Cilantro-Lime Enchilada Sauce

This delicious homemade cilantro lime enchilada sauce can be used for enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc. Canning instructions are included.This delicious green enchilada sauce features the Southwest flavors of tomatillos, cilantro, and lime, and can be used for enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc.

After a 5 day visit to Southern California to see my family, I’m glad to be back home in the great Pacific Northwest. Today I want to share the recipe for a fantastic tasting Cilantro-Lime Enchilada Sauce that I made (and canned) back in July.

I’ve included instructions for canning this (optional), but you don’t have to do that to enjoy this delicious sauce on some enchiladas, or even to use as a taco sauce. It’s really good, very easy to prepare, and makes 3 pints of delicious enchilada sauce!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

This Recipe Uses Tomatillos – So What Is A Tomatillo?

I had never cooked with tomatillos before making this green sauce, but found them very easy to work with.  A tomatillo is also known as a Mexican Husk Tomato, due to the paper-like husk that surrounds it. This fruit/vegetable originated in Mexico, and is a key ingredient in Mexican and Central American green sauces.

Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce Is A Green Sauce!

When I make homemade enchiladas or order them at our favorite Mexican restaurant, I always go with a traditional red sauce, BUT I decided to branch out a bit and make this recipe for a green enchilada sauce.  The original recipe was from Pam at “Over The Big Moon.com”.

Do I Have To CAN This Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce?

No! Absolutely NOT! The recipe does NOT have to be canned, but I canned it (water-bath canning and recipe makes 3 pints), so I could have some in our pantry for “later”. Further down in this post, you can see how to store it, if not canning it!

I used the first batch of this sauce to make some Pork Enchiladas With Cilantro Lime Sauce, and whoa… they were amazingly DELICIOUS!

Chicken enchiladas with cilantro lime enchilada sauceThe sauce was very easy to prepare, and I absolutely will make it again, so I can have more in our pantry!  Here’s how I made it:

How To Make Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce

Rinse, peel and de-stem the tomatillos, then cut each tomatillo in quarters (6 cups total).

Tomatillos are used to make cilantro lime enchilada sauce.
Place the tomatillos into a large stockpot,, and add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeno peppers.

Cooking tomatillos, onions, jalapenos for sauce
Drizzle everything in the pot with olive oil. Cook the tomatillos on medium-high heat for a few minutes. While the tomatillos and other veggies are cooking, chop up the fresh cilantro.

Chopped cilantro for adding to cilantro lime sauce
Cooking The Tomatillo Mixture

After the tomatillo mixture has cooked for a few minutes, add the water, chopped cilantro, cumin, and salt to the pan. Place a lid on the pot and turn the heat to low temperature. Cook on low for about 10-12 minutes.

Cilantro, water, and spices added to sauce in pan
Once the tomatillos are pretty soft, use an immersion blender to completely puree everything into a smooth sauce. NOTE: If you do not have an immersion blender (mine was a gift!), put everything into a blender or a food processor and blend until smooth (might have to do it in batches).

Once the cilantro lime enchilada sauce is smooth, add the lime juice to the mixture and mix well, to fully combine.

Using immersion blender to puree tomatillos in enchilada sauce
What If I Am NOT Going To CAN The Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce? At this point if you are NOT going to can it, you can use some right away, to make enchiladas!  Make sure to keep the leftover sauce covered and refrigerated.

Can I FREEZE The Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze the sauce. It will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months. You will need to store the sauce in air-tight containers or freezer bags in the freezer.

Cilantro lime enchilada sauce has been blended

How Do I CAN The Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce?

**If you are going to can the enchilada sauce, you will need to add the hot enchilada sauce into your clean, hot canning jars (that have been prepped according to USDA safe canning guidelines)YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL LIME JUICE TO EACH JAR BEFORE PROCESSING (SEE RECIPE BELOW).

Fill the jars leaving 1/2 ” headspace, remove air bubbles, adjust headspace, if necessary. Wipe rims, then apply 2 piece canning lids that have been prepped according to safe canning guidelines.  Process in boiling water in water bath canner for 40 minutes, following published canning guidelines**.

Jars of cilantro lime sauce in water bath canner

Cilantro Lime Enchilada Sauce, canned and ready to use or store in pantry!
Hope you will give this recipe a try! The cilantro-lime enchilada sauce is delicious and fresh tasting! Update (2019): This recipe for cilantro lime enchilada sauce continues to be used, over and over. I’ve made this enchilada sauce at least 5 times now, and it is fantastic!

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you will come back soon for more delicious recipes.

Looking For More CANNING Recipes?

You can find all my canning recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. These include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Have a wonderful day!

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://overthebigmoon.com/canning-cilantro-lime-enchilada-sauce/

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Cilantro-Lime Enchilada Sauce
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Canning Time
40 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
This delicious green enchilada sauce features the Southwest flavors of tomatillos, cilantro, and lime, and can be used for enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc.
Category: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cilantro lime enchilada sauce
Servings: 3 pints
Calories Per Serving: 163 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 cups tomatillos , husks removed and quartered
  • 1/2 cup brown onion , chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic (sliced thinly, or use equivalent of minced garlic)
  • 2 medium jalapeno peppers , finely chopped
  • 3 Tablespoons cilantro , chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 additional fresh limes (to use only if you are canning this recipe)
Instructions
  1. Remove husks from tomatillos; rinse tomatillos, then cut into quarters. Place into large saute pan or stockpot, along with the garlic and chopped jalapenos, then drizzle all with a bit of olive oil.
  2. Cook the veggies on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes. Add the water, cilantro, cumin and salt to the pan. Put a lid on the pan; continue to simmer the veggies on low for about 10 minutes or so, until the tomatillos have softened.

  3. Once tomatillos have softened, use an immersion blender to blend ingredients until you have a smooth sauce. May also put the hot ingredients into a blender or a food processor (in batches), and process until smooth.
  4. Once sauce is smooth, stir in 1/4 cup of fresh lime juice to combine. If you are NOT canning the sauce, it is now ready to use.
  5. IF YOU ARE GOING TO CAN THE SAUCE: Pour the hot enchilada sauce into clean, hot canning jars. Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lime into each jar - DO NOT FORGET TO ADD THE EXTRA LIME JUICE TO JAR, SINCE THIS ADDS THE EXTRA ACIDITY NECESSARY FOR LONG TERM STORAGE. Leave 1/2" headspace in each jar. Remove air bubbles, wipe rim of jar with clean cloth, then attach prepared heated jar lid (again, per guidelines) and jar ring. Please follow USDA canning guidelines if you are not familiar with the canning process. Process in a water bath canner for 40 minutes. When done, remove jars to a kitchen towel (do not sit right on counter), and let jars completely cool. Once you have ensured they have sealed correctly, they may be stored in pantry.
Recipe Notes

**The cooking time listed is for making the sauce. If you will be canning the sauce, and additional 40 minutes of processing time will be necessary.

