Diva's Baked Apple dumplings

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Baked Apple dumplings
Inspiration:  I like tart apples to make these.  Always had plenty of apples growing up in Nebraska.
Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 2/3 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 6 apples, cored & halved SYRUP 2 cups brown sugar 4 TB butter 2 cups water cinnamon nutmeg	Instructions: Sift together first 3 ingredients and cut in butter.  Gradually add milk until dough is dry enough to roll out.  Roll to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into 12 squares. Place a half apple on each and press to seal edges around the apple.  Place in shallow baking dish. SYRUP Cook the brown sugar, butter and water in a heavy saucepan. Boil 2 mins.  Pour over apples and top with cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes.
Variation: Yields 12 servings Can be served warmed with a scoop of ice cream. Some people add raisins on top of the apple before sealing.

Diva's Crock Pot Pork Chops w/ apple cherry stuffing

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Crock Pot Pork Chops  w/ apple cherry stuffing
Inspiration:  Very tender pork chops and I love stuffing!
Ingredients: 1 pkg herb stuffing mix 1 cup celery, chopped 1 tart apple, peeled & chopped 1/2 cup onion 1 cup dried cherries 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chicken broth 6 boneless pork chop loins	Instructions: Spray the inside of crock pot with cooking spray.  Mix everything together except the pork chops.  Place half the stuffing mix in crock pot, top with pork chops and spoon remaining stuffing over the top. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.
Variation:  Yields 6 servings 365 calories, 35g carbs

Diva's Apple Butter Cake with Caramel Icing

Diva’s Memories of Recipes Apple Butter Cake  with Caramel Icing
Inspiration:  Every year I like to can Apple Butter and Pumpkin Butter.  This is a great spice recipe to have for a snack or brunch.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar 4 eggs, beaten 2~1/2 cups flour 1~1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup apple butter ICING 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup cream 1~1/2 TB butter 1/2 tsp vanilla	Instructions: Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs.  Sift dry ingredients and add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk.  Blend well and add apple butter. Pour into 8 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes.  Cool and frost. ICING in a heavy sauce pan, combine sugar and cream. Cook for several minutes with the lid on.  Remove lid and bring to a boil for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.   Add butter.  Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Add vanilla and beat til thick and creamy.  Spread on Cake.
Variation: Can use pumpkin butter also.  I have added nuts too.

Diva's Apple History & how to choose your Apple Guide

Apples have always been eaten fresh, dried, stewed, baked or fried in a variety of dishes.  Apples can be turned into apple butter, apple sauce and cider & vinegar.  They not only provide a vital source of food and drink, but also preserve for food and supplies, just like our pioneer ancestor' did.  Apples can be used medicinally as anesthetics, antiseptics, and sedatives and stimulants.

History shows the first colonists to bring apple seeds from Europe to New England.  From there, apples spread across the North American continent.  Thousands of varieties were developed in different regions of the country and the world.  

Here are some interesting tidbits about how our ancestors knew to use apples:

• An apple in your bag of potatoes will help to keep the potatoes from sprouting.

• An apple in your brown sugar container will help keep the sugar moist.

• An apple in your cookie container will help to keep the cookies moist.

• Add lemon juice to an apple recipe if the apples you are using lack tartness or need flavor.

• If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, eat an apple.  Eating a raw apple will cleanse the mouth of more that 95% of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Maybe an apple day does keep the doctor away?  Both of my Grandma's had Apple Tree's in their yard's so they were always plentiful for eating and cooking.  My Grandma Margret kept them stored in a room we always slept in when we would come to visit.  What an awesome memory when I smell apples.  My Grandma Sarah also had crab apples and made the most incredible jelly.  She passed away at the ripe ole age of 85 and 2 weeks before she passed, she was found up in her crab apple tree picking them.  I will share my recipe soon of her jelly, it is delicious!

Nebraska where i grew up, is known greatly for Arbor Day and having awesome apples

Here is an apple guide on how to choose your APPLES, and I don't mean a computer:)