Apple Crisp

This apple crisp is the perfect dessert for a fall afternoon. Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy! 

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of small granny smith apples
• 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, crushed finely
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Chop apples and toss with the juice of 1 lemon; place in greased 9/12 baking pan.
• In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, salt and allspice.
• Sprinkle cinnamon mixture over apples and toss gently to evenly distribute. 
• In a separate bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter together using a wooden spoon. work until small even crumbles form. 
• Sprinkle this mixture evenly over apples. 
• Bake 20 minutes until topping is golden brown. 

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

I first made this recipe when it was 12 degrees in Birmingham, Christmas Eve-Eve 2022. My nieces loved the creamy chicken and rice soup, and it quickly became a family favorite! 

Ingredients: 

• 1 box wild rice 
• 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
•  1 cup diced carrots (2 medium) 
• 1 cup diced celery (about 4 ribs) 
• 1 stick of butter, diced, divided 
• 1 TB minced garlic 
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth 
• 2 tsp greek seasoning 
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked snd shredded 
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 
• 1 1/2 cups milk 
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 

Instructions: 

• Prepare rice according to directions on package. 
• In a separate large pot, melt 2 Tbsp butter over medium heat. 
• Add onion, carrots and celery and sauté 4 minutes, add garlic and sauté 1 minute longer. 
• Add chicken broth, greek seasoning, salt and black pepper to taste. 
• Increase heat to medium-high, add cooked chicken and bring mixture to a boil. 
• Cover pot with lid, reduce to medium-low heat and allow mixture to simmer about 12 - 16 minutes. 
• Meanwhile in a separate medium saucepan, melt remaining 6 Tbsp butter over medium heat. 
• Add flour and cook 2 minutes, whisking constantly. 
• Then while whisking vigorously, slowly pour milk into butter/flour mixture. 
• Whisk in heavy cream. 
• Cook mixture, stirring constantly until it thickens. 
• Add milk mixture to soup mixture in pot along with shredded chicken, cooked rice, stir well and remove from heat.