Caramel Apples

Nothing says fair time like a caramel apple rolled in salty peanuts! I love going to the fair just for the caramel apples and livestock shows. An aggie at heart I am. These are really simple to make in no fancy smancy way but just a few hints that will help you out in the making. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

7 apples of your choice-I used organic yellow delicious and organic granny smith apples
2 bags of wrapped caramels-I love to unwrap them.
3 T water
3 cups of salted peanuts-chopped
7 sticks for apples


Boil water in a large pan and dip your apples for about 5 seconds. This removes any wax they will have on them. I now place them in the fridge overnight because cold apples hold caramel much better. I heat the caramel and 1 cup of the peanuts over medium heat in a non-stick pan. This is one of the only times that I will use a non-stick pan. When it is all melted, remove caramel from heat. Place sticks into your apples and begin dipping them in the caramel and peanut mixture. I like my caramel to be on the cool but not cold side, seems like it sticks better. Once you have done this, dip them in more peanuts (chopped or ground into a finer state) and press them in well. If you can wait to eat them, place back in the fridge for about 30 minutes before eating. It tastes like Halloween already!!!

The first Wishi of the year!!!! Hen of the Woods mushroom

We were out and about yesterday and guess what we found?????? A WISHI MUSHROOM!! It is a little early here on Beaty's Creek for Wishi but who cares! It is always like Christmas to find the first one of the year and a good omen also. Keep your eyes peeled, you never know what you might find! Before eating anything you pick in the wild, please check with someone if you are unsure of the edibility. Here is a link to last year's post on Wishi. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.

Apple Butter Donuts

These are so good on a cold Fall day. Great to feed a hungry crowd on Turkey Day morning too. The kiddos love these with hot tea. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.

Needed:

2 quarts oil for frying

2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons butter -melted

2 Large eggs

3/4 cup apple butter

1 t cinnamon

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup powder sugar -- for dusting

Heat oil over medium heat. I fry mine in a cast iron pot but any heavy bottom pan will do. In a large bowl, beat together white sugar, butter, eggs and apple butter. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir flour mixture into the egg mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Mix until a stiff dough is formed. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick piece of dough. Make sure to roll the dough to an even thickness. Cut out doughnuts with a doughnut cutter. I used a upside down jar and a small leaf cookie cutter for the middle. Carefully slide doughnuts into hot oil. Turn doughnuts as soon as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain above oil with a spatula and then drop into powdered sugar. Serve hot.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

I really love being part of Foodbuzz's Tastemakers Program! What a great way to try new products! Planters Peanut Butter was in my Tastemaker box this time. We eat a ton of peanut butter around here and Planters is one of our favorites! Ransome was wanting cookies today and wasn't sure if he wanted oatmeal, hold the raisins, or peanut butter. I decided to combine the two and came up with this recipe. These would make a great lunch box cookie. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

1 cup shortening
1 cup Planters Peanut Butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 t salt
5 t baking powder
2 t vanilla
2 cups oats
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Cream shortening, peanut butter, both sugars, vanilla, and salt together. Add eggs one at a time. Now add oats, flour, and baking powder and mix until all comes together. Drop by the tablespoon on parchment paper and bake for 12 minutes in a 375' oven.

Spicy Shrimp Skillet

The people at Anderson Seafood were kind enough to send this very inland Okie some of the best shrimp I have ever eaten. So large and tasty that I am now spoiled from most of the shrimp we usually get in Oklahoma.

Needed:

2 pounds large shrimp-deveined and cleaned but with tail still on
3 sticks butter
1 T Cayenne Pepper
1 T Black Pepper
1 T Sea Salt
1 T Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
4 Garlic Cloves-minced
1 cup Parsley-minced

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, add in butter, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. When butter is melted add in shrimp and garlic. Cook over medium heat until shrimp are done. Right before serving add parsley and toss well. Serve with baguettes and the gravy from the shrimp.


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Garlic Knots

I was sent Crisco's Olive Oil for being a Foodbuzz Featured Publisher. I was thrilled because I use tons of Crisco's Olive Oil and to get some for free was like Christmas for this foodie. The first time I had garlic knots it was love at first bite. I knew that I had to make these and I did. I think mine are better than the ones we have had in restaurants though. Give them a try with your spaghetti dinner or as an appetizer and you will not be disappointed. They are simple to make once you get the tying of the knot down. This is "What's Cookin" today.

Needed:

10 cloves of garlic-minced
1/4 pound Parmesan cheese-finely grated (Buy the chunk and grate it, none of the canned junk.)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Crisco Extra Virgin Olive Oil
5 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 t salt
2 T yeast
3 cups of warm water

Sift flour and salt into a large bowl, make a hole in the middle of flour and add all of your water, now place your yeast in water and let sit for 5 minutes. Mix until all of the water is incorporated into the flour, you may need a little more water depending on humidity in your area. Once you have a good dough, meaning one that will pull back after being stretched. Let dough rise for 45 minutes.Break off golf ball size pieces of dough and roll into a rope, this is what you are going to tie into a knot, once tied place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350' until golden brown, this usually happens in 18 minutes. Once baked, place your minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and olive oil over the top of your knots and enjoy!!

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Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Here on Beaty's Creek, good seafood is hard to come by. I was ogling the Anderson Seafood website and debating what I really wanted. I emailed them to tell them how great their seafood looked and how I wished we lived closer as to buy such fresh seafood. Much to my surprise, they called me and offered to give me some seafood to feature on my blog!!!! Yes, I said GIVE!!!! How great was that?? My family was so excited when our box came that they could not wait to sample the seafood!!! I told Alberto at Anderson Seafood that I had not had a good scallop since my wedding almost 20 years ago. How great was it to receive some of the bests scallops in my package??? Thank-you Anderson Seafood for some great seafood! This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today!!!

Needed:
Scallops
1 pound bacon
Salt and Pepper to taste
Juice of one lemon
Wooden picks

Dry each scallop and wrap with 1/2 slice of bacon. Place a wooden pick in each scallop to hold bacon on. Salt and pepper to taste. Broil for 4 minutes, then flip scallops and cook for 4 more minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over scallops and serve.


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