CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP

Use Apples or Your Favorite Fruit to Whip Up this Heartwarming Dessert

text and photography by Tiffany Scales, Food Contributor

Hi there! Can you believe Christmas is only a few days away?? Are you ready? Is your menu planned? Just in case you haven't thought of a dessert, I've got one for you. I don't know about you, but I LOVE baked apples. They just warm my heart and remind me so much of the holidays. This apple crisp is one of my favorite go-to recipes when I am in need of a baked apple. Crisps are simply a layer of baked fruit with a buttery, crispy topping. They are really easy to make and you can use any fruit you like. Apples just happen to be my favorite...

Here is what you need and what to do:
8 granny smith apples
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 tablespoon of orange zest
Juice of one lemon
Juice of 1/2 an orange
1/2 cup of dried cranberries
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg


For the topping:
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 granulated sugar
3/4 cup of light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 cup of old-fashioned oats
2 sticks of cold unsalted butter, diced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Peel, core and cut the apples into large chunks. Good conversation or music makes that process go by much faster. :) Place the fruit in a large bowl and add the zests, juices, cranberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir everything together. Pour the mixture into a 13x9x2 dish and set aside. Combine all of the ingredients for the topping into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for about 1 minute until the mixture is in large crumbles. Sprinkle the mixture over the fruit. Be sure to completely cover the fruit.

Place the dish on a sheet tray and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The topping should be browned and the filling should be bubbling on the sides of the dish. Gosh, my mouth just started watering...

I love to serve it warm with cinnamon whipped cream.

For the whipped cream:
Whip 1 cup of cold heavy whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Vanilla ice cream would work perfectly, too.

Let me know if you have any questions and/or if you decide to make it! 

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten

10 KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

Simplify Meal Preparation with the Right Tools for the Job

text by Tiffany Scales, Food Contributor

Hello! I hope this week before Christmas is off to a great start for you! I have some great recipes coming up, so I want you to have the right tools to make them! I firmly believe that having the right tools in the kitchen makes cooking much easier and enjoyable. The tools I love the most are not only basic, but quality. The last thing I need is something breaking in the middle of making a dish! Here are my top 10 kitchen essentials. I think they make great last-minute gifts, too!

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1.| Every kitchen needs a set of "basic tools." That includes a whisk, slotted spoon, large spoon, spatulas,  and tongs.

2.| Every kitchen also needs a good set of knives. Many recipes involve chopped meats, fruits and vegetables, so you need a good sharp knife to help you get the work done in a safe and efficient manner.

3.| You would be surprised at the number of recipes that call for an electric mixer. I finally broke down and bought my KitchenAid mixer several years ago and I think that it's one of the best investments I have made. It makes baking 100 times easier.

4.| Wearing an apron, especially a cute one, makes you feel more confident in the kitchen and not so upset when things get messy. If things don't get messy sometimes in the kitchen, then you probably aren't doing it right. Just a sidenote...

5.| A good set of pots is required, not optional for good cooking. If your food burns easily and gets stuck to the bottom of the pot every time you cook, then it's time to invest in a new set. This is the cookware I use and I love it. It's quality (i.e. heavy stainless steel), reasonably priced and I love the glass lids. 

6.| I love fresh salad dressing. Would you believe that I make it in this $2.50 jar? My favorite dressing is lemon vinaigrette. All you have to do is add the juice of one lemon, double the amount of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to the jar. Shake it up and presto- fresh salad dressing. 

7.| Freshly ground black pepper makes food taste 100% better than the stuff in the tin. Promise. This pepper grinder has a permanent home near my stove.

8.| The first recipe I will be sharing with you calls for lemon and orange zest, which are very popular ingredients. I use this Microplane for all of my zesting. I also use it to finely grate cheese. I never use pre-grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese = fake flavor. Just another sidenote...

9.| I cut all of my fruits and vegetables on wood cutting boards. They are easy to clean and make great accessories in the kitchen.

10.| You would also be surprised a the number of recipes that require a cast-iron dutch oven. Think of it as an oven on top of your stove. I use this to braise meat and to make quick soups and stews, which make regular appearances on my kitchen table during the fall and winter. 

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I have referenced the source of the items above. However, note that most of these items can be found at your local TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Target, so look there first!

These are some of my favorites, what would you add to the list?

BLULABEL BUNGALOW CONTRIBUTOR: TIFFANY SCALES

How often do you enjoy delicious meals made in your own kitchen? With the hustle and bustle of life we tend to grab convenience foods while on the go and dinner...well, it ends up being an after thought. 


Since becoming a mother I've had less time to devote to meal preparation, but what I realize is that I have to make time.


What I love most about our newest contributor, Tiffany Scales, is that she provides recipe ideas that are easy, tasty, and healthy. One of her goals each meal is to insure that she has the freshest ingredients available to her.


Cooking my family a scrumptious meal has now become one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. With Tiffany's help, you too will find (or rediscover) the joys of cooking. 
Please welcome Ms. Tiffany Scales to BluLabel Bungalow!

Hi there! My name is Tiffany and I am the author of Savor Home. I am incredibly honored to join the BluLabel Bungalow family as a food contributor. Delicious, fresh food is a huge part of my everyday life, so I am excited to share some of my favorite eats with you.



I admit that I have always loved food, but haven’t always loved to cook. Five years ago today, I probably came home from work and popped a TV dinner in the microwave. I found cooking to be daunting and too time-consuming. But hours of watching Food Network, a new kitchen and my blog have significantly changed my thought process. I have a full-time job (very full at times), but I always take the time to make good, home-cooked meals. I have realized that with the right tools, an inspiring environment and a plan, cooking can be completely enjoyable and stress-free.



I have also developed a love for baking. I love sweet treats, especially chocolate. Is it crazy that I enjoy the preciseness that is required of baking, too? Well I do, so don’t be surprised if you see some tasty treats every now and then!

Photography makes me just as happy as a fresh meal and a chocolate cupcake. I discovered that about a year ago. Isn't it amazing what a little time will tell you about yourself? I love snapping photos, so all of the photos you will see will be original unless otherwise stated. I look forward to sharing my love for food with you!

Thanks again Erika for the opportunity!