Autumn Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

A crisp, apple studded, protein rich chicken salad that's perfect for a hearty autumn lunch or even a simple weeknight dinner that won't weigh you down.

It's made healthier with a combination of Greek yogurt and a little mayo, and it pairs beautifully with a hearty whole grain bread. Or you can serve it lower carb over lettuce leaves for another nutritious option.

This version is made with rotisserie chicken but you can use leftover cooked chicken breasts as well. I just recommend that you avoid canned chicken for a better chicken salad.

It's simple to make and worthy of your recipe collection!

Try serving it with baked sweet potato fries or sweet potato chips for a colorful fall pairing.

An upgraded coleslaw that's crunchy, fresh and delicious. Made with cabbage, apples, cranberries and almonds and it's all coated in sweet and tangy dressing. It's the perfect side for BBQ's, parties or picnics!

Apple Slaw Recipe

Who doesn't love coleslaw? It's crunchy, it's creamy, it has just enough sweetness, and it goes with just about anything. It's always quick to be polished off.

Here you get the perfect blend of textures and flavors with the mix-in additions of apples, cranberries, almonds and optional cheese. And it's covered in a more wholesome, lighter Greek yogurt dressing (versus a classic coleslaw dressing that has as much as a cup of mayonnaise in it).

This apple slaw recipe has a pleasant mild flavor to it, but if you'd like a more pronounced flavor you can add in a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the dressing.

And if you want to skip a step and go with a shortcut, you can use a coleslaw mix in place of the shredded cabbage and carrots. Also just chop the apples instead of getting paticular and cutting into matchsticks to save time.

I think it's time for pulled pork or pulled chicken sandwiches this week for dinner, don't you? And then of course this homemade coleslaw to go with it!

Easy DIY Baked Apple Chips

These baked apple chips are a nutritious treat you can feel good about eating, and they can even curb that dessert craving with their natural fruit sugars.

They're a fun little kitchen project, and after you've made them a time or two it will be a total breeze from there on out. You can prep them in minutes.

The trick is just to use a mandoline slicer. Not only does it give you perfectly even slices that bake evenly but it cuts the prep into a tiny fraction of what it would be without one.

Just plan some time because they do need a few hours to completely dry at a lower oven temperature.

These are one of those things you'll want to make time and time again once you see how simple and tasty they are, plus everyone loves them!

Easy Homemade Apple Galette

Some of you may be asking what is a galette anyway? A galette, which translates to "flat cake," can be various types of free form, flat or round French pastries. In English it is pronounced "gah-let."

This variation is what I would call an easier alternative to a classic pie. It is basically the humbler, more rustic version of apple pie yet it transcends expectations and is a treat for the eyes with it's thin slices, browned edges and pleasing circular pattern.

You'll appreciate that there's nothing too fancy and complicated, just an old fashioned, made-by-hand method to achieve the dreamiest fall dessert!

Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for the most enjoyable pairing and sublime flavor!

Just imagine it, a crisp and flaky, truly unbeatable crust finished with a crunchy coarse sugar. Then blanketed over are tender, lightly tart, warmly cinnamon spiced apples. And it's all crowned with rich, creamy, sweet vanilla ice cream.

Talk about tempting! If only it could pass for a decent breakfast I'd be eating it everyday.

Shredded Kale Apple Salad

This is my favorite easy kale salad! It's brimming with freshness and has a vibrant, sweet and tangy vinaigrette dressing that perfectly highlights it.

And can we appreciate the fact that it doesn't wilt within minutes of adding the dressing like other salads may start to? Which makes it a great option for a dinner party or cookout.

It compliments so many meals and uses ingredients that you can easily get year round.

For a quick and simple dinner or lunch you can serve it as a side paired with a basic protein such as grilled chicken or salmon.

It's a healthy salad recipe you'll want to make on repeat. A delicious kale crunch salad with the best blend of flavors!

Apple Upside Down Cake

I actually meant to share this back before thanksgiving but I had too many fall recipes to share that I couldn't fit everything in. But the great thing about this delicious apple upside down cake recipe is that it's the perfect dessert to serve any day of the year because good apples are pretty easy to find. Apples and bananas are the two fruits you can usually rely on year round.

In this cake you'll get two layers of decadence - that buttery, brown sugar and cinnamon coated apple layer which rest upon the second layer of a flavorful, moist, buttermilk cake.

This is one of those easy to prepare cakes, no special skills needed or fancy tools. Just back to basics baking.