Nutrition Facts
Cilantro-Lime Enchilada Sauce
Amount Per Serving (1 Pint Jar)
Calories 163 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1169mg51%
Potassium 850mg24%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 450IU9%
Vitamin C 63.9mg77%
Calcium 45mg5%
Iron 2.1mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!This delicious homemade cilantro lime enchilada sauce can be used for enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc. Canning instructions are included.

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Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles

Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles are a decadent treat! They’re creamy & maple flavored, w/ nuts & crisp bacon, coated in melted chocolate and butterscotch.Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles are a decadent treat! They're creamy & maple flavored, w/ nuts & crisp bacon, coated in melted chocolate and butterscotch.

This morning I am posting a recipe for Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles that I made for a bacon-themed dinner we enjoyed with dear friends a couple months ago. They’re so good, and decadent!

In Memory Of Our Friend, Richard

This was an extremely hard post to write, because I began to write this post over a week ago, but then tragedy struck. The host for that dinner (my husband’s best friend) passed away very suddenly this past weekend, and we have been in shock ever since, grieving his loss.

He and his wife were two of our very best friends so we grieve for her, as well. Our comfort comes because our dear friend Richard believed in and knew Jesus, so we know this is a “temporary” loss, because we trust in God’s Word that we will see him again in heaven. How we long for that great reunion!

Richard… this one’s in your honor today, as I know you tried these maple bacon pecan truffles the last time we shared a meal together. We loved you… with all our hearts, and miss you terribly already.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles

Here’s how to make these really delicious truffles, (which I adapted from my recipe for Maple Cream Bon Bons) for our Bacon Themed dinner. I figured bacon makes everything better, so that was my inspiration. Here’s what I did: First, cook 6-7 slices of bacon until VERY crisp.

Frying the bacon until crisp to add to the truffles.

When bacon is crisp, drain, cool, then crumble or chop it up into very small pieces. Set aside a small amount to be used for garnishing the finished truffles later.

Crisp bacon crumbles will be added to the truffle dough.

Place the butter, powdered sugar and maple flavoring in a large bowl or base of an electric stand mixer.

Butter, powdered sugar and maple extract are beaten together to make dough for truffles.

Using an electric mixer, cream these ingredients until fully combined and creamy.

Creamy batter for the maple bacon pecan truffles is prepared.

Add Pecans And Bacon Crumbles To The Truffle Mixture

Add the chopped pecans and most of the bacon crumbles to the truffle mixture. NOTE: Set some of the bacon crumbles aside for garnishing the truffles later. Mix well until combined. Refrigerate the dough for maple bacon pecan truffles for a while to let it chill and firm up.

Crisp bacon and chopped pecans are added to the truffle dough.

Shape The Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles

Once mixture is chilled, shape the mixture into 1″ balls, by rolling them between your hands. Place dough balls onto a wax paper covered cooking sheet. Once all of the maple bacon pecan truffles have been formed, place them into freezer for 1/2 an hour to firm up again.

Coat The Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles With Chocolate

Remove truffles from freezer and carefully dip each one into the melted chocolate butterscotch coating. Let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. NOTE: My picture turned out blurry (sorry), but I use a toothpick inserted into truffle to dip into the chocolate, and a spoon to help cover each one.

The maple bacon pecan truffles are dipped in chocolate, to cover.

Dip each truffle completely in chocolate, then place it onto wax paper or aluminum foil. Use another toothpick to help pull the first toothpick out of the truffle. See the little holes on top of the chocolate covered truffles? You will fill those later. Repeat until all the truffles are coated in chocolate.

Some of the truffles have been covered with melted chocolate.

Finish The Truffles

Spoon a little melted chocolate over each of the holes created by the toothpick to cover them up. Then sprinkle a few of the reserved bacon crumbles over the top of each of the maple bacon pecan truffles as a garnish.

Lots of maple bacon pecan truffles, garnished with crisp bacon crumbles.

Refrigerate Finished Truffles To Firm Them Up

Let the finished truffles sit for a while (at least half an hour), to allow the chocolate to firm up, then place them into little candy sized paper wrappers, as shown. Keep truffles in a covered container in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

To serve, the maple bacon pecan truffles are placed into paper candy wrappers.

Here’s an inside view of one of the maple bacon pecan truffles. They taste their very best when served chilled!

A look at the inside of one of the truffles.

Hope you enjoy these maple bacon pecan truffles. The maple, pecans, bacon, chocolate and butterscotch flavors make this an INCREDIBLY delicious treat, and they really aren’t too hard to make, either! God Bless You. Have a great day. Hold your family and friends close. Let them KNOW you love and care for them. Life IS short.

Looking For More TRUFFLE or BON BON Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. You might also enjoy these yummy treats!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signature

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Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles are a decadent treat! They're creamy & maple flavored, w/ nuts & crisp bacon, coated in melted chocolate and butterscotch.
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: truffles
Servings: 48
Calories Per Serving: 158 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Truffles:
  • 1 cup butter (2 cubes)
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Maple flavoring
  • 1 1/2 cups pecans , chopped (may substitute walnuts)
  • 6-7 slices bacon , cooked crisp, and crumbled (reserve some to garnish finished truffles)
For Truffle Coating:
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
  1. Cook bacon slices until very crisp. Drain, then crumble or chop into small pieces once cooled. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter, powdered sugar, and maple flavoring until smooth.
  3. Stir in chopped pecans and most of the bacon crumbles (remember to save some for garnishing the finished truffles!)
  4. Place bowl in refrigerator for half an hour to let it firm up a bit.
  5. When chilled, shape the dough into 1 inch balls, by rolling the dough between your hands (yes, it might be a bit messy...) Place the dough balls onto a wax paper or foil lined baking sheet and place into freezer for about half an hour or so. (You want the dough to be very chilled before dipping in chocolate).
  6. While dough is in freezer, make the chocolate/butterscotch coating. In a microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips (30 seconds on HIGH. Stir. 30 seconds on HIGH. Stir again. Watch carefully so that you don't burn the chocolate. At this point the chips should be melted and smooth after stirring the second time; if not, microwave an additional 15 seconds, then stir again.
  7. Dip dough balls into coating mixture one at a time (I insert a toothpick into the dough ball, dip, cover with coating then remove, allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl. You may find it helpful to use a spoon to help coating the truffle. Place each coated truffle onto wax paper or foil-lined baking sheets. Remove the toothpick after each one, and re-use on the next truffle.
  8. When all have been coated, hide the toothpick hole with a small bit of chocolate coating, then sprinkle (while it is still wet) with a few bacon crumbles for garnish.
  9. Let truffles sit until chocolate firms up. Place each truffle in a candy paper wrapper, if desired. Store in a covered container in refrigerator until chocolate has hardened and is ready to serve. These truffles are at their best when completely chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles
Amount Per Serving (1 truffle)
Calories 158 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 12mg4%
Sodium 66mg3%
Potassium 61mg2%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 125IU3%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Maple Bacon Pecan Truffles are a decadent treat! They're creamy & maple flavored, w/ nuts & crisp bacon, coated in melted chocolate and butterscotch.

