Some things in life should never be repeated. Like the time I mixed up the salt and sugar in a pumpkin pie recipe. But enough about my 1986 Christmas Salt Pie . . .
Clearly, the recipe which garnered the most attention and comments from last Sunday’s post was the “Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Sandwiches” recipe. Just tap on the 
link if you missed it. A wonderfully warming lunch or dinner sandwich after raking fall leaves on a chilly day.
If you are new to our Sunday morning recipe sharing and missed the first Little Red Bear Recipes Post explaining what we are doing, simply tap on the link to check it out.
Unsurprisingly, the themes of Pumpkin and Caramel and Apples topped the list of recipes filling the inbox this week. So, of course, Little Red Bear and I are including some for you. Starting off with pancakes!
Easy Pumpkin Pancakes
Made with canned pumpkin puree, these look so good you might not even need the maple syrup. Leave off the syrup? Who am I kidding?
Norwegian Apple Pie
Described as very sweet and cake-like in texture, with no crust. The recipe calls for no oils or butter aside from buttering the dish. Note that the recipe makes enough for two pies, as it rises and gains volume with the baking powder. Optional ingredients include nuts and raisins. The nuts would be a definite add in one pie here, and possibly both nuts and raisins in the second. A distinctive and nice holiday treat for guests. Or, for a Sunday brunch. This is one of those unique dishes where folks will be asking you for the recipe afterward.
Easy Pumpkin Crunch Cobbler
Little Red Bear likes when the first word in a recipe is ‘Easy’. He says that it makes him feel more confident and like he has a good chance with that one. We shared an Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie With Streusel Topping recipe a few weeks ago that we received a lot of praise and enthusiastic comments about. So we thought you might like to see this Pumpkin Crunch Cobbler recipe, too. Love that crunch!
And, it says ‘Easy’ right there in the title. The first word.
Caramel Apple Fudge
A few years ago, my twin boys and I fell in love with those Green Caramel Apple Pops put out by the makers of Tootsie Roll candies. The blend of sour apple flavor with caramel is just amazing. They are generally most available at this time of year for fall and Halloween. This Caramel Apple Fudge recipe seeks to reproduce that sour/sweet combination. And wouldn’t this be beautiful on a holiday table or buffet?
As an aside, before joining Pinterest, I never knew that there were so many amazing and creative varieties of fudge. I might have been able to name six or seven — tops! At the time of this writing and likely to go higher in the afternoon, I have 344 recipes on my Pinterest Fudge Board. So, if you are looking for a creative fudge recipe, that might be a good place to visit and start. We undoubtedly will be sharing some special Christmas Fudge recipes in the coming weeks. (Little Red Bear already has a few amazing ones saved on the side!)
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
While we’re on the subject of Caramel Apple flavors, let’s make some Caramel Apple Bread Pudding. Bread puddings are always a great way to use up old bread for it not to go to waste. This recipe calls for the King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls which would add a wonderful depth of sweet flavor and goodness if you chose to use them. This would be a nice addition to a Thanksgiving dinner, too.
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding Recipe
Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies With Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
A long title for a cookie perhaps, but taking ‘with’ out of it, what word in that title doesn’t sound good? Soft sugar cookies with a pumpkin flavor, covered with a caramel-flavored cream cheese icing. This is another of those “this person should have received an award” recipes!
Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies With Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Mom’s Homemade Apple Pie
To be clear, this is not my Mother’s apple pie recipe, still looking for that, along with some other old favorites of hers to share with you in the future. She had a plum pie or something recipe that she baked in a brown paper bag that I recall. I’ve seen the recipe card. Just have to find it again and make one up for you to snap a picture some time. Hopefully with no firefighters included in the photo. It always worked for her.
Getting back to this recipe, it brings to mind the old expression “As American as Mom, Baseball, and Apple Pie.” Do you put a lattice crust or a solid crust on your pies? I love the appearance and presentation of a lattice crust pie, especially during the holiday season.
If you haven’t ever tried a lattice crust on a pie yet, it’s really not that hard. Merely a matter of cutting the pie dough into strips and then interweaving them across the top. Instructions are included in the recipe, which received high marks in the post comments. Give it a try if you have never made a lattice crust topping yet. Little Red Bear always likes to remind that however it looks when it comes out, it will still taste delicious!
What kind of apples to use? I prefer Gala and Fuji apples for fresh eating, but not for baking. So along with the Jonagolds which I always try to keep around for both fresh eating and baking, I love Granny Smith and Braeburn for their tartness and for their ability to hold their shape when baking. Here is a handy Guide To Apples And Their Uses for you, for reference now and in the future.
Mom’s Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Family Time is the Best Time!
Sunday family dinners are special times when families step away from busy weekday schedules, get together, and share not only a meal but also important ‘together time’, as well. Staying connected and involved. It is so easy for us to both feel and become disconnected in today’s hectic, fast-paced world, with all family members being pulled
in so many different directions between work obligations, school, after school and social activities. It happens to us before we know it. And I don’t know of anyone yet who has had a successful, meaningful, or long-term relationship with a cell phone.
We all benefit from, but children especially need a home base and safe place to feel secure, confident, and loved. That connection and anchor has always been and will always be family. There is no substitute. Little Red Bear and I hope that you and your loved ones can enjoy family together time today.
“There is little in life that could not benefit from a little Love, a little Time, and a Stick of Butter.”
Thanks as always for spending part of your day with us! We would be honored if you recommended our site and pages to friends and family. Little Red Bear and I look forward to your visits here, and hope that in our own way we help to make your day special, too!
We’ll be back every Sunday morning with more of Red’s selected special recipes, so be sure to subscribe in the top right column and follow along to be notified of every new post. And watch for our special Halloween Treats & Ideas post coming next Sunday!
Wishing everyone a beautiful coming week. Watch for leaves beginning to turn colors and for flocks of gathering and migrating birds heading south for the winter. Like a smile, kindness is a language everyone understands. – Jim (and Red!)
ps — a friendly reminder to friends in the South and along the Gulf Coast states to please keep your hummingbird feeders fresh and filled for a while longer. With it being generally warmer this fall still, some may be passing thru later than they normally would. The little hummers really need that last boost to restore energy for their long journeys across the Gulf of Mexico.
“No amount of money or success can take the place of time spent with your family.”
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell
“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” – Thomas Keller
James Milson - Writing & Things 