American Apple Pie

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Regional Cuisine: As American As Apple Pie

By: Nisha Yadav

We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet - or so an old ad for Chevrolet tells us. Apple pie is as American as… well.. apple pie. If baseball is the All-American sport, then apple pie is the all-American dessert. And while the internet and book stores have spread the recipes far and wide, there are classic apple desserts in every region that are characteristic of the cuisine for that area. Wherever Johnny Appleseed spread orchards, there are recipes that make use of other regional ingredients and traditions to create unique desserts with apples and - whatever!



If you think of apple pie as having two crusts and a filling of apples combined with sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, some of the regional variations may surprise you. Apple cobbler, apple pandowdy, apple puff, apple crisp, apple brown betty are all variations of apple pie in different regions. The prevailing apple recipes for any region may be affected by the variety of apple that's hardiest and most popular in that area, as well as the style of cuisine that's prevalent.



In New England, for instance, most apple recipes call for Pippins, Granny Smith's or other firm fleshed, sweet varieties of apple that cook up well and lose little moisture when being baked. In Maine, it's not uncommon to find blueberries in your apple pie. In Massachusetts, cranberry apple pie is a favorite. In Vermont, the apples may be sweetened with honey or maple syrup. And in many restaurants on Cape Cod, rather than vanilla ice cream, your piping hot slice of heaven will be served topped with a slice of melting cheese.



In the Southern states, with their predilection for creamy, lightly spiced foods, the most common apple pie recipes include Apple Cream Pie (made with sour cream) and Apple Bourbon Pie, with raisins soaked in bourbon. Raisins soaked in rum are another popular addition to 'apple pie' in the South, especially in New Orleans. Other additions include rhubarb, diced peaches and walnuts.



Midwestern Apple Pie is the classic apple pie - two flaky crusts packed with thick, sweet, juicy apple slices mounded high and vented to let the fragrant steam escape. In Kansas or Missouri, your apple pie will satisfy any purist - served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into the syrupy filling and adds the perfect touch of creaminess to the mix.



In the South and Southwest you'll find deep-fried apple pie, a variation that matches melt-in-your-mouth flaky fried crust with sweet, diced apples in a syrupy sauce. And in Pennsylvania, the home of the Pennsylvania Dutch, Apple Crumb Pie and Apple Pandowdy take the place of Apple Pie a la Mode on most restaurant menus.



As American as Apple Pie … from coast to coast, Americans have done what they do best - taken a classic and adapted it to suit the ingredients and tastes that surround them. Whether you top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon, a dollop of whipped cream or a slice of sharp cheddar, there's no other food that comes close to being the All-American dessert.



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Shepherds Pie Recipe: Ground Beef Shepherds Pie Recipe

by Brandy Summers


A hearty meal of shepherds pie will give you that warm glow during the colder months. This recipe features ground beef, potatoes, cheese and mushroom soup.



5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 pound ground beef

6 slices American cheese

1 (10.75oz.) can condensed golden mushroom soup

3 teaspoons butter (optional)



Directions



Preheat oven to 375 degrees.



Place the potatoes into a large saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain and mash.



While the potatoes are cooking, crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook and stir until evenly browned. Drain off the grease. Stir in the mushroom soup.



Transfer mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish. Layer the slices of cheese over the meat. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Dot with butter.



Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.





=> Shepards Pie Recipe: Down Home Shepherds Pie



Another homemade version of shepards pie featuring ground beef, potatoes, corn, beans, cheese and gravy.



1 (7.6 oz.) package potato flakes

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 onion, finely diced

1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 (15 oz.) can green beans, drained

4 (10.5 oz.) cans brown gravy

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 pound American cheese slices



Directions



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



Prepare potatoes according to directions on box. Set aside.



In a large skillet, sauté ground beef over medium heat for 1 minute. Add onion to skillet and continue to cook until beef is no longer pink and onion is beginning to brown. Drain off some of the grease.



Add corn, green beans and gravy to the skillet. Mix thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread potatoes over the top. Layer cheese slices over potatoes.



Bake for 40 minutes, or until cheese turns golden brown.





=> Sheppards Pie Recipe: Chicken Sheppards Pie



This sheppards pie recipe features chicken, potatoes, garlic, cheese and spices.



8 potatoes

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup milk

1 medium head roasted garlic

1 pound chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon thyme, chopped

1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped

1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced

1 cup corn

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded



Directions



Preheat oven to 400 degrees.



Cut the head of garlic in half and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap garlic in aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.



Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.



Peel, chop and boil the potatoes until tender; drain. Mash potatoes. Add butter, milk and the roasted garlic; mix well. Set aside.



In the bottom of a casserole dish, arrange the chicken evenly on the bottom. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. Layer on the peppers, corn and all but 1/4 cup of the cheese. Spread mashed potatoes on top.



Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.



Bake for 25 minutes, or until brown around the edges.





=> Shepherds Pie Recipe: Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe



If you like shepherds pie, but don’t have time to fuss over a longer recipe, you can whip up this version in a short time. It’s still homemade and will hit the spot perfectly.



1 pound roast beef, cooked and cubed

2 onions, sliced thinly

1/2 cup homemade beef gravy

4 cups mashed potatoes, cooked



Directions



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



Layer the roast beef in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Layer the sliced onions on top and pour on the gravy. Spread the mashed potatoes on top.



Bake for 1 hour, or until potatoes are browned.





=> Shepherds Pie Recipe: Turkey Shepherds Pie



This version of shepherds pie will take a little bit more effort, but you’ll be rewarded with a savory pie featuring turkey, red potatoes, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, cheese, spices and a whole wheat crust.



5 large red potatoes, peeled

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup milk

2 (9-inch) whole wheat pie crusts

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup diced onion

1 pound ground turkey

1 large carrot, julienned

1 zucchini, thickly sliced

1/4 cup canned green beans, halved

6 large fresh mushrooms, quartered

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, diced



Directions



Preheat oven to 375 degrees.



Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with 3 tablespoons of butter or margarine and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.



Saute onion and carrots in olive oil until soft. Stir in the ground turkey, parsley, thyme and garlic. Once turkey is almost browned and broken up, add zucchini and mushrooms. Salt and pepper to taste; drain. Stir in the flour.



Divide meat mixture into two whole wheat pie crusts. Sprinkle cheese over meat, if desired. Spread green beans over the cheese. Spread mashed potatoes evenly

over mixture. Dot with butter.



Bake for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are slightly browned.





=> Sheperds Pie Recipe: Savory Sausage Sheperds Pie



A real hearty sheperds pie meal for sausage lovers.



1 pound sausage, uncooked

1 (12 oz.) jar beef gravy

1 (10 oz.) package frozen mixed vegetables

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 (24 oz.) package prepared mashed potatoes



Directions



Preheat oven to 400 degrees.



In a skillet, crumble and cook the sausage over medium high heat until brown. Drain on paper towels.



In a bowl, combine the sausage, gravy, vegetables and Worcestershire sauce.



Pour mixture into a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Spoon the mashed potatoes evenly on top. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.



Mmmm . . . where can you find that yummy recipe?
Milkshakes, Smoothies, Brownies, Chili, Casseroles and more!
http://www.-best-free-cooking-recipes.com




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