 

 

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Honey Garlic Chicken (For Crock Pot)

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crockpot) is an easy, delicious slow cooker recipe for chicken thighs, coated in in a thick honey and garlic sauce.Honey Garlic Chicken (for crockpot) is an easy, delicious slow cooker recipe for chicken thighs, coated in in a thick honey and garlic sauce.

A few days ago I was scanning Pinterest and came upon a recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot). The recipe caught my eye because it looked so good AND it was SO EASY!

Seriously…how ridiculously easy is it to mix up the sauce, pour it over some chicken in a crock pot, set the timer and walk away? Since I’m always on the lookout for an easy, tasty dish, I decided to give the recipe a try… and guess what?  THIS HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN IS CRAZY EASY AND DELICIOUS… and it took all of 10 minutes to prep. 

I prepared the sauce (boy is it good!), poured it over the chicken around lunch time and turned on the crock pot. By 6:00 pm, my husband and I had a fantastic dinner waiting for us. The smell of the chicken as it cooked was amazing. We really couldn’t wait for this meal to be done, so we could try it.

This chicken recipe is PERFECT for anyone who has a busy day and doesn’t want to take a lot of time preparing dinner. Throw the recipe together in 10 minutes or less, throw it in a crock pot, turn it on, then walk away, and do whatever you want until it is done! Bam! Fantastic, delicious dinner… just like that! Here’s what you do:

Make The Honey Garlic Sauce

Mix up the sauce in a medium sized bowl. The ingredients you will need are garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano, and parsley. You won’t believe just how quickly the sauce can be made.

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot) / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Time To Make Honey Garlic Chicken (for crockpot)

Place 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of a slow cooker. Try NOT to break a sweat doing this, (ha ha)! See how easy this recipe is coming together?

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot) / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken, turning to make sure all the pieces are covered with the sauce.

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot) / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Cook the chicken for 6-7 hours on HIGH temperature OR on LOW for 4-5 hours. I typically cook mine on high, but it is really convenient to set the temperature on low and head out for the day.

Here’s what the honey garlic chicken (for crockpot) looked like when I took a peek at the 3 hour mark. They sure looked and smelled pretty good by then!

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot) / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Time To Serve The Chicken!

When the chicken has finished cooking, transfer the pieces to a serving plate. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, and then sprinkle the chicken with toasted sesame seeds and parsley, and serve.

The honey garlic chicken (for crockpot) is really tender, and the sauce is so delicious, you won’t believe it! We enjoy it served it with steamed white rice and broccoli on the side. YUM!

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crock pot) / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Sure hope you will give this easy recipe for honey garlic chicken (for crockpot) a try. My husband and I loved this meal, and it was a real time saver, so I will definitely be making this again!

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you’ll come back again soon for more delicious recipes. Take care, and have a great day!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of delicious chicken recipes to check out, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://diethood.com/crock-pot-honey-garlic-chicken/

0 from 0 votes
Honey Garlic Chicken (For Crock Pot)
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
6 hrs 10 mins
 

Honey Garlic Chicken (for crockpot) is an easy, delicious slow cooker recipe for chicken thighs, coated in in a thick honey and garlic sauce.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: honey garlic chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 233 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce (low sodium or regular)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 Tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1/2 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
  1. Make the sauce by combining garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oregano and parsley in a small mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  2. Place the thawed chicken thighs on the bottom of a crock pot. Pour the sauce over the chicken, turning to ensure all sides of chicken are coated with sauce. Put the lid on crock pot; cook on LOW for 6-7 hours OR cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours.

  3. When chicken is done cooking, transfer the chicken to a serving platter or to individual serving plates. Spoon some of the extra sauce over the chicken.
  4. Garnish each piece of chicken with sesame seeds and a little parsley. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Honey Garlic Chicken (For Crock Pot)
Amount Per Serving (1 thigh)
Calories 233 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 107mg36%
Sodium 1051mg46%
Potassium 449mg13%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 20g22%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 146IU3%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Honey Garlic Chicken (for crockpot) is an easy, delicious slow cooker recipe for chicken thighs, coated in in a thick honey and garlic sauce.

 

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Blueberry Ice Cream Tart

A blueberry ice cream tart is a delicious, frozen dessert treat! Ice cream in a graham cracker crust, served with fresh blueberry sauce on the side!A blueberry ice cream tart is a delicious, frozen dessert treat! Ice cream in a graham cracker crust, served with fresh blueberry sauce on the side!

I love taking a tried and true recipe and tweaking and morphing it into a different recipe. Do you do that? That was the case when I took my recipe for Blueberry Ice Cream and changed it into a delicious, small Blueberry Ice Cream Tart for each guest at a dinner & dessert party.

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to make for dessert, then decided to make my blueberry ice cream, and add a graham cracker crust from another of my recipes. Then I decided to server it with a simple blueberry sauce on the side. Voila! That is how I came up with this recipe for these wonderful frozen dessert tarts! And boy… were they ever good, if I do say so myself!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Do I Need An Ice Cream Machine?

I have an electric indoor Krups ice cream maker, which makes homemade ice cream in about 20 minutes. If you don’t have one or don’t want to take the time, just buy a good quality blueberry ice cream or gelato at the grocery store, and shave some time off of this recipe!

This recipe is actually very easy to prepare… it just needs to be done in steps. Make the ice cream, make the crumb topping, make the blueberry sauce, assemble the tarts, freeze, then serve!

Make Or Buy Blueberry Ice Cream

First make (or buy) the blueberry ice cream. If making homemade ice cream, put it back into your kitchen freezer after the initial freezing to really firm it up. My homemade blueberry ice cream also has cream cheese in it, so it has more of a blueberry cheesecake flavor!

My homemade blueberry ice cream looks like this photo below, when done. Here it is scooped up nice and pretty:

Blueberry ice cream is the main ingredient for these delicious frozen tarts.

Make The Crust Mix

The next thing I do is prepare a simple graham cracker crust mixture. This is made by mixing graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar! EASY!

Ingredients for the graham cracker crust are mixed together in bowl.

Making The Blueberry Sauce Is Simple!

