The calendar may say that it is spring, but the weather in our part of the world has yet to make its final turn into spring. The flowers have begun to come to life and the leaves are trying to pop out, yet still it seems that it is Not Yet Spring.
As spring still battles to make it’s way to your location, it may still be a struggle to find readily available fruits. In most cases, apples and oranges are the main fruits that can be found that do not also have a high price tag. I also enjoy frequenting Aldi, as you may have gathered. One of the reasons why I enjoy this store is because they have fairly good produce all year round at reasonable costs.
As you wait for spring to make it’s full blown appearance, we have a few good recipe ideas for you, to top off your meals on these early spring days. For us, there is nothing quite like ending a good meal, with a warm fruit dessert on a chilly day!
Apple Brown Betty
Ingredients:
4 Apples, pealed and sliced
7 Slices wheat or white bread, chopped finely
3/4 Cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 Cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp water
To make your Apple Brown Betty it is quite simple. You are going to create three layers of apples, bread crumbs and butter in your baking dish. To begin, spray your baking dish with cooking spray. Then sprinkle one third of your brown sugar on the bottom of your dish, add a layer of apples topped with bread crumbs. Continue your layers two times more. Top with your cubed butter and sprinkle water over the top. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Serve and enjoy while warm!
Apple Chrisp
8 Apples, pealed and finely sliced
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp apple pie spice
Topping
1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Cup quick oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 Cup soft butter
Grease the bottom and sides of an 8×8 baking dish. Combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice in a bowl and then add to 8×8 pan. In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, oats, cinnamon, salt and softened butter. The mixture will be slightly lumpy. Sprinkle over top of the apples and bake at 375F for at least 30 minutes. When finished, a knife should insert into the apples easily. Serve while warm and enjoy! This dessert is wonderful when served with vanilla ice cream too!
Rhubarb Chrisp
8 Cups rhubarb, cut into small chunks
1 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
Topping
3/4 Cup flour
1 Cup quick oats
1 Cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 Cup soft butter
In a bowl, toss together rhubarb, sugar, flour and vanilla so that your rhubarb is fully coated. Spray a 9×13 pan with baking spray then pour your rhubarb mixture into the pan. In a mixing bowl combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter. Mixture should be slightly lumpy. Sprinkle topping over rhubarb and bake at 350F for 40 to 50 minutes or until rhubarb is soft. Serve while warm and enjoy!
Pineapple Upside-down cake
1 Boxed white or yellow cake mix according to instructions on box
1 Large can of pineapple rings
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup butter
Cherries (optional)
Make your cake mix in a mixing bowl according to the box. Spray a 9×13 cake pan with non-stick baking spray. In a bowl, microwave butter until it melts, add brown sugar and mix together. Pour brown sugar mixture into the bottom of your 9×13 pan, then place pineapple rings in the bottom of the pan. Arrange the rings into whatever pattern you prefer. Add cherries inside of pineapple rings if desired. Finally pour in your cake batter and smooth. Bake according to instructions on your box. Once finished baking, turn your cake pan upside down onto another dish and serve cake while warm.
Even though the calendar says it is technically spring, it still seems as if it is Not Yet Spring. We hope that these recipes will help to bring a bright spot to your chilly spring evenings! Feel free to write to us and tell us about your favorite spring recipes. We always love hearing from you!
Check out our Ultimate Guide: How To Spatchcock Chicken! It will make cooking a whole chicken at home so much better, and it is so easy! Also we all love bacon, no matter if it is plain or included in a tasty dish, but Where Does Bacon Come From? Learn all about it here!
