Tuesday, November 17, 2009

TWD—Cran-Apple Crisp

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“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!  November 16, 2009, it was rainy and snowing all day today.    I always think the first snowfall is fun to see.

Tuesday’s With Dorie time again.  I’ve kind of been liking that November is the month we get to pick and choose from our four chosen recipes in whatever order we’d like.  Today’s recipe was GREAT!  I chose to do the Cran-Apple Crisp, chosen by Em of The Repressed Pastry Chef.  This crisp was simple and oh-so-tasty.  Just because I felt like it, I omitted the coconut and added some extra oats in place of that.  I also omitted the giner, but added about 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg.  I also added about 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.  I love nuts in crisps.

Get this—surprise, surprise—I followed the fruit filling in the recipes exactly.  Whaaaat?  I know, I can’t believe it either.  I used the dried cranberries and loved the addition of the fresh cranberries with the apples.  I might have cut the apples a little smaller than 1/2 inch chunks, but I really liked them that way, because I do not like any crunch to my apples in an apple crisp and this ensured they were soft.  I baked 6 1/2 cup ramekins and some in an 8x6 inch Pyrex dish.  This is the only picture I took of the larger crisp.  Oops.  It didn’t even have the crisp on it.  Oh well.

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I actually baked about 1/3 of the crisp recipe on a baking sheet.  Why?  You’ll see in a minute. 

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But after doing that, I realized there wasn’t enough crisp left for the 8x6 inch pan.  So I quickly whipped up another 1/2 batch of the crisp so every dish could have some.  Crisps for me are almost more about the crisp than the fruit underneath!  LOVED the crisp.  It had a perfect amount of crunch and the flavor was great.  I baked the 6 ramekins for 25 minutes and the 8x6 inch dish for 35 minutes.

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You didn’t think I’d serve it without ice cream, did you?  Looks like vanilla, huh.  Nope.  It’s not.

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Oh and see that extra crisp on top?  That’s what I’m talking about.  Not enough on top there?  How about this?

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“Hurry, I’m melting….”

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So, not vanilla, huh.  I made Apple Cider Ice Cream.  Quite simple, really.  I followed the same recipe I make for vanilla, which is David Lebovitz’ Philly Style Vanilla Ice Cream but I added a reduction of apple cider to it after it churned.  Let’s see if I can write this up the way I made it (I’ve simplified DL’s recipe a bit.)

Apple Cider Ice Cream, by Katrina Smith

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of salt

2 cups apple cider , reduced to 1/3 cup

In a heavy saucepan on the stove, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until it has reduced to about 1/3 cup syrup.  It took about 15 minutes, I think.

In another heavy saucepan, warm one cup cream with the sugar and pinch of salt.  Heat to scalding until sugars are dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Pour the remaining cup of cream and the cup of milk into a separate medium sized bowl.  Add the hot cream mixture and whisk together.  Add the vanilla.  Make an ice bath in a large bowl filled mostly with ice.  Set the bowl of cream in the ice bath and pour a little water over the ice, being careful not to get any water in the bowl of ice cream mixture.  This is my favorite, fast way to chill the mixture.  Let it sit in the ice bath, stirring every 5 minutes or so.  About 20-30 minutes later, it is pretty chilled and then I don’t have to wait for it to chill in the fridge for hours!  Churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.  When the ice cream is just about ready, Pour in the apple cider reduction and let it mix in thoroughly.  Remove the ice cream from the ice cream maker and store in a container in the freezer for at least 2 hours.  Serve with Dorie’s Cran-Apple Crisp (or however you’d like!)  Be sure to have extra crisp to top it with!

*During the last few seconds of its churning, I believe I sprinkled in a few more shakes of cinnamon and a couple grates of fresh nutmeg, to taste. 

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The cider went from this-----------------------to this.

Can you believe it, Folks—I have now done three week’s of TWD with NO chocolate!  Whatever shall we do about this?

Don’t worry, I’ve completely made up for it on other days—check out my previous post to see some of all the chocolate overload!  And check out all the other posts for this week by scrolling through the list of bloggers on the TWD site.  Thanks, Em, LOVE the crisp.  You can get the recipe on her blog or buy Dorie’s Book!

32 comments:

Romaine said...

Reduced apple cider sounds potent...and so delicious. I'm thinking you like granola. Right? Love the melting ice cream picture.

Amanda said...

Oooo I have to try that ice cream!! I made the cran apple crisp this week too, so very good! How fun that it snowed. We got boatloads of snow last year on Thanksgiving. Hoping we don't this year since we are driving to Iowa!

vibi said...