Prepare the blueberry sauce, by cooking blueberries, sugar, cornstarch and water until the sauce thickens and the blueberries “pop” open (6-7 minutes). Once the sauce thickens, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool completely. Set aside.

A thickened blueberry sauce is made to garnish the ice cream tart.

The blueberry sauce and graham cracker crust mix are ready to use.

Make The Crust For The Tarts

Firmly pack the graham cracker crumb mixture (reserve 1/2 cup for garnish) onto the bottom of 4 small tart pans (with removable bottoms). The crusts are baked for 6-7 minutes. Once they’re done, let them cool completely.

Graham cracker mixture is baked in mini tart pans.

Cover the crust and fill each cooled tart pan with slightly softened blueberry ice cream. Put each blueberry ice cream tart (in the pans) back into the freezer for 2 hours to firm up.

Ready To Serve The Blueberry Ice Cream Tart

Spread some of the thickened blueberry sauce onto each dessert plate. Sprinkle the sauce with some reserved graham cracker crumb mix. Carefully remove each blueberry ice cream tart from the removable bottom tart pans, and set them on top of the blueberry sauce.

Garnish the top of each blueberry ice cream tart with a spoonful of sauce, and sprinkle with graham cracker crumb mixture. Let each dessert sit on the plates for a couple minutes at room temp. to let the ice cream soften slightly, before serving! Serve and enjoy, because this dessert is delicious!!!!

Blueberry Ice Cream Tart is garnished with sauce, and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs to serve.

What If I Don’t Have Small Tart Pans?

If you don’t have removable bottom tart pans, think outside the box! This recipe could be easily adapted to make into a pie. Make a graham cracker crust (using this recipe you might have to double amounts) or buy a graham cracker crust, then follow the rest of the directions.

You will have a delicious frozen pie, rather than a tart, but a slice of THAT pie would be fantastic, garnished with the blueberry sauce and graham cracker crumbs. It’s ALL good. Hope you will give this blueberry ice cream tart recipe  a try… it’s worth it!

Looking For More Recipes Featuring BLUEBERRIES?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of recipes that feature blueberries, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Blueberry Ice Cream Tart
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
7 mins
Inactive Freezer Time
2 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 7 mins
 

A blueberry ice cream tart is a delicious, frozen dessert treat! Ice cream in a graham cracker crust, served with fresh blueberry sauce on the side!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blueberry ice cream tart
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 789 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Blueberry Ice Cream:
  • 2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 8 oz. cream cheese , room temp, and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 drops blue food coloring (optional, but it helps enhances the color)
For Graham Cracker Crust and Garnish:
  • 1 cube butter , melted
  • 1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
For Blueberry Sauce:
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
Prepare the ice cream:
  1. Place blueberries and sugar into blender or food processor. Blend/pulse until liquified. Add cream cheese chunks and vanilla. Mix until fairly smooth. Add milk; blend well. Pour mixture into large bowl. Add whipping cream and whisk to combine. Pour mixture into canister of ice cream maker, and freeze per manufacturer instructions. When done, remove to a covered container and place in freezer.

Prepare Blueberry Sauce:
  1. Place the water, sugar and cornstarch into a medium sized sauce pan. Stir until smooth. Add the blueberries. Cook on medium heat, stirring often, for about 6-7 minutes, until blueberries have popped, and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat, and cool completely.
Prepare Graham Cracker Crust:
  1. Mix graham cracker crust ingredients until well blended. Reserve about 1/2 cup for garnish. Set aside. Divide the rest between 4 small tart pans with removable bottoms. Press crumb mixture firmly down to form bottom crust in pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 7 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool completely. Do not remove crust from pan. Once crust has cooled completely, spoon blueberry ice cream into each shell to fill to top of the tart pan. Place in freezer for 2 hours to completely firm up.

To Assemble/Serve:
  1. Spread some blueberry sauce onto individual serving plates. Sprinkle with a little of the graham crumb mixture. Carefully remove ice cream tart from the pan by gently pushing up on the bottom to remove from pan, then slide the tart off the bottom tray onto the blueberry sauce on serving plate. Spoon a little sauce on top of the tart, then sprinkle with additional graham cracker crumbs. Let finished plates sit for several minutes to soften ice cream slightly, then serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Most of the prep time is INACTIVE time... just waiting for ice cream to harden in freezer. I made up the ice cream, sauce and crust early in the day, then it was a snap to assemble later in the evening. ALL can be made ahead of time, if needed.

Nutrition Facts
Blueberry Ice Cream Tart
Amount Per Serving (1 tart)
Calories 789 Calories from Fat 369
% Daily Value*
Fat 41g63%
Saturated Fat 22g138%
Cholesterol 128mg43%
Sodium 430mg19%
Potassium 341mg10%
Carbohydrates 100g33%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 73g81%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 1570IU31%
Vitamin C 14.6mg18%
Calcium 170mg17%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!A blueberry ice cream tart is a delicious, frozen dessert treat! Ice cream in a graham cracker crust, served with fresh blueberry sauce on the side!

 

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How To Make Pumpkin Puree

Learn how to make pumpkin puree from “pie” or “sugar” variety pumpkins! Make about 6 cups of puree (from 2 pumpkins) to freeze and use throughout the year!Learn how to make pumpkin puree from "pie" or "sugar" variety pumpkins! Make about 6 cups of puree (from 2 pumpkins) to freeze and use throughout the year!
Well… Fall is officially here, and just like clockwork, pumpkins are EVERYWHERE! It’s THAT time of year once again. Do you know how to make pumpkin puree? It’s easy.

I use pumpkin puree for making Pumpkin Streusel Coffeecake, Double-Glazed Pumpkin Scones, Glazed Pumpkin Buttermilk Doughnuts, and Pumpkin Bread, as well as many other Fall recipes!

I’ve been making my own pumpkin puree for years and years. I used to use our Halloween pumpkins, but found the water content of those BIG pumpkins was too high.

"Pie" or "Sugar" pumpkins are used to make pumpkin puree, versus regular pumpkins.

What Kind Of Pumpkins Are Best For Making Puree?

Years ago I switched and started buying “Sugar” or “Pie” pumpkins. They are smaller than traditional pumpkins, but are perfect for making puree (more flavor and LESS water). Most grocery stores carry this variety of pumpkin.

I like to make puree out of a couple pumpkins each year, then freeze it. By doing so, we can have pumpkin puree to use any time we want, during the year.

The convenience of having pumpkin puree in the freezer for baking pumpkin bread, muffins, etc., is to NOT have to run to the grocery store and buy it.  All you will need to do is thaw it!

