Absolutely Amazing, Easy Apple Dumplings

**Don't forget to enter the Mabel's Labels giveaway!!**



This recipe is dedicated to my friend Amanda, who introduced me to this lovely treat and the Pioneer Woman who made it. :)


This recipe is for a delicious treat. It balances out the exercise we all did yesterday... haha. I love apples and will eat apple pie, fried apples, apple sauce, apples and caramel, and the like. And for sure, this is the BEST apple dessert I have ever had. That is saying a lot too, because I like my apple pie. :) So you NEED to make this. It is SO easy and quick, that you have no excuse not to.

So here is what you need:



Once you've gathered your ingredients, slice the apples into 8 pieces each.



Then, just roll each apple into a croissant roll. (Yes, I do know that I got reduced fat crescents... you gotta save those calories where you can...)



Once you've rolled up all the apples, place them in a 9x13 pan.



Melt the butter and add the sugar and vanilla. Then pour over the top of the apple croissants.



Try not to think about the tons of butter you just added to the pan. It will be ok. Now, add a little Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. (I know, it sounds weird. But it makes it yummy, I promise.) You will only end up using about 5 ounces.

Then sprinkle the whole thing with cinnamon and bake.



When it comes out all the butter is all deliciously bubbly and the smell in your house is divine.



Once you plate it up and add some vanilla ice cream, then top it with the juicy, sugary sauce. Well, lets just say, its not going to last long.



So, please, do yourself a favor and make this as soon as possible. My sister, who doesn't even like cooked apples, loved this dessert.

Enjoy!!



Here is the complete recipe:


2 whole Granny Smith Apples, Cored And Peeled
2 cans Refrigerator Crescent Rolls
2 sticks Butter
1-½ cup White Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ cans Mountain Dew
Ground Cinnamon


Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut apples into 8 slices each.

Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.

Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples.

Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.


Recipe Credit: Ree, the Pioneer Woman, as posted on tastykitchen.com. You can see it here.

The Best Green Beans Ever

They might not look like much, but these green beans are amazing. And even better, they are so easy. Every time I cook them, both Josh and Madi let me know how good they are. And then, I tell myself I need to post this recipe online... and I have forgotten, until now.

So, the key ingredient here is: green beans. But, it can't just be a can or any old green bean. You must pick up a bag of fresh green beans* from your local farmers market. Before I came across this recipe, I could never figure out how to cook fresh green beans, especially in a healthy way.

Here is what you need:

-about 1 lb of green beans (depending on the size of your family)
-olive oil
-garlic salt (or regular salt, if you prefer)
-pepper
-tin foil
-a cookie sheet


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover the cookie sheet with tin foil. Trim the ends off of the green beans and then spread them out evenly on the cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the green beans. Sprinkle them with the garlic salt and pepper. Toss them around to evenly coat them with the olive oil. Make sure they are spread evenly again and then place the pan in the oven. Cook about 20 minutes, turning about halfway through. You will know they are ready when they get all wrinkly and are getting a little brown.



These green beans turn out to be so tasty. Baking them in the oven releases the innate sweetness of the green bean. Who knew they could be sweet? And then with the salty flavor and olive oil.... yummmmmy!


So, please try these as soon as possible. And then let me know what you think!


*I have heard that you can use frozen green beans with this recipe as well, but I haven't tried it. So if you have some laying around, let me know how it works.