My favorite part (other than its irresistible flavor of course) is that there's no lengthy periods of waiting for the cake to cool all the way through, then frosting it. You just need to wait the 15 minutes to remove it from the pan (so it doesn't crack or break) and you can serve it warm with rich vanilla ice cream. Talk about delicious!

Next time around I'm thinking about dicing up the apples small and making into cupcakes, let me know how it goes if you beat me to it.

What's Different about Dutch Apple Pie?

So what's the difference between a Dutch, French or American style apple pie? The typical American apple pies are all flakey, butter or shortening crust based, with a crust enclosing the apple filling both above and beneath. While Dutch apple pie is typically covered in a sweet crumb topping or covered in a lattice, and a French apple pie comes in several variations made with an egg based cookie-like pastry dough, a puff pastry dough or a crumb topping. French apple pie also commonly contains raisins in the filling.

Fun History About Apple Pie

Did you know the first apple pie dates back to a recipe recorded in England in 1381 (source)? It included apples, pears, raisins, figs and saffron. Looks like this dessert has evolved quite a bit, coming in many variations around the globe. But I think it's a timeless dessert that will stick around for many more centuries to come. It's just that good!

And the first authentic Dutch apple pie dates back to a cookbook from the year 1514 (source). It was baked in a Dutch oven pan, made with a standard pie crust, soft apples and lots of spices. It also included what we would now view as an odd method: removing top pie crust partway through baking and pressing the baked pie filling through a sieve, then stirring the pie with a wooden spoon and adding cream and baking to dry. How pie has changed!

My modern Dutch apple pie obviously is not the same as that very first recipe but it is easily one of the best pies I've ever tasted! Every time I serve it it gets so many compliments. Perfection in every layer!

It’s a truly tempting treat that's too good to resist!

Easy Apple Fritters Recipe

Oh all the ways to make an apple fritter! There's the method where apples are cut into whole slices and coated in batter, and then there's the type (like so) where apples are cut into small cubes and tossed with batter.

And you'll also find more complex versions where a heartier dough is folded over cubed apples and then cut into strips and cubes, and then pressed and formed into fritters from there.

Sometimes apples are pre-cooked and softened while other times they're added in raw and crisp.

Frequently they're shaped into flatter patties while also common they're formed into misshapen rounds. You'll also find they come in various sizes.

Typically you'll find apple fritters are fried but some recipes call for baking in the oven instead.

Most apple fritter recipes use yeast or baking powder for leavening (which helps the batter rise). The yeast versions require extra rising periods and are they have a chewier texture, while the baking powder versions have a softer more cake-like texture (think old fashioned cake donuts) and the batter is fried right after preparing (no lengthy resting times).

Here we go the quick baking powder route and fry up in small portions for a quick and easy recipe. They end up perfectly spiced and sweet, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and with apple flavor in every bite!

Easiest Caramel Apples!

Caramel apples have been one of my all time favorite things to make since I first started cooking and baking. But that made from scratch recipe takes some time and it can be intimating so this year I decided to share the easiest caramel apple recipe ever!

It's so easy you really don't even need a recipe, it's more of just a quick how-to teaching you the method and ingredients to use. And the best part - you only need 3 ingredients!

Then from there if you want an upgrade you can add some of your favorite toppings, then just let the caramel set in the fridge briefly and you've got a perfectly tempting treat that no one will be able to resist!

This simple no fuss recipe takes all the stress out of caramel apples (there's not the extra worry of over cooking or under cooking homemade caramel, plus the extra mess and all the time it takes). This is just the fun hassle free method that everyone will want to help with.

This is how we celebrate the fall season, right?

Easy Baked Apple Recipe

Nothing says fall quite like an irresistibly delicious autumn apple recipe like so! Simple and old fashioned recipes like this that take you back home are just the best!

These fresh baked apples are the perfect ending to any meal, especially this cozy Slow Cooker Pot Roast or Slow Cooker Beef Stew!

It's soon to be sweater weather and I can't hardly wait because that entails comforting soups paired with homemade breads, the best pumpkin and apple desserts in abundance (meaning real cinnamon spice aroma filling the house!), gorgeous, warm fall sunsets, rich hot cocoa and spiced apple cider to warm those breezy fall walks, a rainbow of color blanketing the trees, fairytale-like pumpkin patch visits and so much more!

Isn't it just one of the best seasons? Start it out with these homemade baked apples, they're such a great way to welcome fall!