How To Make Pumpkin Puree

First buy a couple Sugar pumpkins (also called a Pie pumpkin). Cut it in half horizontally with a very sharp knife. Use a spoon and remove the seeds and stem. I like to save the seeds and roast them later for a good snack!

Sugar pumpkins are cut in half horizontally to remove seeds/pulp before making pumpkin puree.

Remove all the seeds and the stem from the pumpkin(s). Put the pumpkins, cut side down on a aluminum foil lined baking sheet that’s been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray.

You don’t want to have a sticking pumpkin now, do you? Nope. You sure don’t!

Pie pumpkins are roasted in oven until tender, before making pumpkin puree.

Bake the pumpkins at 375 degrees for about 45-50 minutes, depending on the size of the pumpkins.

When they are “done”, the skin will be much darker, and you will easily be able to pierce the skin with a sharp knife. Remove pan from oven.

Roasted pumpkins will be tender after roasting, in order to make pumpkin puree.

Turn the pumpkin halves over. Use a large spoon to remove the cooked pumpkin. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Tender baked pumpkin flesh is removed from shell with a spoon to make pumpkin puree.

Once all the pumpkin meat has been removed, puree the pumpkin. You can use a blender, food processor, stand mixer, or an immersion blender to make the pumpkin puree.

Puree until smooth. Once it is smooth, put the pumpkin puree in a strainer over a bowl for a few minutes (or you can use cheesecloth), to help remove any remaining liquids.

Baked pumpkin is beaten until smooth to make pumpkin puree.

Now you have pumpkin puree!  You can use it as is, in recipes, or you can freeze it in bags to use at other times.

Freezing Pumpkin Puree For Long Term Storage

To freeze the pumpkin puree for later use, measure out 1 cup of the puree and spoon it into a quart sized freezer bag. Try to get as much air out of the bag as possible, flatten the bag out, seal, and label bags.

Pumpkin puree is placed into freezer bags to store in freezer, long term.

My two little pie pumpkins yielded 6 cups to freeze. Yeehaw! By flattening the bags out, you will be able to get a lot of pumpkin into the freezer in a very small space!

Flattened freezer bags full of homemade pumpkin puree, ready to place in freezer.

The process for doing this is not hard at all, and won’t take too much of your time! Making pumpkin puree is a GREAT way to have extra pumpkin around for baking pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, etc.

You can use the pumpkin puree throughout the year, without having to go out and buy a can of pumpkin at the grocery store. I sure hope you will try this tip this Fall!

Have a great day!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signature

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How To Make Pumpkin Puree
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 
Learn how to make pumpkin puree from "pie" or "sugar" variety pumpkins! Make about 6 cups of puree (from 2 pumpkins) to freeze and use throughout the year!
Category: Canning and Preserving, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pumpkin puree
Servings: 6 cups (approx.)
Calories Per Serving: 117 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 "Pie" or "Sugar" pumpkins
Instructions
  1. Cut sugar pumpkins in half horizontally with a very sharp knife. Use a spoon and remove the seeds and stem. Discard seeds, etc. (unless you will be roasting them).

  2. Put the pumpkins, cut side down on a aluminum foil lined baking sheet that's been sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray. Bake the pumpkins at 375 degrees for about 45-50 minutes, depending on the size of the pumpkins. When they are "done", the skin will be much darker, and you will easily be able to pierce the skin with a sharp knife. Remove pan from oven.

  3. Turn the pumpkin halves over. Use a large spoon to remove the cooked pumpkin. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Once all pumpkin "meat" has been removed, puree the pumpkin. Use a blender, food processor, stand mixer, or an immersion blender to puree the pumpkin until smooth. Once smooth, put the pumpkin puree in a strainer over a bowl for a few minutes (or you can use cheesecloth), to help remove any remaining liquids. Puree is now ready to use.

To Freeze Pumpkin Puree For Later Use
  1. To freeze the pumpkin for later use, measure out 1 cup of the puree and spoon it into a quart sized freezer bag. Try to get as much air out of the bag as possible, flatten the bag out, seal, and label bags. Place in freezer. Use within 9 months.

Nutrition Facts
How To Make Pumpkin Puree
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 117
% Daily Value*
Sodium 4mg0%
Potassium 1541mg44%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 38590IU772%
Vitamin C 40.8mg49%
Calcium 95mg10%
Iron 3.6mg20%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Learn how to make pumpkin puree from "pie" or "sugar" variety pumpkins! Make about 6 cups of puree (from 2 pumpkins) to freeze and use throughout the year!

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Cucumber And Zucchini Carpaccio Salad

You will LOVE this GORGEOUS and DELICIOUS carpaccio salad, with thinly sliced cucumbers, zucchini, feta cheese, and pecans, topped with a light, herb-seasoned dressing!You'll LOVE this GORGEOUS and DELICIOUS carpaccio salad, featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, zucchini, feta, pecans,and a light, herb-seasoned dressing!
Recently I used a birthday gift card I received to purchase a cookbook I had my eye on for a while: “Cristina Ferrare’s Big Bowl Of Love”. It is a great cookbook… and this cucumber and zucchini carpaccio salad is the FIRST recipe I made from the book.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but found the dressing (which features fresh dill, flat leaf parsley, and mint), and the addition of feta cheese, and toasted pecans make this a unique looking and absolutely delicious, fresh crunchy salad! The salad is scrumptious, pretty to look at, and would be a perfect brunch, potluck or party dish!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At the Bottom Of The Page

What Exactly IS A “Carpaccio Salad”?

I thought the salad looked wonderful, but was very curious what a “Carpaccio” salad actually was. Turns out the word Carpaccio (according to Wikipedia) originally referred to a dish utilizing extremely thin slices of raw meat, layered with white truffles or Parmesan cheese.

The dish was named after a Venetian painter named Vittore Carpaccio, who was well known for his paintings which prominently featured red and white tones. (see where the red meat and white truffles played a part?).

Nowadays the term “carpaccio” can be used for any dish made with thinly sliced raw meat, fish or vegetables. THIS carpaccio salad uses fresh cucumbers and zucchini. Only veggies-no raw meat for me!

How To Prepare This Cucumber Zucchini Carpaccio Salad

Very thinly slice one large cucumber and one zucchini of equal size (I picked both from my garden-yeehaw!). I used a mandolin to thinly slice the veggies, which made it very easy. However, if you are slicing the cucumbers and zucchini by hand, make sure you get the slices as thin as possible. Here are the cucumber slices, so you can see their “thin-ness”.

Very thinly sliced cucumbers for carpaccio salad
Here is me and my trusty mandolin (a gift from our oldest son), slicing the zucchini thinly. This is a great tool for this recipe!

Slicing zucchini for salad very thinly using a mandolin
Here are the finished cucumber and zucchini slices. The peel is left intact, which adds color to the cucumber zucchini carpaccio salad.