LOL I'm scrolling down checking the pictures one by one... looking for the chocolate chip or the caramel sauce added somewhere... and wala! Gottit! LOL Your crisps are beautiful, they look super crunchy and oh! so much more appetising with that caramel sauce! LOL Bravo, Katrina!

Becky said...

I'm so jealous, you had the snow that I was waiting for! Just something about that first snow.

Two thumbs up with the ice cream and apple cider reduction. How creativly yummy.

Leslie said...

I am so very jealous of your snow. I have to travel about 15 hours to see it!!!

Lillian said...

Oh, that ice cream sounds fabulous, with or without the crisp. I haven't made the crisp yet (the spice cookies are the first recipe I've managed in weeks), but when I do get to the crisp, I think I'll steal your idea. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Ha! I was waiting for the spectacular "add-in"! Apple Cider reduction, how fabulous! You never let us down :) Looks sensational!

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of baking extra topping to put on top of the ice cream! I thought this was really delicious too, and the perfect time of the year for it. I can wait for it to snow though. We had one day with some snow and that's it so far. We'll have plenty of cold and snow soon enough!

Jessica of My Baking Heart said...

Amazing! Love the pics, the crisp and the ice cream - very nice!! :)

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

oh lovely snow! It is cold here today but not enough for snow. Love the crisp on top of the ice cream! Yumm!

Megan said...

Snow? Snow?!?! Unbelievable. It's just cold enough here to wear a sweatshirt. :)

chocolatechic said...

Gorgeous looking crisps.

I loved them.

I ended up making the bundt cake for this week.

CookiePie said...

Yummy looking crisp -- and apple cider ice cream???? You have outdone yourself! Brilliant!!

Leslie said...

Love your crisp! I'm also a huge fan of the crisp part of the crisp. It's no longer the right season, but Ina Garten's peach and blueberry crisp was amazing. I've seen so much ice cream with the apple crisp that I must make ice cream when I make mine

Flourchild said...

The crisp looks perfect and the apple cider ice cream looks wonderful too! I am making this next week!

one said...

Next to chocolate desserts, my favorite is fruit crisp with ice cream. This looks perfect, wish I could reach though the screen and grab a bite!

Bunny said...

I'm gonna have to break my ice cream maker out and try that ice cream! You've got me wishing I had apples in the house to make this crisp, it looks terrific!

♥peachkins♥ said...

the crisp looks wonderful

Mimi said...

I agree this was a great crisp. However the ice cream sounds fantastic. Maybe if I show Mr. Mimi the recipe he'll let me have my ice cream machine before Christmas. I love picture of the snow.
Mimi

Soy*Baby said...

Yum. Apple cider ice cream sounds wonderful. This dessert seems perfect for a cold snowy day. Stay warm.

Donna-FFW said...

LOVE that first shot.. I wanna be there.

I love the way you make a delicious simple dessert into an extraordinary masterpiece!

Anne said...

Wow that ice cream sounds AMAZING. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

The crisp, and the ice cream both sound d-lish!!
I can't believe that you got snow before we did!! We're so much further north than you. I'm not complaining mind you!!

Kelly D said...

I didn't know about apple cider ice cream. I probably shouldn't. yum.

And, so glad that snow melted...

Emily said...

You are a baking genius!

Emily said...

You are a baking genius! I'm amazed by you.

isa said...

I'm jealous of your snow! Your crisp sounds delicious and so tempting with your apple cider ice cream!

Susan said...

I may have to ask Santa for an ice cream maker for Christmas! Your crisp looks yummy!!

Pamela said...

Hasn't it been fun, being able to make and post about which ever recipe you want during the month? I think it's so flexible that way. Anyway, it all looks fantastic, as usual!

Anonymous said...

Is that your back yard? It looks like a big Christmas tree and the snow makes it a perfect Christmas card setting! =)
LOVE your cran-apple crisps! I can't believe you thought up that apple cider ice cream - you are too much! Looks sooo yummy-licious with the caramel topping too! I love these cran-apple crisps but I love your version better! =)
So glad you liked the turkey meatloaf and roasted veggies!

Jacque said...

Ooh yummy, the ice cream with the crisp? Perfect!

It's nice how crisps are so versatile... a little more of this, a little less of this, and still fantastic. Yours looks delish!

Hindy said...

Apple cider ice cream - you're brilliant! Your sundae is beautiful and I know your crisp was delicious. All round great post (except for the snow).