Mini Apple Pie

Ever since I figured out how to make a nice "pie-like" crust using our Thrive 6 Grain Pancake Mix, I just can't get enough of these little pies! This time, apple cinnamon - delish!

For the crust:
1-1/2c Thrive 6 Grain Pancake Mix
3T Thrive Butter Powder
3T Thrive Sugar (white or brown)
Dash Ground Cinnamon
Dash nutmeg
1/2c Water

Grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Combine ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms (if your dough is too dry, add additional water one tablespoon at a time until it is moist). Drop the dough by heaping tablespoon fulls into each cup your muffin tin. Grease your fingers, then gently press the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of each cup to form the crust. Set aside.

For the filling:
2c Thrive Apple Slices
1c Water
1/2c Thrive Sugar (brown or white)
1t Ground Cinnamon
1/4c Chopped Nuts (walnuts or pecans would be great)

Combine apples, water, nuts, sugar and cinnamon in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until apples begin to break down and sugar melts into a thick syrup, about 10 minutes. Carefully spoon mixture into crusts and bake in preheated oven for 16-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Sweet Potato Muffins

Today is the first official day of fall and I am so ready to break out the pumpkin, sweet potatoes, pot roast and apple pie recipes. There's just something so comforting about fall foods that I really love - cinnamon and cloves, root vegetables, thick soups and slow cooking makes my kitchen feel perfectly cozy. What better way to usher in the start of fall than these delicious muffins. They are loaded with vitamins and packed with fall flavors. This recipe will make a nice big batch of about 24 muffins. Eat some, share some, and freeze a few to enjoy later.

Wet Ingredients:
1-1/2c Thrive Sweet Potatoes
1/2c Thrive Apple Chips or Slices
4-1/2c Water
1/2c Butter or Applesauce
1/2c Honey
1t Vanilla Extract

Dry Ingredients:
1c Thrive Whole Wheat Flour
2c Thrive White Flour
1/4c Thrive Instant Milk Powder
2T Thrive Egg Powder
1t Baking Soda
1t Baking Powder
1t Pumpkin Pie Spice (sub 1t cinnamon if desired)
1/2t Salt
1/4c Chopped Walnuts (optional)

Brown Sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 12 cup muffin tin very well (these little things are sticky!). Combine sweet potatoes, apples and water in a large saucepan and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Puree sweet potatoes and apples with a stick blender (or carefully transfer them to a standard blender), then stir in remaining wet ingredients. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stirring well. Spoon batter into greased muffin cups and top with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Simple Crepes with Apple Pie Filling

Don't let these delicate little pancakes intimidate you - they aren't nearly as complicated as they look!

1c Thrive White Flour
2T Thrive Whole Egg Flour
1T Thrive Butter Powder
1T Thrive Sugar (optional)
3T Thrive Instant Milk Powder
1-1/4c Water
Butter

Combine all ingredients and whisk until smooth. The batter should be thin - add additional water if it is too thick. Heat a small skillet over medium high heat until a drop of water sizzles quickly. Melt a small amount of butter in the skillet, then add the batter, slightly less than a quarter of a cup at a time, and turn the pan quickly to spread out the batter into a round pancake shape. Cook until the edges are lightly brown, then flip and cook another 30 seconds. Add more butter every before every second crepe as necessary to prevent them from sticking. Cover the cooked crepes with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out. Makes 8-10 crepes. Your cooked crepes can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in a ziploc bag.

Apple Pie Crepe Filling

2c Thrive Apple Chips or Slices
1/2c Water
2T Thrive Brown Sugar
1T Butter 
1t Ground Cinnamon

Combine apples and water in saucepan and simmer until tender. Stir in butter, sugar and cinnamon and simmer, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Serve filling in warm crepes.

Simple Applesauce

In case you haven't noticed, I don't like to cook or bake with butter. I learned years ago that applesauce is an excellent substitute for butter in a wide variety of recipes - cakes, breads, rolls, even cookies. I try to keep a jar or two on hand, but every now and then I realize all too late that I am out. Usually this happens right in the middle of a recipe. This simple applesauce is my quick resolution to just such a predicament. It is also great to feed your little one :)

2c Thrive Apple Chips
1T Thrive White Sugar
1c Water
Dash Ground Cinnamon (optional)

Combine apple chips, sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, and cook for 3-5 minutes. Puree with a stick blender, blender or food processor. Add additional water as necessary to achieve the desired consistency. Add ground cinnamon, if desired. Refrigerate in an air tight container for up to one week.