Cucumber and zucchini slices cut using mandolin
Arranging The Carpaccio Salad Veggies

Begin in the center of a round serving plate, and alternately arrange the slices (one cucumber, one zucchini, etc.), working outward around the circle.

Cucumber, zucchini slices overlapping from center of platter
Keep layering the veggies, one zucchini, one cucumber, and so on. Keep layering until all the veggies are distributed and the carpaccio salad looks like this:

Serving platter with decoratively arranged cucumber and zucchini slices

Prepare The Salad Dressing

Looks good already, doesn’t it? I think so! Mix the dressing, which includes, olive oil, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, fresh mint, flat leaf parsley and dill (herbs were from our garden… nice).

Salad dressing for carpaccio salad mixed in small metal bowlToast The Pecans For The Salad

Toast chopped pecans in a “dry” skillet. A “dry skillet means you use no oil. Simply add chopped pecans, and heat on medium-low for 3-4 minutes, keeping them stirred, until lightly toasted.

Chopped pecans for salad dry toasting in skillet
To Serve The Cucumber Zucchini Carpaccio Salad

Mix the dressing really well, then drizzle it over the top of the veggies, trying to cover them all.  Sprinkle the top of the cucumber zucchini carpaccio salad with crumbled feta cheese, toasted pecans, and some cracked black pepper. I also added a few small mint leaves and dill for garnish, and a small red pear tomato (cut in quarters almost to bottom) from our garden, and that was it!

MAKE AHEAD TIP: If you want to make this up early, arrange the cucumbers and zucchini on plate, then cover and refrigerate. Right before serving, add the dressing, feta, pecans and black pepper. This is what it looked like at serving time! Pretty, huh?

Cucumber and Zucchini Carpaccio Salad ready to serve!
Trust me – this carpaccio salad is amazing! The dressing is fresh, and the fresh herbs shine through, to make this such a wonderful, tasty, and beautiful salad. Here… I saved a bite for you! (You’re welcome).

Close up bite of zucchini and cucumber salad on fork
I will most definitely be making this carpaccio salad again! Sure hope you will give it a try, also! Have a great day. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back again soon.

Looking For More Salads Using VEGGIES?

You can find all my salad recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.  A few favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a wonderful day!

Author's signatureRecipe Source: “Cristina Ferrare’s Big Bowl Of Love”, page 54, copyright 2011, by Cristina Ferrare., Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

0 from 0 votes
Cucumber And Zucchini Carpaccio Salad
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

You will LOVE this GORGEOUS and DELICIOUS carpaccio salad, featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, zucchini, feta, pecans, and a light, herb-seasoned dressing!

Category: Salad, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carpaccio salad
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 170 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For salad dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
For salad:
  • 2 zucchini , sliced very thin
  • 2 cucumbers , sliced very thin
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese , crumbled
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped roasted pecans (or walnuts)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar, mint, dill and parsley together until well combined. Set salad dressing aside (or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate if making ahead).
  2. To make the salad, very thinly slice the cucumbers and zucchini. Arrange the veggie slices on a large serving plate, by alternating cucumbers and zucchini. Work from the inside of the plate around the circle to the outside, filling the entire plate. Once the veggies are arranged, sprinkle lightly with salt. NOTE: If you are making this salad ahead of serving time, wrap the veggie plate with plastic wrap and refrigerate at this point. Add the rest (salad dressing, feta, pecans, etc. at serving time).
  3. When ready to serve, drizzle the salad dressing over the entire salad, trying to cover all the veggies lightly.
  4. Add the crumbled feta cheese, distributing over the top of the salad. Do the same with the toasted pecans (or walnuts), then finish with cracked black pepper.
  5. If desired, garnish salad with additional mint leaves or dill sprigs. I added a small red pear tomato (cut into quarters, sliced from top to bottom). Serve, and enjoy!!!
Recipe Notes

NOTE: For my husband and myself, I cut the SALAD ingredients in half (i.e. one cucumber, one zucchini, etc.), but kept the quantity of salad dressing the same. There was still enough salad for 3-4 small servings. Just an FYI.

Nutrition Facts
Cucumber And Zucchini Carpaccio Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 170 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 11mg4%
Sodium 341mg15%
Potassium 343mg10%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 345IU7%
Vitamin C 19.9mg24%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You'll LOVE this GORGEOUS and DELICIOUS carpaccio salad, featuring thinly sliced cucumbers, zucchini, feta, pecans,and a light, herb-seasoned dressing!

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Mini Apple Crisps

Mini Apple Crisps are individual sized versions of this favorite American classic dessert! Whether you call them crisps or cobblers, they are super easy to make – serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!Mini Apple Crisps are individual sized versions of this favorite American classic dessert! Super easy to make - serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Well, well, well… the OFFICIAL start to Fall 2015 will be here in a couple of days. School’s begun, the days are cooler here in the Northwest, sunsets are earlier each day, leaves are beginning their color changes… and apples are everywhere!

Time to make Mini Apple Crisps and welcome in this change of season with a tasty dessert! Here’s how to make Mini Apple Crisps.

Scroll Down for A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Fall And Apples Just Seem To Go Well together, Right?

Fall just sort of screams “APPLES”, don’t ya think? There are so many varieties that come into season this time of year, and to me, there is something so memorable about making my first Apple Pie or Apple Crisp of the Fall.

Fall apples, freshly picked, and can be used to make mini apple crisps!

Apple desserts just seems to fit right in with Fall, wearing sweatshirts, raking leaves, football games, pumpkins, brilliant fall foliage, etc. Can you tell I enjoy this season?

I especially enjoy it here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The gorgeous colors on display make the ever present RAIN tolerable!

Fall leaves indicate it's time to make apple crisps, pies and cobblers!

Mini Apple Crisps Are PERFECT for Fall Weather!

This recipe for individual sized mini apple crisps is perfect for those nights when you just want to crawl up on the couch in your sweats, under a big warm blanket, and eat something decadent, like some warm apple crisp “goodness” while reading a good book, or watching a good TV show or movie.

Warm and bursting with fresh apple and cinnamon flavor, what could be better than that? Well, I guess a little scoop of vanilla ice cream could make this even better, right?

This is a very easy recipe that makes 4 individual servings, so you can eat one, and save 3 for later, if you are so inclined (Ha Ha).

How To Make Mini Apple Crisps

First thing to do is peel, core and slice the apples. Then place the apple slices, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon into a large skillet.

Mix the ingredients well, to combine. Cook the apples on medium-low for about 10 minutes, or until the apple slices have slightly softened.

