Finally, it’s here, my most favorite season… Fall! It’s a little late this year as the trees are yet to change their colors, but the weather has started to get cold for sure. Also, another beauty is that it’s the season of apples. I did not get a chance to go apple picking this year, but I’m sure most of you would have had a lot of fun. With bags full of apples in your pantry, it’s time to gear up your baker’s suit and start exploring some apple dishes. And that’s what I’m going on get on to, join me and read along!

Apple strudel is one of the easiest apple desserts you can make, with least efforts and the basic minimal ingredients available in your pantry. This dish tastes so damn good; its flaky, sweet, tangy & crunchy. Like I said, you can wow your guests with its taste, aroma and some fancy creativity by showing off your braiding skills.

For this recipe you can either make your own dough, or use a store-bought puff pastry sheet like I did, which will significantly reduce your work load. This is a simple dessert, but while you go through the recipe ingredients and instructions, I’m sure that you will have many questions popping up in your head. And so, here are my answer to a few:

1. Why roll your thawed sheets? Always roll your thawed puff pastry sheets to the right consistency and shape, this helps prevent the pastry crust from puffing-up too much.
2. Why add lemon juice? Always coat your apples with lemon juice (just like your avocados) as it prevents browning, plus it adds a slight tanginess to your strudel which very well compliments the sweetness.
3. Breadcrumbs, huh? Yep, you heard it right. Apples release juices while baking which the pastry dough tend to absorb preventing it from rising and making your strudel soggy. Breadcrumbs absorb the moisture keeping your strudel crispy n flaky. As a substitute, you can use plain flour too.
4. Fruit Substitutes? You can substitute Granny Smith apples with Honey Crisp apples as well, Pear is another good alternative to apples.
5. Nuts Substitute? Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds…

Serve these flaky apple strudels warm, with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

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Apple Strudel

Wow your Fall Holiday Guests with this Flaky Braided Apple Strudel…! The Easiest Fall Season Dessert of your Dreams…!!!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple, fall dessert, strudel

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• ½ of a 17.3oz package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet)
• 2 Granny Smith / Honey Crisp apples
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• ⅓ cup raisins
• ¼ cup chopped pecans
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Flour (to dust)
• Pinch of granulated sugar (topping)

Instructions

• Thaw your puff pastry sheet for 35-40 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375-degree F. Prepare the egg wash by beating an egg, and keep aside.
• Peel, core and slice your apples into small cubes. You can use 2 medium or 3 small sized apples.
• In a bowl, mix together the chopped apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, pecans, raisins and bread crumbs. Keep aside.
• Now let’s setup your work surface; Cut parchment paper large enough to fill your baking tray and place it on your work surface. Dust it with flour.
• To prepare the pastry wrap, unfold the thawed pastry sheet onto the dusted paper and apply some flour. Roll and stretch it using a rolling pin into a 16” x 12” rectangle shape.
• Now spoon the apple mix onto the center of the sheet, lengthwise. For preparing the braids, make ½” slits using a pizza cutter or a knife on both sides of the apple mix leaving a ½” space from the mix. Starting from one end, fold the braids one after the other, alternating sides, angled over the apple mix. Continue braiding till you read the other end, seal the ends properly.
• Brush the braids with egg wash and sprinkle granulated sugar on top. Place it on your baking tray by lifting and transferring the parachment paper. Bake for 35 minutes or until flaky and golden brown.
• Allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

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So we are finally home from our vacation at Orlando and I’m back to my world of blogging; pumped up and excited! The last week of January, up all the way till Valentine’s Day is usually the busiest time of my year, in fact the most memorable ones too. It starts with my Blog Anniversary, followed by our Wedding Anniversary, which includes our Annual Vacation trip, and then Valentine’s Day; Aaaaaahh…!! So much of activity & happening in a short period, right from the preparations, blog posts, travel planning, packing, travelling, blogging, and so on. This year I had a wonderful time at Orlando; visiting Universal Studios, Disney, parks, beaches, exploring new restaurants and cuisines.

Coming back to my drink of the day, have you ever considered using vegetables in your smoothies? My first attempt of making a Green Smoothie  with spinach was a huge success, I’ve prepared it many times since then and my husband loves it. For my next recipe I just wasn’t convinced with the vegetables I had planned for, and that’s when I accidently stumbled upon beetroot. Though I use beetroot a lot in my kitchen for savoury dishes (check out my Hummus and Pachadi) I have never used it raw in any dish. I was a bit apprehensive initially but the raw beetroot perfectly balanced the sweetness of the apple and pomegranate, and the end result just cleared all my doubts, I must say this is one healthy smoothie you would definitely enjoy.

Now why do I call this a Power Smoothie? Well, it’s because this drink mainly focuses on the purification of your liver which is the power house of your body. A healthy liver diet is vital to eliminates harmful chemicals and toxins from your body, fight diseases, and supply essential nutrients to your body. For a healthy liver, eat the right foods which are fibrous, high in antioxidants & vitamins. To mention a few highlights of the fruit-n-veggie mix of ingredients of this power packed drink:

• Beetroot: Having the highest sugar content of all vegetables, they boost liver function, purifies blood and liver. They are high in antioxidants, with anticancer properties and also work great for pregnant ladies.
• Apple: With their anti-carcinogenic properties, apples are high in pectin which is the soluble fiber, helps to removes toxins and cholesterol from blood.
• Pomegranate: fibrous, high in antioxidants, and vitamins B, E, & C. The bright red color of beet and pomegranate gives your immune system a healthy dose of antioxidants.

Adding vegetables to your smoothies is another great way of open your palate to raw vegetables. Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate below if you love it…!

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Beetroot Power Smoothie

Brighten your day with this Vibrant Colored, Power Packed Smoothie made with Apple, Beetroot and Pomegranate… Healthy and Tasty…!!!

Course Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword beetroot smoothie, post workout smoothie, smoothie

Prep Time 7 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 1 small beetroot (peeled and cut into small chunks, or grated)
• 1 apple
• 1 pomegranate
• 1½ cup water

Instructions

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Notes

A raw beetroot doesn’t blend that easily, unless you are using a powerful high speed blender in which case cut it into small pieces first before blending. Otherwise, grate it and then blend with the fruits.

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