Apple Crisp

Apple crisp (or crumble) is the quintessential fall dessert.

Apple, Carrot, Pumpkin Spice Muffins

This is a hearty and healthy muffin you can feel good about sending your kids out the door with in the morning or serving as a filling afternoon snack (move over goldfish!).

Norwegian Apple Trifle (Tilslørte Bondepiker)

This is a classic Norwegian dessert perfect for fall when apples abound.

Dutch Apple Oven Pancake

This morning I made this beautiful oven pancake. Nice and puffy filled with sweet apples.

Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Apples

My husband and I love this salad so much, I made it twice this week already!

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bake

During the week breakfast is not a priority  around here. My husband leaves at the crack of dawn and my two teenage  girls are gone by 7 o'clock.

Celery Root (Celeriac) Soup with Apples and Bacon (GF)

I am really jump starting soup season today with this smooth and delicious celery root soup.

Wheat berry salad with apples, walnuts, dried cranberries and Gouda

As I walked to my computer to write this post, I caught a glimpse of my 4-year-old daughter dancing and singing along to the Doodlebpops. I had never heard of these guys until we found this DVD at our local library. They are three rock star/clown-looking people, singing and dancing some pretty catchy tunes. My 13- year- old thinks they are sooooo creepy looking, but my little one is completely captivated. It will be hard to bring this DVD back to the library, but I wouldn't mind a break from the same tunes over and over and over. Now, on to today's recipe which captivated me. A Wheat berry salad with some of my favorite ingredients: nuts, cheese, fruit, red onion -yum! And that is exactly what I said when I took the first bite. This salad is fantastic! I love everything about it, the flavors, the texture and the fact that it is so healthy.

Rustic fruit salad with walnuts

As promised this is the recipe for my rustic fruit salad. I looked up the definition of rustic and a few adjectives describing something rustic are: unsophisticated, lacking refinement, elegance and polish. That pretty much sums it up! This salad is very simple, made with very simple everyday fruits and nuts. But man, it is so good!

Fresh and crunchy celery, apple and pecan salad with lemon Walnut dressing

Today I made the effort to make myself this beautiful lunch. It just made me feel so good to eat something this fresh and healthy. The ham and egg wrap is very basic, just deli fresh ham and scrambled eggs with cilantro (Coriander) and diced tomatoes rolled up in your favorite wrap. It is delicious! The highlight, however, was this celery, apple and pecan salad. It is super crunchy and the dressing is very light and perfectly sweetened. I ate in peace and quiet before picking up my daughter from preschool. I savored every bite. It was a lovely little me-time. So take some time, just for you, and enjoy!

Note! I am giving you the full size salad recipe enough for 4-6 people, but make only as much as you need. I saved the leftover dressing in my fridge for another salad. If you can't find Walnut oil, use regular olive oil.

Celery, Apple and Pecan salad

with lemon walnut dressing

8 stalks of celery, leaves removed

1 cup toasted pecan halves, chopped

1 cup thinly sliced, chopped or diced Granny Smith apple

Shavings of fresh Parmesan or Manchego

Dressing:

1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice

2 tablespoons  fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons walnut oil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon honey

Cut 3-inch long pieces of celery into thinly julienned strips or whatever shape you prefer. In a mixing bowl, combine the salad ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients, then toss with the salad. Sprinkle with cheese shavings.

Recipe adapted from Experience Life magazine, April 2011

Greens with apples and pomegranate seeds

I served this simple salad alongside yesterday's omelet/frittata. It is sweet and tangy and the pomegranate seeds add so much color and just the right amount of crunchiness. All ingredients to make something simple, wonderful.

Winter wedge salad

Dressing: 1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup sugar

2 T red wine vinegar

1/2 t soy sauce

Salad:

1 red apple, cored, quartered cut into slices

I head romaine lettuce, torn into large pieces

1 shallot, separated into rings

1/4 cup pomegranate seed

In small bowl, thoroughly combine first 4 ingredients, add apple slices to bowl, stirring to completely coat with dressing. In a large serving bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Top with apples. Drizzle with additional dressing.

Recipe based on idea from Kowalski's magazine, 2011