Apple slices cooking with brown sugar, cinnamon, etc. for mini apple crisps.
While the apples are cooking, use a pastry blender (or two forks) to blend the crumb topping ingredients in a small bowl. Easy!

Crumb topping is mixed to add to top of apple crisps.
Spray 4 ramekins with non-stick cooking spray. The ones I use are 4″ wide.

Ramekins are coated with non stick cooking spray to bake apple crisps.
Fill ‘Em Up

Once the apples are done cooking, divide them evenly between the 4 greased ramekins.

Prepared apple filling divided and added to ramekins.
Divide the crumb topping evenly between the 4 ramekins, sprinkling it over the top of the mini apple crisps, all the way to the edges.

Crumb topping is added to mini apple crisps in ramekins before baking.Time To Cook the Mini Apple Crisps!

Bake the mini apple crisps in a 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly, and the top crumble mixture is lightly browned.

Mini apple crisps, after baking for 25 minutes... ready to eat!
Let the desserts cool on a wire rack for a bit, then serve the Mini Apple Crisps while they are still warm. They are delicious!

Mini apple crisps are served warm!
Doesn’t that look delicious? These mini apple crisps are especially good with a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream served on top! This recipe is so easy to make, too! You’re gonna LOVE it!

If you enjoy apple desserts, you might also be interested in Dutch Crumb Apple Pie, Apple Cobbler, Apple Shortbread Tart, or Apple Pie Stuffed Won Tons!

Welcome, FALL! Sure hope you will give this delicious recipe a try! Have a great week!

Looking For More COBBLER or CRISP Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a good variety of cobblers and crisp recipes to enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Slightly Adapted From: The New Pillsbury Family Cookbook, page 131, published 1973 by The Pillsbury Company,

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Mini Apple Crisps
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Mini Apple Crisps are individual sized versions of this favorite American classic dessert! Super easy to make - serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: mini apple crisps
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 591 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For apples:
  • 5 cups Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons water
For crumble mixture:
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour (unsifted)
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (old fashioned or quick cook)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup cold butter
Instructions
  1. Place sliced apples, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, lemon juice and water into a large skillet. Stir to combine. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for approximately 10 minutes, or until apples have softened slightly. Remove from heat.
  2. While apples are cooking, prepare the crumb topping. Place the brown sugar, flour, rolled oats, 1 tsp. and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl. Cut the butter into chunks and add to bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly and butter is about the size of peas. Set aside.
  3. Spray 4 ramekins with non-stick spray. Once apples are done, divide and spoon them equally into the 4 ramekins.
  4. Divide the crumb topping equally between the 4 apple-filled ramekins.Spoon the crumb topping over the entire surface of the apples, all the way to the edges.
  5. Bake apple crisps at 375 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until mixture is bubbly and the crumb topping is a light, golden brown. Remove hot ramekins to a wire rack to cool a bit. Serve warm, with a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Firm tart baking apples are used in this recipe (Granny Smith, Gravenstein, etc.).

Nutrition Facts
Mini Apple Crisps
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 591 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 61mg20%
Sodium 220mg10%
Potassium 293mg8%
Carbohydrates 95g32%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 69g77%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 795IU16%
Vitamin C 8.7mg11%
Calcium 72mg7%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Mini Apple Crisps are individual sized versions of this favorite American classic dessert! Super easy to make - serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

 

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Skillet Potatoes With Scallions And Parmesan

Skillet potatoes, cooked with garlic, scallions and Parmesan cheese, are an easy, delicious, and inexpensive side dish you will enjoy!Skillet potatoes, cooked with garlic, scallions and Parmesan cheese, are an easy, delicious, and inexpensive side dish you will enjoy!
I don’t know about you, but I’m on the lookout for new, easy, and inexpensive side dishes to add to our dinner meal. It’s easy to fall into a rut and serve the same old, same old veggies. That’s why I enjoyed making these Skillet Potatoes With Scallions And Parmesan!  Yum! They’re an easy and delicious dish you can serve with a variety of meats.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

It helped that I had just harvested some red potatoes from our backyard garden. Some of them were a little scarred from digging them up), but I was excited to use a few of them. I used 5 red potatoes, which made enough for 2-3 servings.

Red potatoes are used for this recipe after cleaning.
Prepare The Potatoes

Wash the potatoes very well, then slice them into about 1/2 inch slices. I keep the peel on, because I think the color looks really good in the finished dish, plus they contain extra fiber.

The red potatoes are sliced into rounds before cooking.
Place enough water in a large skillet to cover the bottom with about 1/2 – 3/4 inch of water. Put the sliced potatoes into the water and begin to cook them on medium-high heat.

Continue cooking the potatoes, turning gently, and added more water, when necessary, to ensure the potatoes do not stick to the bottom of the skillet. TIP: As the water cooks away you will need to add additional water.

Red potato slices begin cooking in a bit of water, in a large skillet.
Finish Cooking, Then Garnish Skillet Potatoes

Keep an eye on the potatoes as they finish cooking. Making sure there is enough water in skillet is the key to this dish.  Continue cooking (about 15 minutes or so) until the potatoes are fork-tender. Once fork-tender, remove any remaining water from the skillet. Add the butter, salt, pepper, minced garlic chopped scallions (green onions) to the skillet.

Coat the potatoes with the melted butter by spooning it up and over the top of the potatoes while they cook. Remove the potatoes from the heat after 1-2 minutes (don’t burn the garlic!). Gently pour potatoes into a serving bowl, and immediately sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Skillet Potatoes are garnished with butter, seasoning and green onions.

Grated Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top of the hot potatoes.
Time To Eat The Skillet Potatoes With Scallions And Parmesan!

The cheese will melt in about a minute over the hot potato slices, then they are ready. Add additional salt and/or black pepper to taste, if desired. Serve, and enjoy!

A bowl of Parmesan and scallion covered buttered skillet potatoes, ready to eat.
 I’m pretty confident you will love these potatoes! The recipe is easily adapted to double or triple the amount of potatoes YOU want to serve!

A close-up photo of the skillet potatoes, served with chicken (in background).Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have the opportunity to try these delicious skillet potatoes. Have a great day! I hope it is a memorable, and fun one for you! Please come back soon for more delicious recipes.

Looking For More POTATO Recipes?

You can find all of my potato recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious ones, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: My brain. This dish was a no brainer.

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Skillet Potatoes With Scallions And Parmesan
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Skillet potatoes, cooked with garlic, scallions and Parmesan cheese, are an easy, delicious, and inexpensive side dish you will enjoy!

