It seems like you can always find apples in the produce section and I mean really good apples too. I know we have talked about healthy apples before, but I would like to add just a couple of more really easy recipes including one for your air fryer.

Easy Baked Apples

I don’t know how you can get any easier than this. Cut off the top of the apple just a little less than one third down from the stem and core it apple with an actual core tool. (It looks like a potato peeler sort of and you push it down into the apple) If you don’t have this kitchen tool, simply remove down as far as you can into the center of the apple with a pointed knife and remove the center and seeds. Pour whatever you like down into the center. I use a bit of butter and brown sugar and some crushed walnuts. I sprinkle the top with cinnamon or nutmeg if you prefer. Bake at 350 until the apple is soft and scoop out with a spoon. This is good with a spoon of Cool-Whip or vanilla ice cream. (PS Spray some PAM Butter Flavor into a pie tin and place the apples in bottom down. Cover for the first 15 minutes then uncover.)

Air Fryer Apples (Yes, really)

Cut an apple in half and gently clean out the seeds and hard center. Cut out as much as you can (about half) of the flesh and cut it into small pieces. Mix it with your favorite granola and a bit of melted butter. Bake in the air fryer in an oven proof small dish at 350 for about 12 minutes or until soft. Do not peel the apple. Try mixing up the granola you use. My favorite is called Tropical Trail Mix and it has nuts, coconut flakes, and bits of dried fruits. Add a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt and say yummy to a low cal treat.

I love requests!!

Strawberry Pie

1. Small box of Strawberry Jello
2. 1 Qt. (box) of strawberries
3. 1/4 cup of sugar-You may also use artificial sweetener to taste
4. 4 Tblsps Cornstarch
5. 2 cups of water

Cook sugar and cornstarch in water until pretty thick. It takes about 2 minutes. Add the box of Jello and stir in completely. Let stand for about 10 minutes or just jiggley. Add the strawberries and pour into a baked crust. OK, if you want to make your own pie crust, go ahead, but you are a better chef than I am! Cool in the fridge, and top with Cool Whip to serve. This is incredibly easy and makes a fabulous presentation.

Flour tortillas, corn tortillas, and yes even tortillas made from different grains are all really good for that evening meal that ain’t happening. Oh, tacos also are great for any breakfast or lunch or just whenever. Hence the name “Unexpected”!

FILLINGS

1. Any meat-I am a vegetarian so I use Morning Star Farms ground beef but you may also use ground turkey, pork, or even just for something unexpected-Spam!
2. Any fish or shell fish-One of my favorites from a restaurant called Taco Mundo is breaded fried shrimp with sweet Asian cole slaw. I also really like salmon with Jasmine rice.
3. Just vegetables can be unexpectedly delicious. Raw or cooked grated carrots, shredded cabbage, any kind of flavored slaw, actually just any vegetable you like. PD I LOVE Avocado
4. Also for a veggie taco try lettuce, tomato, rice, and black beans.
5. Another fav of mine from Casa Del Sol restaurant is tuna with sweet Asian slaw. Yum!
6. Finally, use your imagination for breakfast tacos or burritos. Anything you have for breakfast is great in a taco shell or tortilla.
7. BE UNEXPECTED!!!

Pasta is probably the most versatile and easy food in the entire universe. Also, you might be thinking, what exactly does she mean when she says “pasta?” Is it spaghetti, fusilli, Penne, lasagna. rigatoni, or what? BTW, are we talking about red sauce, with meat or without, vodka sauce, olive oil and garlic or what??? See what I mean? Anyway, here are a few quick and easy ways to have what I think of as one of the best and most yummy meals ever.

1. Just plain spaghetti with a jar of red sauce-Try using whole wheat spaghetti with Newman’s Own Marinara or vodka sauce and you cant go wrong. PS be sure to add a nice loaf of French bread with an olive oil dip.
2. How about a cold pasta salad? I like rotini for pasta salad and I add any fresh crunchy veg I have on hand. I add little tomatoes cut in half, fresh basil, broccoli, marinated artichoke hearts and so on. BTW if you buy a jar of artichoke hearts, be sure to save the liquid for your sauce or a dressing later. Please NEVER use mayo as your binder with a pasta salad. Salt, pepper, garlic salt and some olive oil and a dash of sweet balsamic vinegar is all you need, honest!
3. Baked penne with meat or not and mushrooms or not is one of my faborites. Be sure to top this dish off with some parmesan cheese.
4. The WEB is full of lasagna recipes, but I like veggie lasagna made with egg plant. You can buy egg plant rounds already breaded in the freezer at any grocery store and lasagna made with these little gems is soooo good.
5. I am going to end this on a real Americana note-one of the best pastas around is good old Mac and Cheese. Yes, this has endless variatians, but they are all good.

Give PASTA a try for a quick, easy lunch or dinner and don’t forget the fresh bread. This all freezes really well too so make enough for two meals while you are at it!

So much rice, so little time!

I love rice. I love all kinds of rice too. I used to boil rice or make it in my rice maker, but NO MORE! Instant or semi-instant rice is a boon and a gift to rice lovers everywhere. As you can see, there are tons of options and rice is just as easy as a potato to use in sooo many different ways. This is NOT “rice cheating.”

I serve rice with anything too. Not just the traditional fish or shrimp or Chinese dishes, but as rice salad, a soup additive, or a main dish dressed up with some vegetarian chicken, onions, and mushrooms.

Spanish rice is an easy no brainer. Just make your rice and saute with your favorite salsa. I use Newman’s Own Mango Salsa. Add some warm tortillas, and what a dinner! If you are not a vegetarian, add some ground beef or Morning Star Farm Ground Beef Crumbles if you are.

Try different flavor ideas too. Curry, soy sauce, vegetables, and yes, even making your pasta salad recipe using rice instead of pasta!! Let me know how you like this, and I will also be sharing more recipes. Enjoy!

Yes of all of the possibly hundreds of uses for tortillas, here are some more. This is one or those wrap, roll and slice ideas and I use it all of the time.

Spread room temp. cream cheese on a tortilla and lay thinly sliced ham to completely cover the tortilla. Sprinkle with fine grated swiss cheese. Roll up the tortilla very tightly tucking in edges as you go to make a neat roll. Wrap in plastic wrap and roll to make a tight package. Chill for several hours but not too long as the tortilla may dry. Remove from the fridge and slice into small rounds cleaning the knife every so often. These are yummy and can be served fancy on a plate with parsley or just put out on a paper plate at game time. This is also one of those recipes that can be done many different ways.

1. Spread tortilla with butter and add scrambled eggs and shredded cheese. Follow the same procedure.
2. Spread the tortilla with pot cheese and sprinkle with pineapple tidbits.
3. For the kids, how about peanut butter and jelly spread and then sliced. This is a sure fire as they kiddos can help with the process.
4. Use your imagination!

Chocolate Temptation Cookies are very aptly named. Almost no one can resist them, myself included. I have adapted this recipe from one in the “In the Kitchen With Martha and Mary” cookbook. Hope you love it!

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 1/2 cups flour (May use whole wheat)

1/2 cup marg. Miniature peanut butter cups

1/2 cup brown sugar Mini chocolate chips if you are really

1 egg feeling decadent.

1/2 cup regular sugar

1/2 teaspoon each vanilla and salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together all ingredients down to the baking soda and flour. Add both and form into round balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet or in mini muffin cups. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Just after you remove from the oven, push a little peanut butter cup down into each little cookie. Cool before removing . Enjoy!!

PS Add 1/2 a bag of mini chocolate chips if you dare!!