. I'm going to try it soon!

Yellow Beads said...

I never would have thought to put Thyme in a drink--neat. And I do have some apples just sitting in my fridge!!

Deanna said...

My son would love these apples!

Angela said...

These martinis look so good, and I totally intend to try them as soon as I'm back on my feet. Meanwhile, I will have to content myself with eating the zillion Honeycrisps I brought home from the store right before the neck pain began. I really need to get my appetite back! :-)

Marcie said...

Oh, I haven't watched the new Giada yet, I have it taped though...I LOVE HER!

Those Martini's look so good! I will certainly try that!

Laila said...

Oh, what a delicious combination!

Kate said...

Oh my goodness! Three of my all-time favorite foods combined in one dish! This is just too exciting for words. I will be making this for sure!

Ronnica said...

Apples with bacon and cheddar...that sounds so good!

Reeni said...

This sounds insanely good! I bet it would be good made into a sandwich!

Quasi Serendipita said...

Wow, this is making my mouth water! (Is it too early for a cocktail?!)

cat said...

The cheese, bacon and apple sounds great together.

Charlene said...

I don't eat cheese or bacon but I can make up for it with extra vodka. Whohoo!

maya said...

not a cook but I am definetely passing this recipe on for someone to hopefully make for me.

Elizabeth D. said...

I'll bet my husband would love those apples. Thanks for sharing! And happy SITS Day!

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

The grilled apples with bacon and chedder sound good. I'll have some of those, thank you.

Congrats on your SITS day!

Lisa in Oz said...

I want both of these soooo bad but I'm knocked up so that means no booze - grilled apples it is!

Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish said...

Oh yum! Grilled apples sounds wonderful and I am digging that cocktail! Happy SITS day!!!

Christina said...

Wow, it's only 6:45 in the morning here, but you're making me want all sorts of non-breakfast foods. :-)

Sherri said...

Anything with bacon and cheese! Yumm. And...can I borrow your mom and dad. They sound like a blast:)

Mimi and Tilly said...

Yum! Happy SITS day. Oh, and Happy Birthday too. Hope you have a fab one! Sending smiles.

The Mommyologist said...

Ok, now I'm thirsty...and hungry!

Holyoke Home said...

Wow. What a perfect drink for early fall. Thanks!

Sandy said...

Wow, another great idea! Thanks for sharing and making this so accessible.

Julie Dana, The Home Stylist said...

You have great ideas! I am gourmet cook stuck in a "no lumps, no spices, no odd combos" family.
;(

Small Sprouts said...

Happy Sits day!

La Belle Mere said...

I LOVE that you've chosen Cocktail recipes for your SITS posts!! I'm not much of a chef but all the cocktails?... Those I can do!

LBM xxxx

Miss Know It All said...

Mmmm. These look so good!

KimMalk said...

@cheapchichome. I'm beginning to think you're an evil women showing us all this yummy stuff...

Mrs. M said...

I love grilled apples!! These sound fantastic!

Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity said...

Ummmm! This will help with the 25 pounds of apples I have in my pantry from our u-pick apple experience. :)

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Happy SITS Day!

Ali said...

The apple, bacon and cheddar things sound fabulous. My favorite sandwich from Paula Deen has apple, bacon and cheddar AND red onion mayo--it's divine!

Insanitykim said...

I am intrigued by the thyme simple syrup, it's not one of my fave herbs but for some reason I imagine this working really well. I love apple/pomegranate martinis; does yours have a savory element to it?

And sheesh, anything with cheese and bacon -- 'nuff said.

Happy SITSBIRTHDAY! :)

Keri said...

ohhhh you're good, this is right up my alley. i think i love you. lol. yummo, girl. thanks for sharing..

keri

Jenn Erickson said...

Those grilled apples sound divine! I love the addition of the thyme to the apple martini, but anything remotely resembling an Appletini still makes me turn green ~ I had one of those nights, several years ago where the Appletinis kept flowing and I got so sick that I don't think I'll ever be able to drink an apple/liquor drink again. :(

Jenn

Miranda said...

Maybe I'm just hungry, but the apples with bacon and cheddar look AWESOME and who doesn't love a martini!??

Happy SITS day!

Date Girl said...

Yum, I love martinis. I can never seem to recreate them on my own, but I'll have to give this a try! Love your blog and all the delicious looking recipes.

Happy Sits day!

High Heeled Mama said...

Okay, so i am so following your blog as every recipe you have on here looks good and I want to try it.

Happy bdaya nd congras on being the fb on SITS!

Unknown said...

Again Congrats on SITS day, both of these sounds fabulous!
Cheers,
C

Anonymous said...

It is apple season you know.

V.D. said...

Oooh I'm having a friend over this weekend. I think I'm going to try these recipes. Yum. THANKS!

-Victoria D.

Ally Wasmund said...

looks wonderful!!!

happy SITS day!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my GOD! These both look incredible for a fall party. So perfect for the ridiculous number of apples my husband and daughter keep showing up with!

shortmama said...

Ok Im skipping the martini and going straight for the food! Delish!

MsTypo said...

Here from SITS. :)

A recipe i can love on so very many levels! I'll be trying this later tonight just to test it out!! :)

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

I'm coming over!!!!

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner
www.MaWhats4Dinner.com

Melissa said...

What a great drink and appetizer pairing for fall. I love it =)

Rebecca said...

Yum! On both recipes!!

Will have to try them out soon :)!

Lisa Johnson said...

This looks really good! I like the different mix of flavors. Thyme syrup is a new one for me. I just printed the recipe! Your blog is going to make me drink more! :D

Anonymous said...

Sounds interesting.

Tasha - Bellazizas Favorite Things said...

Really great recipes! I'd love the bacon apple one! Thanks!
Over from SITS!

Sandra Wilkes said...

Oh I must try these. They sound simply delicious! Happy SITS.

Cheryl said...

Interesting combination!! I have to try them.

Marie said...

YUM to those grilled apples.

AmericanTribal said...

I'm coming in a bit late because I didn't get to finish checking out your posts yesterday but this apple and thyme martini sounds VERY interesting. I will have to try it out.
Congrats again on your SITS day!

Claudya Martinez said...

Both of these sound interesting because they are not ingredients I would think of putting together.

Unknown said...

I have seen this post before and I find it delightful!

Missy said...

Those look delicious. I can't wait to try them.

Stopping by from SITS.