Category: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: skillet potatoes
Servings: 3 servings
Calories Per Serving: 320 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 5 red potatoes
  • water (enough to continue filling bottom of skillet during cooking time)
  • salt and pepper , to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 scallions (2 green onion stalks-green and white part), sliced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
  1. Slice potatoes into 1/2 inch slices.
  2. Pour enough water into large skillet to completely cover bottom of skillet by about an inch.
  3. Add potato slices to water. Heat on medium heat until fork-tender (approx. 15-20 minutes). Keep an eye on water level... add additional water, as needed, to ensure potatoes do not stick to bottom of pan as they cook.
  4. When potatoes are done, remove any remaining water from skillet. Add butter, salt, pepper, garlic, and chopped scallions to potatoes in skillet. Mix gently, to combine. Continue to spoon melted butter over the tops of the potatoes. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
  5. Remove potatoes from heat. Place into serving bowl, and immediately garnish with grated Parmesan cheese. The heat from the potatoes will melt the cheese. Taste, and add additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
  6. Serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Skillet Potatoes With Scallions And Parmesan
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 320 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 132mg6%
Potassium 1637mg47%
Carbohydrates 57g19%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 340IU7%
Vitamin C 32.6mg40%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 2.7mg15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Skillet potatoes, cooked with garlic, scallions and Parmesan cheese, are an easy, delicious, and inexpensive side dish you will enjoy!

 

 

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Easy Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage

Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage is a delicious, quick and easy meal to make, with tomatoes, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Italian spices. Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage is a delicious, quick and easy meal to make, with tomatoes, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Italian spices.

When I make spaghetti sauce, I typically cook the sauce for several hours. However, sometimes I don’t have time to spare, so I make this EASY and quick spaghetti sauce. The sauce is is flavored with Italian sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and lots of spices. It’s delicious and filling, especially on a “cool weather” kind of day, like today in the Pacific Northwest.

I grew up eating my Mom’s spaghetti sauce, which she cooked with ground beef in the sauce. While that is good, my husband and I prefer the taste of Italian sausage in our sauce. I’ve been making it this way for YEARS! If you’ve never made sauce with Italian sausage, I hope you will consider it. The spaghetti sauce only takes about 10 minutes of prep work, then the rest of the time (30 minutes) is inactive “simmering” time. Not too much time to invest, and the results are wonderful!

I like to make extra spaghetti sauce to freeze for another day! The recipe serves 4-6 depending on serving size. Even if you can’t use that many servings in a single meal, it’s nice to have extra sauce available, for other meals).

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage

Start the party off by sautéing Italian sausage (which has been removed from the casing) with chopped onion. The meat and onions are cooked on medium heat in a large skillet.

Cooking Italian sausage and onions in skillet for spaghetti sauce.

Add chopped green pepper, and continue cooking until the Italian sausage is fully cooked.

Chopped green peppers are added to sausage, and onions for spaghetti sauce.

Drain the grease from the skillet, then add tomato paste, a large can of diced tomatoes, and water. Sometimes I add in 1/2 cup red wine, if I have an open bottle (optional, though).

Tomato paste, diced tomatoes and water are added to skillet with spaghetti sauce.
Next add the spices (oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper). Stir the spaghetti sauce well, to combine.

Dried Italian spices are added to skillet to season spaghetti sauce.

Add mushrooms. I used some of my dehydrated mushrooms (they ARE kind of handy to have around and re-hydrate wonderfully in the sauce).

Of course, you can use the same amount of fresh, sliced mushrooms. If you don’t like mushrooms, just leave ’em out!

Mushrooms (dehydrated or fresh) are added to spaghetti sauce.
Cook the Spaghetti Sauce

Bring the spaghetti sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes or so. The sauce will reduce a bit, and all those yummy flavors will permeate the sauce.

While the sauce is cooking, cook the spaghetti noodles (or any other pasta). Drain the cooked pasta, then place the spaghetti noodles onto individual serving plates. Top pasta with a ladle of this yummy spaghetti sauce, then garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Easy Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage is served on top of pasta!
That’s it! It’s such an inexpensive and delicious hearty meal, with an amazing tasting Italian spaghetti sauce! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back again soon. Have a GREAT day!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find all of my pasta recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of them, including:

You can find many other pasta recipes in my Recipe Index at the top of each post. Have a great day, and Buon Appetito (Italian, for “enjoy your meal!)!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe source: My brain, in Italian mode.

0 from 0 votes
Easy Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage is a delicious, quick and easy meal to make, with tomatoes, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Italian spices.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: spaghetti sauce
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 278 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 3 Italian sausage links (mild or hot), casings removed.
  • 3/4 cup chopped brown onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
  • 1 large can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup water (or substitute 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup red wine, if desired)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano (dried)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil (dried)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (dried)
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
  • Grated Parmesan cheese , for garnish (if desired)
Instructions
  1. Remove casing from sausage links by cutting with a knife down the length of the link, and removing the sausage. Discard the casing. Crumble the sausage into a large skillet.
  2. Sauté the sausage and chopped onion on medium heat. Add the green pepper; cook until sausage is fully cooked. Drain the grease out of the pan (discard), and return skillet to stovetop.
  3. Add tomato paste, can of diced tomatoes (including juice), and water to skillet. Add oregano, Italian seasoning, basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Add sliced mushrooms. Stir all ingredients well, to combine.

  4. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to low and continue to cook for about 30 minutes. The sauce will reduce down a bit, and the flavors will permeate the sauce. Taste test the sauce and add additional salt or spices as desired.
  5. While sauce is cooking, prepare the pasta of your choice according to package directions. Drain pasta, then serve with spaghetti sauce ladled over the top. Garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve HOT!

Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation does not include pasta of your choice. It also does not include optional Parmesan cheese topping (optional).

Nutrition Facts
Easy Spaghetti Sauce With Italian Sausage
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 278 Calories from Fat 162
% Daily Value*
Fat 18g28%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 42mg14%
Sodium 1199mg52%
Potassium 950mg27%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 780IU16%
Vitamin C 28.1mg34%
Calcium 83mg8%
Iron 3.7mg21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage is a delicious, quick and easy meal to make, with tomatoes, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Italian spices.

 

 

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HEADED TO… ALASKA!!!

Thank you for visiting The Grateful Girl Cooks! I want to let you know that my husband and I are headed to Alaska, for a much-needed and anticipated vacation! We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to get away from our “normal life”.Bon voyage - we are headed to Alaska!Yes… we are cruising to beautiful Alaska… where we look forward to making some unforgettable memories, enjoying the majestic and natural beauty of God’s creation… and eating large quantities of amazing food (I mean, someone’s gotta do it, right?)!!

I will be back online, posting more family-friendly, delicious recipes (and maybe even some photos from our trip) on September 14th. Until then, I would love and appreciate it if you would check out my Recipe Index… I hope you find some great recipes to try!

Thanks, again, for stopping by… and I wish you a day filled with wonder, beauty, and great JOY!

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